May 



1904.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



265 



RUBBER PLANTING IN CEYLON AND THE MALAY STATES. 



As Seen by The Editor of " The India Rubber World." 



SECOND LETTER. 

 Growth of Ilevea Trees at Heneratgoda. — Their Yield at Various 

 Ages. — Visit to I'eradeniya. — Director Willis and His Work. — 

 Canker Fungus in Hcvea and its Treatment by Mr. Carruthers. 

 Railways in Ceylon. — Plantation Scenes. — Leeches and Other In- 

 sect Pests. 



A BULLOCK hackery is a small two wheeled cart, gaud- 

 ily painted, with oilcloth top, no springs, and a seat on 

 which sits the driver so close to the little hump-backed 

 bullock that he easily twists his tail, or punches his ribs 

 to make him trot, while the passenger, sitting back to the driver, 

 clings as best he may. It is a most jerky mode of progression, 

 as the bullock starts and stops with surprising suddenness ; 

 indeed, his whole progress is a series of jerks against which it 

 is difficult to guard. Were it not for the little step behind 

 on which one's feet rest, it would be impossible to hold on for 

 more than five or six minutes. The bullock is a tough little 

 beast, about four feet high at the shoulders, and is supposedly 

 guided by a pair of rope reins that run through its nostrils. 

 He is, however, more influenced by the half bark, half yell, of 

 the driver, and the vigorous tail twisting that he indulges in on 

 occasion. 



From the station I rode through a most densely populated 

 native village, with narrow streets and a smell of stale fish that 

 was simply appalling. Here we gathered a lot of flies, but as 

 they ultimately settled on the bullock's hump, no especial an- 

 noyance came from their presence. Finally we reached the 

 entrance to the gardens, turned in, and in due time found Mr. 

 Perira, who at once put himself at my disposal. On the way 

 he showed me some Ceara rubber trees which appeared to have 



grown well, but as that tree in Ceylon has not proved profit- 

 able, it was to me of only transient interest. I did, however, 

 measure one which was twenty years old, which was two feet 

 in diameter three feet from the ground, and was probably 50 

 feet high. That it contained some latex I proved by cutting 

 into it. 



A short distance away, on a somewhat lower level, was a grove 

 of Heveas 20 years old, 60 to 70 feet high. They were planted 

 about ten feet apart, and had taken full possession of the soil, 

 no weeds or grass growing in the dense shade they cast. The 

 trees looked very healthy, with smooth bark and straight 

 limbs, the branches appearing about 30 feet from the ground. 

 There were about 300 trees in this lot. The trees have been 

 tapped experimentally a few times, but are kept rather as seed 

 bearers than rubber producers. The soil is gravelly, but seems 

 to grow almost anything. The land is but 33 feet above the 

 sea level, and the annual rainfall less than 100 inches. 



Not far from here is the oldest planting of Hcvea at this 

 place. These are trees about 30 years old. They are fine speci- 

 mens, and with massive trunks three or more feet in diameter. 

 As a rule the trunks are straight single stems, but here several 

 of the larger ones had huge divided trunks. I also had a look 

 at a few specimens of the Castilloa elastica. but they did not 

 appear to be doing well. I was also interested to see a good 

 specimen of the Landolphia florida, which did not strike me 

 as a vine that it would be at all profitable to cultivate. 



It is here at Heneratgoda gardens that the first successful 

 planting of Pari rubber occurred, and what is more important 

 it is due to the eminent scientists in charge of this garden and 



[" Herring Bone " Tapping, at 13 years.] [Tapping with Mallet and Chisel.J 



PARA RUBBER TREES ("HEVEA BRASILIENSIS '') AT HENERATGODA. 



