August t, 1904.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



371 



FIELD OF PARA RUBBER ( HEVEA"). 

 [In Singapore Botanic Gardens.] 



Another experiment in distance planting was a row of 17 

 trees that were set 6 feet apart, that although they were only 8 

 years old, were 2 feet in diameter and showed a magnificent 

 leaf area. These, of course, 

 had the sun on both sides, 

 and thus came along faster 

 than if in partial shade. The 

 number of Hevea trees in the 

 gardens now ready for tap- 

 ping is 1300. A still further 

 experiment with the Hevea 

 was the planting of the seed 

 in specially prepared beds, in 

 which a variety of different 

 manures were placed. The 

 photograph tells the whole 

 story and would seem to point 

 to cow dung as the best food 

 for the young Hevea. The 

 soil in the gardens is not par- 

 ticularly rich, being of a red 

 gravelly character, showing 

 traces of iron, but the moist- 

 ure and the sunlight make up for what it may lack. 



Next after the Hevea I wanted most to examine the tree that 

 produces the Gutta- jelutong, or Pontianak gum. I found that it 

 was very common all through the Federated Malay States, and 

 that the gum was rarely taken from it, the tree being regarded as 

 useful only for the cheap clogs that the natives wear. The tree 

 is botanically the Dyera cosiulata and when mature is a splen- 

 did forest creation. One in the gardens, of which I have a 

 photograph, was certainly 150 feet high, with a huge three part 

 trunk, and a magnificent crown of leaves. We did not tap this 

 one, but went into the jungle, found a wild one, and tapped it 

 after the most approved method. The latex oozed out like 

 clotted cream and seemed most abundant, but began to coagu- 

 late almost at once. It is said that a mature tree produces as 

 much as 100 pounds, by scraping the bark rather than tapping, 

 and mixing at once with kerosene. 



In the bit of jungle where we found the Pontianak tree, 

 there was killed only a few days before a 30 foot python, that 

 had not been thought a particularly undesirable neighbor until 

 he swallowed a couple of Mr. Ridley's swans, which ended his 

 fate. 



The Castilloa in the gardens did not seem to be in a very 

 flourishing condition, nor did the Ceara rubber trees, although 

 both have been carefully experimented with, the former seem- 

 ing to be stunted, while the latter was apt to develop hollow 

 stems. A further trouble with the Castilloa came about through 

 its habit of shedding its temporary branches, which givesa nice 

 sheltered tender spot for the beetles, of which they often avail 

 themselves. There was also a most luxuriant growth of the 

 Willughbeia firma, but it was such a tangle that it would be al- 

 most impossible to get any rubber out of it economically. In- 

 deed, I have yet to find anyone that has experimented with the 

 culture of the vines that are rubber producers who have any 

 faith in them at all. The Willughbeia, however, when wild, 

 produces a good grade of rubber that is known as " Borneo," 

 and is very easily coagulated after tapping. There were also a 

 great variety of Gutta-percha trees, together with the Ficus 

 and the Kickxia, to which we devoted considerable attention. 

 Director Ridley is a most charming companion, and as he 

 often takes long journeys into the wilds accompanied only by 

 the wild men, his stories of adventure are very interesting. 

 His guides in the wilds, by the way, never can understand his 

 interest in insects or plants, except upon the hypothesis that 

 he is after ingredients to make " gold water," a magic liquid 

 that the white man is always yearning to make and which will 



turn anything into gold. The 

 type of coolie in Malaysia is, 

 however, far superior to that 

 in Ceylon. They are better 

 formed, stronger, and far more 

 self respecting. Nor do they 

 call the white man " master " ; 

 to them he is " tuan " (Sir). 



There are many tigers in 

 the Malay peninsula and some 

 in the island of Singapore. In 

 the bit of jungle where we 

 secured the latex of the Gutta- 

 jelutong there often lurked a 

 tigress who swam over from 

 the main land and had her 

 nest there. As a rule they are 

 troublesome only as they steal 

 the Chinamen's pigs, and 

 while there is now and then 

 one who gets to be a man eater, it is not European meat that 

 they seek, but the flesh of the coolies. They are very clever 



SHOOTS FROM A FALLEN HEVEA TRUNK. 

 [With view of Director H. N. Ridley ] 



COAGULATING AND PRESSING PARA RUBBER. 



