24 
isolation in jungle would partially remedy this in that spores 
would be filtered by the jungle, and with about one or two 
sprayings area could be kept healthy. 
I think the best suggestion for getting a good strain of seed 
is to take a eal area of rubber of known yielding quality. 
This should be carefully watched for 2-3 years, and in this time 
all bad milkers could be eliminated. This would probably leave 
you with about 40-50 trees per acre, and these the very best 
yielders. This area could be kept sprayed regardless of expense 
in order to keep down pod disease, and the seeds from it care- 
from the rest of the estate to prevent any cross-fertilisation, or 
it could be surrounded by a belt of some quick- growing trees, 
such as Albizzias, to help in preventing cross-fertilisatio 
The seed from such an area would not of course = a pure 
strain, but this cuca be allowed for by planting an excess of 
trees per acre up to 200. It is not the truly scientific method 
but is the most rapid one ‘laisse a fairly pure strain could be 
obtained ; proper scientific methods would take about 20 years’ 
work to obtai really satisfactory result. 
Mr. arden raises one or two points of a more general nature. 
He is of opinion that the seeds selected should be not only from 
trees of established good yielding capacity, but also of good bark- 
renewing ability. Presumably the bark-renewing ability is 
chiefly a question of the general health of the tree, and con- 
sequently in selecting seeds from good milkers we should avoid 
weakly or diseased trees. Until seeds of good milkers only are 
available, Mr. Marsden considers that small extensions can be 
made without fear of disappointment if :— 
miantng The healthiest plants in the nursery be taken for 
planti 
2) The plants be well planted in properly cut holes. 
3) A sufficient number of trees per acre be planted, at 
least 150 trees per acre, to afford plenty of trees for selection 
in thinning out when the trees come into 
We are e indebted to the Rubber Growers’ Association. for per- 
mission to publish these extracts from their Reports. 
IiI.—DECADES KEWENSES 
PLANTARUM NOVARUM IN HERBARIO HORTI REGII CONSERVATARUM. 
: DECAS XC. 
891. Aconitum funiculare, Stapf [Ranunculaceae-Helle- 
boreae | ; stds cies sectionis Napelli tuberibus hornotinis 
Bpe 
pluribus funicularibus insigne. 
Tubera (in specimine unico viso) 5; unum annotinum, caetera 
hornotina, omnia cylindrica, basin versus attenuata, tota longi- 
radices sepa eirciter 1 em. distantes emittentia, 
3-9 ¢ onga, 2- m. diametro, viva pallide fusca, fractura 
nivea es etre ‘tolerabili ; cambium cylindrum centrale 
