24 THE WHOLE ART OF RUBBER-GROWING 



percha Works) to be " fully equal to good Pnra 

 rubber as regards strength and elasticity ". 



It would appear that the general custom was to 

 plant at intervals of 12 feet, and to clean-weed until 

 the tree had attained sufficient height to afford 

 enough shade to keep down the undergrowth. In 

 view of the very pronounced objection that obtains 

 in many quarters — chiefly by laymen primed by 

 secondhand impressions — to so-called close planting, 

 it is interesting to find that in no case do the Govern- 

 ment staff plant less than 250 Heveas to the acre. 

 As a matter of fact the rule is to plant 8 feet by 

 10 feet. In a minute on this subject issued in 1906 

 by Dr. Trimen's successor, Dr. J. C. Willis, F.L.S., 

 the following occurs : 



" Various distances apart have been tried in plant- 

 ing Hevea. . . . The best results have been obtained 

 by planting 8 or 10 feet apart each way. The trees 

 thus form their own shade and keep down weeds. 

 . . . Another advantage of close planting is that 

 the trees grow up straight without forming many 

 branches low down, and this very greatly facilitates 

 tapping." 



The same authority emphasises the opinion the 

 present writer has always expressed against inter- 

 planting of any kind with Hevea. 



" Para rubber ", he states, " is a surface-feeding 

 tree, and catch-crops should not therefore be grown 

 between the trees, which require all the nourishment 

 that the soil can afford." At Heneratgoda Gardens, 



