44 THE WHOLE ART OF RUBBER-GROWING 



sheltered they may be planted 15 feet apart each 

 way. The Hevea cannot tolerate the wind. Under 

 its influences the plant becomes stubborn and bark- 

 bound, and refuses to grow save in a fantastic 

 fashion all it's own, and in a manner inimical 

 to any chance of its ever becoming a profit- 

 able tree. Hence the first principle in suc- 

 cessful cultivation is the prevention of any 

 wind exposure and the planting of the tree at dis- 

 tances in conformity with the lie of the land. This 

 work should be undertaken as soon as the contractor 

 can hand over the ground as it is cleared. 



We begin by staking out the plantation with white- 

 painted " stubs " or sticks, which are placed just 

 where the trees will stand, and always in an easterly 

 by westerly direction. " Holing " is the next 

 operation. This consists of the removal of a circle 

 of earth around the mark stake at a diameter of 

 18 inches and a depth of 9 inches. New soil is intro- 

 duced, and well pulverised, and where the seed is 

 raised direct and " sowing to stake " methods are in 

 operation, the soil is carefully filled in, and the seed 

 put 2\ inches deep, germination taking place 

 generally in about 20 days. If " stumps " are used 

 the shortened saplings — for such are stumps — are 

 placed in the hole, the tap-root being allowed to lie in 

 a narrow funnel of earth, so that the tender surface- 

 feeding rootlets rest evenly 6 inches from the surface, 

 the soil of which must be well pressed down without 

 unduly cramping the young plant. 



When the plantation has received the final touches 

 at the hands of the contractor, and the seed, or 



