NOTES ON CEAHA RUHHER 233 



Cost of production of dry rubber at estate 

 should not exceed from Is. Gd. to 2s. per lb., 

 including every expense. 



Tapping trees to death : Not possible with the 

 stabbing method if properly performed. 



Seed from old trees is better than seed from 

 young. 



1,400 seeds in 1 kilo, 50 kilos in 1 bag. 50 

 rupees a bag. 



Good seed should germinate 80 to 90 per cent. 



How many men per acre should be kept ? One 

 man for 2 acres is fair average ; when plantation 

 is producing, nearly all these men will be tapping 

 except in dry months, when only the best tappers 

 are kept at it, the remainder hoeing. 



Planting leguminous crops for manure : Not 

 done, but certainly should be tried. 



Size of trees ready to tap : Anything above 25 

 centimetres in circumference ; very often smaller 

 trees are tapped if over 2J years old. 



Knives : Almost any knife will do. The 

 commonest knives used in German East Africa 

 are called " Superior Butcher," 3s. per dozen, 

 others 4s. They last about three months. Points 

 of knives should be rounded. 



Loss of weight in drying : Up to 50 per cent., 

 sometimes not more than 25 per cent. ; with young 

 trees under 6 3'ears scarcely ever under 40 per cent. 



