51 



growth is continually working to destroy the pieces kept 

 clean, and it needs continual attention and great expen- 

 diture to prevent this. The neighbourhood of lalang near 

 the Hevea-roots, which extend far in the soil, cannot 

 have a favourable influence. 



In an estate in Java, where formerly the gardens were 

 kept in this manner, the weeds were eventually cleaned 

 out by giving a few more feet of diameter to the clean 

 spaces each weeding time, so that the spaces ultimately 

 joined and the whole surface was clean. I visited this 

 estate before and alter this improvement and it was inte- 

 resting to notice how the trees increased after the clear- 

 ance. The upkeep of a Hevea plantation is not very 

 expensive. 



If the trees are planted at an average distance, in 

 about 4 to 5 years, the plantation will have closed up, and 

 a few years later, it will be a dark forest, where no weeds 

 can penetrate. There will only be found some quantity 

 of young plants, sprung from the seeds which have 

 fallen from the older trees. It is advisable to weed out 

 these small plants regularly, as they rob the soil unneces- 

 sarily, and increase the danger of fungus. 



