53 



wider system of planting perhaps 6 years, - - the catch 

 crop must be taken out, the shade of the old Hevea 

 is too close to have another cultivation beneath it; 

 perhaps too, from the point of view of management 

 there would be objections against proceeding with tapping 

 while at the same time taking care of the catch crop. 

 It is advisable to plant the Hevea out fairly close together 

 in the rows, but with wider distances between the rows; 

 a sufficient number of trees can be planted per acre 

 and will still leave a space for roads where the catch 

 crops can find a place. 



It is advisable not to approach the rubber too closely 

 with the catch crop ; a suitable distance is, for instance, 

 6 to 7 feet on either side of the Hevea rows. There 

 is then no danger of the Hevea suffering from the catch 

 crop or that the latter may be too much overshadowed 

 by the Hevea and moreover, a large open space on 

 both sides of the Hevea facilitates the control of the 

 maintenance. 



For a plant to be suitable for a catch crop, it must 

 answer the following requirements ; 



1. It must not prejudice the development of the Hevea. 



2. It must come into production as soon as possible. 



3. Its cultivation must not present special difficulties 

 requiring a exceptionally trained labour force ; the 

 production must not require a special installation 

 of expensive machinery. 



2. CATCH CROPS IN THE MALAY PENINSULA. 



The catch crops which I saw made use of in the 

 Malay Peninsula were the following: 



