PARA RUBBER TREE AT HOME AND ABROAD. 25 



in the year 1897, were tapped during the season December to 

 March 1906-7 and yielded 10 Ibs. of rubber.* 



A Para tree in Uganda had produced a trunk with a girth of 

 \2\ inches at 4 feet from the ground, and had grown 27! feet 

 high when four and a half years of age. Some 200 trees in the 

 same country have grown 17 feet high in two and a quarter 

 years. The Acting Director of Agriculture in the Gold Coast 

 estimated that the Para trees planted in the Aburi Botanic 

 Gardens in that colony in the year 1900 would be ready for 

 tapping during 1907.-}- 



Measurements taken of trees in the Tarkwa Botanic Station, 

 Gold Coast, in December 1906, are given below : 



An illustration of eighteen-month-old trees, growing in this 

 station, is given (Fig. 3). 



The Director of Agriculture for the Federated Malay States 

 quotes the average growth in that country as 3 to 9 inches girth 

 in two years, 10 to 30 inches girth in four to six years, and 

 30 to 60 inches in seven to ten years. Planters conversant with 

 both Ceylon and Malaya affirm that in the latter country trees 

 arrive at the productive stage at least one year earlier than in 

 Ceylon ; this more rapid growth is attributed to the virgin soil 

 on most of the estates and not to any climatic advantage. 



* Agricultural Journal, India, July 1907. 



t Annual Report, Botanical and Agricultural Department, Gold Coast, 

 1906. 



