32 PARA RUBBER. 



any particular variety arc not necessarily " fixed " in the plants 

 raised from seeds collected from it. 



" Marcotting " is commonly employed by horticulturists when 

 they wish to perpetuate any particular variety of plant which 

 may be difficult to propagate from cuttings. A promising 

 young growth having been selected, a ring of bark is taken off 

 the stem immediately beneath a node or leaf scar, or the stem 

 may be partially severed at this point with a sharp knife. Moist 

 moss or some similar material is then bound round the cut 

 portion and the bandage kept constantly moist until roots are 

 produced ; it may then be severed from its parent and trans- 

 planted. 



When propagation by cuttings is resorted to, young growths 

 about one foot long will be found to give the best results. The 

 base of the cutting should be cut off with a sharp knife just 

 below a leaf or leaf scar, and inserted firmly in the ground. The 

 cuttings require to be shaded and watered regularly. 



Whichever method of propagation be resorted to, it is 

 important to bear in mind that the amount of care bestowed 

 on the young plants will materially affect the after-life of 

 the trees. When badly grown seedlings are planted out in the 

 plantation, they never grow so satisfactorily as strong healthy 

 ones do. 



Seedlings when too heavily shaded, or crowded too closely 

 together in the nurseries, usually grow into sickly, drawn 

 specimens. 



The young seedlings in the nurseries are greatly benefited by 

 being syringed two or three times a day during hot weather. 

 And this also tends to free them of green-fly, which is some- 

 times very troublesome. 



Applications of cow-dung to young plants in the Straits 

 Settlements have proved beneficial in stimulating growth. 



