34 



PARA RUBBER. 



a very important fact, and one that will no doubt be noted 

 by all concerned in Para. It is probably due to the colder 

 atmosphere at the higher elevation, which does not tend to 

 coagulate the pure latex as it exudes from the wound, whereas 

 at a lower elevation the temperature being much higher, the 

 latex scarcely has time to run into the cups before it coagulates 

 on the way, owing to the heat." 



Mr Stanley Arden writes : 



" Nothing could succeed better than this tree does in the 

 Federated Malay States, planted on newly-cleared, well-drained 

 land ; and although it is often stated that partial shade, swampy 

 places, and other conditions are essential to success, given a 

 climate with a uniform temperature of about 90 Fahr., and a 

 large rainfall equally distributed throughout the year, the 

 conditions laid down above are eminently suitable. So far as 

 I can judge it does not appear that the nature of the soil affects 

 either the quantity or the quality of the latex (milk), but in 

 any case it is advisable to plant on a fairly rich soil, a loamy 

 soil for preference, as under such circumstances the tree would 

 grow quicker and stronger, and probably give a return at a 

 younger age than if grown on land deficient in the necessary 

 constituents of plant life." 



Some trees in the Botanic Gardens, Aburi, Gold Coast, 

 situated about 1,500 feet above sea-level, are flourishing in 

 comparatively poor stony soil. Although the tree appears to 

 grow in comparatively poor soil in the tropics where the rainfall 

 is sufficient, it does not grow so vigorously on stiff clayey or 

 on dry stony lands as on moist low-lying alluvial lands. 



The 1897 report upon the Government Para Plantations in 

 Ceylon states : " The land at certain periods of the year was 

 subject to floods. It was found, however, that these periodical 

 inundations were harmful, and that plants below flood level 

 were destroyed, notwithstanding much attention having been 

 paid to the supplying of vacancies. By this loss about one- 

 fourth of the plantation was destroyed, but of the remainder 

 above high-water mark I cannot speak too highly." 



Wickham, one of the first investigators of the Para rubber 

 tree in its native habitat, states that, " near the rivers the Para 



* Report on Hevea brasiliensis in the Malay Peninsula, 1902. 



