PLANTING AND CULTIVATING. 35 



trees have a poor growth as compared with those in the 

 highlands, where they are found with a circumference of 10 

 to 1 2 feet " ; also " the true forests of the natural Para rubber 

 tree lie back on the highlands. As a matter of fact, the whole 

 of the Hevea brought out of the forest by me for the Govern- 

 ment of India were from large grown trees found in the forest 

 covering the broad plateau dividing the Tapajos from the 

 Madeira River." 



In the Federated Malay States it is grown up to 2,500 feet. 

 3,000 feet is not considered the maximum altitude at which it 

 may be profitably grown in Southern India, high-class rubber 

 having been produced at 3,000 feet where the rainfall is only 

 about 45 inches per annum. 



The writer has seen the foliage of Para rubber trees, in both 

 East and West Africa, looking fresh and green when such plants 

 as coffee, cocoa, and cotton were drooping and losing their 

 leaves because of drought. There is reason to believe that 

 this tree could be profitably grown under irrigation in much 

 drier regions than those in which it is now extensively cultivated. 

 An interesting plantation of this nature is now making satisfactory 

 progress on the property of the Guara Guara and Massanzane 

 Estates Company, on the banks of the Buzi River, East Africa. 



Estates at high elevations in Ceylon almost invariably 

 produce cinchona bark richer in alkaloid, finer coffee berries, 

 and better flavoured tea than estates in the low country of that 

 island. In the open competition for Para " biscuit " rubber at 

 the Ceylon Rubber Exhibition, held in September 1906, 

 " biscuits " produced by ten-year-old trees on the Duckwari 

 Estate, which is situated 2,600 to 3,000 feet above sea-level, 

 carried off the prize. 



PLOTTING OUT THE ESTATE. 



To facilitate the keeping of records, inspection, and for 

 reference purposes, it will be found convenient to divide up the 

 newly cleared estate into rectangular, preferably square, blocks. 

 Ten acres is a suitable area for each block. If the estate has 

 been surveyed, the longest boundary line may be used as a base 

 line, or a base line may be taken right through the centre of the 

 estate. Commencing at one end of the base line put in pegs at 



