36 PARA RUBBER. 



10 chains apart. Through these run lines at right angles to the 

 base line, then starting from the latter put in pegs at 10 chains 

 apart on the lines at right angles to the base. Each peg will 

 then mark the corner of a square block approximately 10 acres 

 in area, and these points may be permanently fixed by planting 

 on them a particular tree or shrub on which the number of the 

 block might be marked. If each of these blocks be numbered 

 in rotation it should be possible to refer to a particular line of 

 trees in any block by mentioning the block and the number of 

 the line in the block counting from a specified direction ; a 

 particular tree may be similarly indicated. Having demarcated 

 the estate in this manner an accurate plan of it may be easily 

 prepared and the position of roads, drains, streams, and hills 

 clearly defined. By adopting this system a uniformly laid out 

 estate will be obtained, and the allotting and controlling of task- 

 work, such as tapping, will be considerably facilitated. The area 

 of the blocks may be varied from 5, 15, to 20 acres by fixing 

 points on the lines running at right angles to the base at 5, 15, 

 or 20 chains apart respectively. 



DISTANCE APART TO PLANT TREES. 



The distance apart at which trees are planted varies consider- 

 ably in different plantations. In 1902 the commonest distance 

 at which Hevea trees were planted in Ceylon was 12 feet by 12 

 feet (302 to the acre), where no other crops were grown in con- 

 junction, and 40 feet by 40 feet (27 to the acre) when planted 

 amongst tea. At the same period planters in the Straits Settle- 

 ments were planting their trees at distances varying between 10 

 feet by 10 feet (435 to the acre) and 36 feet by 36 feet (33 to the 

 acre). Many of the more recently formed estates have their 

 trees planted at far wider distance apart than the majority of the 

 old plantations. The latter were established with the idea of 

 subsequently thinning out alternate trees by tapping them to 

 death, but the execution of this policy has been the exception 

 rather than the rule. The immense vitality of the Para rubber 

 tree prevents the tapping to death method from being expe- 

 ditiously effected. It is extremely doubtful whether it is a wise 

 plan to depauperate trees in this manner, as in this condition 

 they are far more susceptible to disease, and consequently en- 



