PLANTING AND CULTIVATING. 37 



courage the spreading of an epidemic to the whole plantation. 

 I saw trees in Ceylon, aged about ten years, planted 40 feet 

 apart, with their branches touching. It must, however, be borne 

 in mind that Para rubber tree cultivation is in its infancy, and 

 the proper distance to plant the trees apart is a matter which 

 will require experience extending over a long period to settle 

 satisfactorily. When permanent between-crops are not planted, 

 probably the best results will be obtained by planting fairly 

 closely, say from 15 feet by 15 to 20 feet by 20 apart, i.e., 193 

 and 109 trees per acre respectively, and afterwards thinning out 

 weakly trees as they become crowded. One distinct advantage 

 gained by close planting is that it tends to keep weeds down. 

 The extent to which thinning may have to be carried out will 

 be better appreciated when we bear in mind that cultivated trees 

 have grown to a height of nearly 100 feet with a girth of over 

 100 inches in thirty years. Again, where trees are planted fairly 

 closely together, a much larger yield will be obtained during 

 say the seventh to tenth years following the establishment of 

 the plantation than when planted farther apart. And provided 

 thinning-out be not delayed, no damage to the remaining trees 

 need necessarily follow. 



The very close planting of rubber trees, recommended by 

 some writers in order to encourage them to develop long straight 

 trunks to facilitate the tapping operations, is not essential in the 

 cultivation of the Para rubber tree, for, as will be demonstrated 

 later, it is advisable only to tap about six feet of the lower 

 portion of the trunk of this tree. Every encouragement should 

 therefore be given to it to increase the size of its trunk in girth 

 and to form a sturdy tree. 



All things being equal, a large tree will produce more latex 

 than a smaller one of the same age, so that it is imperative that 

 the tree's growth should not be checked by overcrowding, as it 

 is a lover of sun and not of shade. 



Close planting produces tall trees, and wide planting sturdy 

 branching trees. This is one of the primary principles of 

 arboriculture. As we wish to encourage the latter habit it is 

 obvious that it would be better to err on the side of wide 

 planting. 



All trees, bush, &c., growing on the land to be planted, 

 should be cut down and burnt before planting commences, and 



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