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planted, will last for many years and has to flourish or fail according 

 to its fitness. Mistakes cannot be corrected as easily as in corn 

 growing, or cultivation of similar crops. It is clear that it will pay 

 a planter to exercise care in the first instance, even more care than 

 in the case of many other plants. This does not imply that a bad 

 start is absolutely hopeless, but rather that care and discretion in 

 the beginning will pay in the long run, and will save the planter 

 many disappointments. 



It is naturally difficult, well nigh impossible, to make any detailed 

 selection of seeds, when a large planting, say of thousands of acres, is 

 to be done in one season. But the planter can always subject his 

 seeds to the ordinary methods of selection, such as mentioned below. 



When commencing a plantation always get the seeds from 

 planters who to your knowledge cultivate their trees and keep 

 them clean. Naturally a tree that is well cared for will supply 

 better seed than a neglected tree. Choose seeds from trees that 

 look healthy, have straight tapering trunk, a full conical crown, 

 and are known to give a large amount of latex and rubber. 



Seeds from young trees, four to six years old, are larger and 

 look better than those obtained from older trees. It is proved by 

 experiments and experience that seeds from such young trees 

 develop into a healthier plant than seeds from older trees. When- 

 ever the tree is looking yellow or sickly, carefully avoid its seed. 

 The large seeds are always better than the small ones. In regard 

 to size the seeds should be selected by using a screen with meshes 

 one-fourth inch in diameter. All seeds passing through should be 

 discarded. The next step in selection of seed is to place them in a 

 vessel of water, and separate all seeds that float, or do not sink 

 rapidly, as these are defective. 



Influence of Maturity of Seed. 



If seeds are taken from fruits which are not mature and do not 

 have the clear colour of the flesh they will most likely either fail to 

 germinate, or produce inferior seedlings. Experience has shown 

 in regard to most cultivated plants that the maturity of the seed 

 has a considerable influence, ^on the offspring. Immature seeds 

 lessen the vitality of the subsequent seedling and tree. 



I have noticed that seeds from young plants are fuller and 

 more rounded than those from older trees. The seedling from 

 such a seed has smoother and bigger leaves than those developing 

 from seeds with a loose seed coat and ribs on its surface. 



The root development is much stronger in a seedling from seed 

 taken from younger trees, and this is another reason why careful 

 attention should be paid to the age of the parent tree. 



There can be no doubt but that planters who are careless and 

 do not select their seed, make a grave error which they will find 

 out to their regret. Thousands of dollars have been wasted by 

 ignorance or neglect in this respect. If a mistake is made in 

 selecting or non-selecting of seeds it will not be realised before the 

 lapse of at least a number of years, when it probably will be 

 impossible to correct the blunder, and make the plantation as 

 productive as it otherwise would have been. 



