10 



greater length than 8 inches. A few years ago the land was 

 covered with a layer ot ashes through the eruption of a neighbour- 

 ing volcano, Santa Maria, just across the Guatemala line. These 

 ashes have formed a cover over the ground which materially 

 assists in checking evaporation. The fertility of the soil is not 

 unusually high, so that we may in time have to apply fertilizers. 

 Experiments are now being conducted to ascertain the results 

 of manuring this soil for rubber. The soil is rather poor in 

 nitrogen and it has been found that the growing of leguminous 

 plants between the rubber trees markedly influences the develop- 

 ment of these. 



If I add that the plantation is comparatively little exposed 

 to high winds I have shown some of the reasons why I consider 

 the natural conditions of this place nearly ideal for Castilla planting. 



The method of planting first employed was to sow the seeds 

 in nurseries, and when the seedlings were 4 to 6 months old they 

 were transplanted. Very often, however, transplanting was not done 

 before a year after sowing. The plants were then from five to 

 twelve feet high. The seedlings were cut 5 or 6 inches below the 

 surface, and topped, leaving a pole some 3 feet long. Tied into 

 bundles, which were packed on mule back, these poles were carried 

 to the field. With a pointed stake, holes were made in the ground 

 about one foot deep, the pole placed in the hole and the soil pressed 

 close to the stem. When this planting was done carefully and 

 if rain fell within the next two or three days not more than 3 or 4 

 per cent, of failures occurred. In places where the soil was some- 

 what sandy the failures were more frequent. On Zacualpa as 

 many as 18,000 trees have been planted per day in this manner. 

 At first it was believed that shade was necessary, but it was soon 

 noticed that this idea was erroneous and a system of planting in 

 semi-shade was adopted. When clearing a certain amount of high 

 forest trees were left standing, about four to the acre. It is now 

 demonstrated, however, that even this amount of shade is too much 

 on Zacualpa. On the other plantations, however, Juilapa and 

 Zacualpa II, this semi-shade is beneficial as it assists the young 

 plants through the dry season. These plantations are situated at a 

 somewhat higher elevation, -and the land is undulating and more 

 drained. 



Later experience has proved that the cheapest and surest 

 method is to plant the seeds at stake. Nearly a year's growth is 

 thus gained, and it does away with the expensive replanting where 

 failures occur under the transplanting method. The seeds are 

 planted in small hills, about seven seeds in each hill, three inches 

 between the seeds. The hills are at a distance of about seven feet, 

 in rows twelve feet apart. This method of planting appears at 

 first sight decidedly wrong as the plants stand too close. A planter 

 of Para rubber naturally thinks of the price of every seed be puts 

 in the ground, but this is a minor consideration in the case of the 

 small and rather cheap Castilla seeds. On Zacualpa we have the 

 seeds for the picking, and any quantity of them. 



In planting in the manner described we allow for a high 

 percentage of failures in germination, we are prepared to give ants, 

 lizards and field rats their due amount, and we still have plants in 



