io THE RUBBER TREE BOOK 



not for the dust present in the atmosphere, instead of seeing 

 blue skies overhead we should look up into a black and gloomy 

 vault above. 



A further point of the utmost importance in considering 

 soils, yet generally neglected and, so 'far as the writer is aware, 

 never referred to in any volume dealing with rubber cultivation, 

 is the ability of soil to draw and raise up water from sub-soils 

 and to attract it horizontally from surrounding regions. The 

 importance of this may not be recognized at first glance, but it 

 is vital. Did soils not possess such power to bring forward 

 fresh supplies of moisture, plant-life might perish. When the 

 roots of a tree are drawing in nourishment in a state of solution 

 from the soil, it is evident that the root-cells are draining the 

 soil in the immediate neighbourhood of all moisture. There 

 is, therefore, a process of suction proceeding, and a movement 

 of films of moisture towards the roots of the tree from all sides. 

 Were it not for this, so soon as the supplies of water close to 

 the roots were exhausted, the roots would have to immediately 

 cease feeding; growth would not only be suspended, but the 

 plant would not have material to draw upon to repair the 

 waste constantly going on, and if fresh supplies of water were 

 long delayed it would perish. It is as important to have a free 

 circulation of water in the soil as it is to have air freely admitted. 



This capillary power, as it is called, which the soil possesses 

 of drawing up water from the sub-soil has the result that there 

 is a constant movement of moisture towards the surface, where 

 the water evaporates quickly under strong sunshine. This 

 loss of moisture is far more serious than is recognized, and 

 may have a distinctly retarding effect upon the growth of the 

 trees. It has the effect of putting the trees upon a reduced 

 diet, for as food can only be absorbed in a state of solution, 

 when moisture is scarce food absorption is slow and growth 

 expansion hindered. As elsewhere pointed out, a good rainfall 

 means good growth and good yields of latex. But a good 

 rainfall may be largely allowed to waste itself by means of 

 rapid evaporation if not hindered. This is where cultivation 

 plays so important a part. When the surface of the soil is 

 loose and broken up by cultivation, the surface-soil loses this 

 power of drawing up moisture from the sub-soil to the surface 

 and the moisture is kept at a low level and rainfall is con- 



