H4 THE RUBBER TREE BOOK 



gather sixty nuts of good size from each tree, fifty trees to the 

 acre, and have a total of 3000 nuts per acre per annum, than to 

 gather thirty nuts per tree from eighty trees per acre and find 

 that the total number of nuts gathered per annum is only 

 2400, while the weight of the copra of these 2400 nuts is only 

 equal to the weight of 1500 of the nuts of more widely-planted 

 trees. 



The mistakes of rubber planters have arisen from the fact 

 that they have had no experience behind them for a guide. 

 Hence the indecision as to planting distances. 



One manager concludes that 18 feet by 18 feet, which allows 

 134 trees to the acre, is a reasonable distance from which he 

 may obtain the best yield per acre. Another thinks 15 feet by 

 15 feet, which allows 193 trees to the acre, will yield much 

 higher results. All fear that if the number of trees per acre is 

 reduced the total output per acre will be smaller. The welfare 

 of each individual tree seems scarcely to enter into their calcu- 

 lations. The one idea which occupies the mind is How can 

 we get the biggest output? 



In the first place, let us note that, if a rubber plantation is 

 to be a permanent investment, one cannot afford to ignore, 

 or even to treat as a secondary matter, the welfare, the health 

 and the longevity of the trees. 



The present planted areas of many of the older estates are, 

 as pointed out, in a very critical state in very many cases. 

 Large areas are being, perforce, rested, and yields fall off or 

 do not increase, bark does not renew well, the foliage on the 

 trees is decreasing, the soil is becoming barren, the trees are 

 starving. A new, more reasonable and less severe system of 

 tapping will help, along with a drastic thinning-out, and the crisis 

 no doubt will be safely surmounted, for a time at least, but these 

 estates will not be able to maintain their places in the front 

 rank. 



It seems, then, well worthy of close consideration whether 

 it would not be better to follow the example of the planter of 

 coconut trees and plant rubber trees at wider distances than 

 in the past. 



The Hevea, under fair treatment, given space, light and air 

 and cultivation, grows to more than twice the dimensions of a 

 coconut tree. Its foliage has a spread very many times greater. 



