124 THE RUBBER TREE BOOK 



vantage of this is pointed out elsewhere. Then, further vacancies 

 for the most part occur when the trees are very young and the 

 vacancies can be economically re-supplied. 



Several of the best-known visiting agents and estate 

 managers in the Federated Malay States and Straits Settlements 

 have acknowledged that they agree that forty-eight trees, or 

 even less, per acre are sufficient and would give as good if not 

 better returns per acre, but they are somewhat timid in pressing 

 their convictions upon their board of directors. This, while 

 natural, is to be regretted. It is especially to be regretted when 

 additional areas are being planted up at distances that the 

 manager and the visiting agents condemn in their hearts. One 

 can sympathize with them, however, in their endeavours to 

 make the changes in existing conditions on planted land a 

 gradual process. Boards of directors, as a rule, are conserva- 

 tive. They do not like changes. A change which would very 

 materially reduce the number of the trees on their estates 

 would not readily commend itself to them, and it is felt that 

 the process of education must, of necessity, be a slow one. 

 Still, there is no doubt that the change in favour of a system of 

 wide-planting is approaching. The sooner it comes about the 

 better for the rubber-planting industry. The old estates have 

 reaped handsome profits in the past, but the future is for the 

 younger estates planted on a saner system. No doubt, however, 

 much is being done, and will be done, to improve the condition 

 of the older estates by severe thinning-out. 



This whole subject of proper distances for planting-out is 

 one which might very well be taken in hand by the Governments 

 of Ceylon and the Federated Malay States. The best scientific 

 advice should be engaged to help in this important work. The 

 prosperity of the Middle East is largely based on the welfare 

 and success of the rubber-planting industry, and there can be 

 no proper condition of plant sanitation so long as planting 

 distances are too close. 



' The life of trees is as the life of man." While it is true 

 that under favourable conditions a Hevea can attain a good old 

 age, yet it is by no means every tree that does so. A fairly 

 close parallel can be legitimately drawn between the duration 

 of life of the Heveas and that of mankind. In infancy, in both 

 cases, the mortality is very heavy. The diseases, risks and 



