274 THE RUBBER TREE BOOK 



be some special reason in the nature or condition of the soil to 

 account for this, but as yet the reason is unknown. 



It has been reported that, on one estate in the Kelani Valley, 

 Ceylon, the burrs fell out after the trees were well manured. 

 It would be very interesting to learn whether any other planters 

 had a similar experience. 



Fasti alion. This is rather an abnormal form of growth 

 than an actual disease. Fasciation is the growing together of 

 a series of stems, or stems and leaves, to form a broad, irregular 

 structure. 



The cause of fasciation is little understood. Fasciation is 

 not, like the growths of gall-nuts, caused by insects. It may 

 possibly arise from some injury received by the seed. In the 

 case of trees which bear branches with these irregular growths 

 the tendency seems persistent. Even when all such branches 

 are cut off, the irregular structures appear again. Like the 

 " black sheep " that is the constant grief of the parents of an 

 otherwise respectable family, this is one of the things no fellow 

 can understand. 



