36 PLANTING IN UGANDA 



alter, and the whole plantation will be found to 

 pass through the resting stage at the same time. 



Any effect of over-tapping will be first evident 

 in the condition of the leaves and the growth of the 

 tree, and it should be constantly watched for, so 

 that at the slightest sign of unhealthy leaf or 

 impaired growth the tapping may be at once 

 stopped. 



In Ceylon and Malaya Para trees which have 

 been in cultivation for over 30 years still exist and 

 give large yields of Eubber. True they have not 

 been tapped continuously during this period, but 

 from experience gained during the last 10 years, 

 it is generally agreed that the modern methods of 

 tapping do not in any way injure the trees or 

 retard or weaken their growth. Indeed, when it 

 is seen that trees can develop from the young stage 

 to maturity with continuous tapping, there seems 

 little reason to fear any serious shortening of life 

 from the process. In its native forests the tree is 

 a long lived one, and there is every reason to expect 

 a long life for it in plantations. 



Cocoa. Owing to the habit which the Cocoa 

 tree possesses of casting superfluous pods in a 

 young stage, there seems little danger of over- 



