1 32 RUBBER PLANTING ON THE 



within a week or two at the longest. It might be well to note here that 

 Mr. Harvey kept some seeds alive by packing in charcoal, and that they 

 germinated when planted several months later, but no one but a trained 

 horticulturist would be likely to be successful with such an experiment. 

 With regard to the planting of the seed, it should be remembered that 

 the first rains are oftentimes followed by a week or two of dry weather. 

 It is therefore best to wait until at least four inches of rain have fallen, 

 that is, when planting in heavy soil, and to have a reserve of seed saved 

 for failures, either from drought, washouts, or lack of germination. 



On one of the plantations I was shown the result of a very interest- 

 ing experiment, which was designed to show why, of two seeds, planted 

 near each other in apparently equally favorable positions, one produced 

 a vigorous tree, while the other produced a weakling. To determine 

 this, the planter selected three sizes of seeds and planted them under 

 equal conditions, supposing naturally that the largest seed would produce 

 the most vigorous plant. He learned, however, that size had nothing to 

 do with it, as in some cases the smallest seeds produced gave the best 

 result. The real difference seems to be, therefore, in the inherent vitality 

 of the seed itself. There are a great many ideas regarding the best way 

 of planting the Castilloa, and there is no doubt but that different methods 

 are adapted for difference of situations. I am firmly convinced, however, 

 that, in the region I visited, by far the best method of planting is at the 

 stake, backed up by a small nursery, in order that the failures may be 

 made good. Any one who has seen two-year-old seedlings as against 

 two-year-old nursery plants will, I think, agree with me. 



Again and again was it impressed upon me how alert and careful 

 the planter must be in preparing his ground, and especially in getting 

 his seed at the right time, and getting it into the ground so that it shall 

 have the proper start. And their knowledge has come through acknowl- 

 edged failures. One good friend of mine bought a ton of seed at one 

 dollar a pound, and was unlucky enough to have it all spoil. Another 

 cleared hundreds of acres for which he failed to get any seed, the clear- 

 ing having to lie over until the year following. And these are but two 

 of many instances which would discourage any but the most determined 

 men. But such happenings do not reach the same man twice. 



On our arrival at La Buena Ventura, mine host found a letter 

 'from a large planter down near Coatzacoalcos, inviting him to visit his 

 place, and as that was just the direction in which I had planned to go, 

 I resolved to embrace the chance to go with the best of guides. It 

 therefore happened that early morning found us in the saddle, bound 



