154 THE RUBBER INDUSTRY 



light ; elegantly if you can, but get there. This power 

 of reaching light regardless of symmetry of dome is a 

 valuable characteristic in the tree, and should be taken 

 advantage of by planters. It possesses this power in a 

 greater degree than any tree with which the writer is 

 acquainted, resembling in this respect a bamboo more 

 than an ordinary tree. 



The famous No. 2, the butt of which, with Mr. 

 Wickham at its side, figured so prominently in a 

 photograph at the recent New York Rubber Exhibition, 

 possesses no symmetry of form whatever at the top. 

 It has a magnificent upright trunk dividing into two at 

 a height of 12 feet from the ground. These two stems 

 then continue upwards, but soon begin to lean outwards, 

 finally expanding into a mass of branches and foliage 

 bending in one direction outwards. The shape of the 

 whole tree but for the fork is not unlike that of an 

 ostrich plume. Other of these trees exhibit the same 

 disregard of shape, though all alike possess large leaf 

 areas. 



The foliage of No. 2 extends to a distance of 55 feet 

 laterally from the base of the trunk. 



No. 439, the second heaviest yielder, is isolated. The 

 foliage of 401 extends outwards about 40 feet ; there is 

 a nutmeg within 8 feet of it ; No. 445 has a very fine 

 crown, overtopping small clove-trees in the vicinity. 

 The foliage of No. i extends to 44 feet, No. 7 to 31 feet. 



No definite conclusion can be drawn as to the effect 

 of early branching. The two heaviest yielders branch 

 early : No. 2 at 12 feet and No. 439 at 15 feet ; No. 438 

 also at 15 feet, No. i at 5 feet, No. 3 at 7 feet, No. 390 

 at 12 feet, No. 391 at 15 feet. On the other hand, 401, 



