CHAPTER V 



HEVEA. PLANTING OPERATIONS 



Choice of situation and soil. 



THE hardiness of the Hevea rubber tree in the 

 different countries of its adoption has been the occasion 

 of some surprise. In Ceylon the trees have made re- 

 markably good growth in situations where, in the early 

 days of their introduction to the country, botanical 

 experts would never have supposed them capable of 

 growing with permanent success. Anywhere in moist 

 climates within ten degrees of the equator Hevea will 

 grow, though not luxuriantly, even in rocky situa- 

 tions up to 2500 feet elevation. Here it may be seen 

 entering into competition with the still more hardy 

 tea-bush in its power of making the best of unfavourable 

 circumstances. It will also grow in comparatively dry 

 districts, if adequately protected from wind. The soil 

 at Henaratgoda is remarkably poor ; nevertheless, as we 

 saw in the last chapter, phenomenal yields have been 

 obtained there from old trees. On such a soil, however, 

 the early growth of the trees is generally slow. In fact 



