io8 RUBBER AND 



distance is probably about 30 x 30 feet under average 

 conditions, or 50 trees to the acre. 



Where a suitable inter-crop is available, an original 

 planting distance of 30 x 30 feet may probably be re- 

 commended. But where rubber is the only cultivation, 

 planting at such a distance means foregoing a con- 

 siderable amount of profit during the earlier stages. 

 It is therefore not likely that such wide planting will 

 often be adopted in practice. With closer planting 

 the question of thinning out will have to be faced later 

 on. This process will more properly be discussed at 

 a somewhat later stage. 



The distances mentioned in the preceding para- 

 graphs apply to average conditions and may be 

 somewhat increased or reduced according to circum- 

 stances. It is convenient to remember that 



TABLE XXVI 



a distance of gives approximately actually trees 



feet trees per acre per acre 



12x12 300 302 



15x15 200 194 



15x20 150 145 



20X20 100 IO9 



30 x 30 50 48 



35 X 35 35 35 



The figures given above apply to planting on the 

 square. By adopting the hexagonal system of planting 

 the distance between any given tree and its nearest 

 neighbours is somewhat increased, keeping the same 



