RUBBER PLANTING 121 



Thinning out. 



There can be no doubt that thinning out is a problem 

 which will soon have to be faced on the majority of 

 estates, and on many the process is already in operation. 

 The most important principle to be observed in thinning 

 /is to disregard the position of the trees. In the opinion 

 of the writer, it would be a great mistake simply to 

 remove alternate trees regardless of their individual 

 value. Under ordinary conditions, whatever the position 

 of the remaining trees may be, and however large the 

 gaps caused by felling, the roots will soon explore the 

 whole of the remaining soil, and the branches will come 

 after a time to occupy the remaining air space. In 

 the first place then, all weakly or diseased trees should 

 be removed, and secondly all those which are found 

 to give the poorest yields of rubber. Large trees may 

 have to be taken down in sections, since their fall would 

 lead to injury of the surrounding trees. The stumps 

 must next be dug out or extracted. The site of the old 

 tree should be thoroughly dug over and well limed, 

 and as much of the roots as possible taken away. All 

 dead wood and roots must be burned. The older parts 

 of Hevea make a fairly good fuel which may be utilized 

 in the factory. 



Oil from Rubber Seeds. 



It has been suggested that the collection of the seeds 

 which are now produced in large quantities on Hevea 

 plantations may form the basis of a profitable minor 



