32 PARA RUBBER. 



are widely planted. I have seen several examples of 14-year-old 

 tea planted with 6-year-old Para rubber, the latter 15 by 10 feet 

 apart ; the tea presented a very weak, spindly appearance and could 

 not be profitably plucked. The cultivation of tea under closely- 

 planted rubber is more or less of a catch crop, but several estates 

 are known where the rubber is widely planted amongst tea and 

 both are bearing and doing well. The two products are very 

 frequently grown.together in Ceylon — especially in the low-coun- 

 try and in parts of Matale, Kegalla and theUva Province up to 2,600 

 feet, and in South India up to 3,500 feet. The illustrations on Plate 

 2. & 3, Series C, and Plate 12, Series D, show properties in Ceylon 

 where tea and rubber are growing together. 



Cacao and coffee planted in the middle of the lines will last 

 for several years under rubber. The roots of these plants do 

 not as closely ramify the soil as those of the crowded tea plants, 

 though they will ultimately have to face the struggle for existence 

 with the roots of Para rubber and will probably be choked out. 

 Cacao may be planted 10 to 20 feet apart, and the amount of soil 

 on good cacao estates which is free from roots is often very 

 large and permits of the growth of other trees on the same acreage. 

 Cacao under rubber will last much longer than tea, and the protec- 

 tion of the Para rubber trees against excessive exposure is no doubt 

 greatly in favour of the two products being grown together. In the 

 Matale, Dumbara, Kurunegala, Polgahawela, and Kandy Districts 

 of Ceylon, cacao and Para rubber as a mixed cultivation is 

 extending. Good results have been obtained on Kepitigalla, 

 Dangan, Wariapolla and many other estates in Matale and on 

 numerous private and public properties in the above-mentioned 

 districts. The planting of both products on the same soil is done 

 in such a way as to allow free root areas for both species during 

 the first five years, many planting the cacao and rubber both 

 twenty fee b apart so that there will be approximately 100 rubber 

 and 100 cacao trees per acre. Though the rubber ultimately 

 becomes the stronger component, it is surprising how long both 

 products can be successfully grown together. In the cultiva- 

 tion of inter crops under Para rubber it is essential that both 

 products be planted at the same time, as the Para rubber tree is 

 about as strong as the cocoanut palm in its root system and quickly 

 takes possession of the soil. The illustrations which have been 

 given elsewhere, showing Para rubber in association with cacao 

 and tea in Ceylon and with coffee in South India, could be 

 considerably increased, but they are sufficient for the purpose and 

 are worthy of careful study by all rubber planters. Apart from 

 the question of having more than one product to rely on, it is often 

 better, for plant sanitation reasons alone, to have mixed planta- 

 tions ; plants of different genera grown together are often helpful to 

 one another. 



The cultivation of pepper among rubber neccesitates permanent 

 stumps, preferably of the Dadap plant. 



