36 PARA RUBBER, 



" They are largely composed of the lighter materials carried down 

 in suspension by moving water. The particles are very fine, most 

 of ;hem passing a 60 mesh. 



" The particles are arrested and precipitated all along the bank of 

 the river during flood time. During heavy floods very large quanti- 

 ties of matter are often deposited along the banks, but they are 

 often of a coarser nature due to the higher speed. 



' ' The particles which go to make up an alluvial soil may have been 

 brought from considerable distances ; they constitute the fine parts 

 of soils liable to wash within the drainage area of the river." 



One analysis shows about 11 per cent, of organic matter and 

 combined water, 0130 per cent, of lime, 0162 per cent, of potash, 

 0076 per cent, of phosphoric acid, and 0230 per cent, of nitrogen. 

 The soils are usually good, and we know that Para rubber grows 

 exceedingly well in such soils and continues to thrive therein for over 

 twenty years in the Peradeniya District. 



" Swamps. — The cultivation of rubber in such areas has, during 

 the last year or so, shown a considerable increase. Providing the 

 draining and liming of the soils are efficiently carried out, there 

 seems no reason why continued satisfactory growth should not be 

 obtained on such land. 



" The drainage should be very thorough, so as to allow of a good 

 percolation of air and water through the otherwise sour soils. 



' ' In some cases each rubber tree should have a separate drainage 

 system, the drains being two or more feet wide and 3 to 4 feet deep, 

 the material from them being heaped up near the rubber tree. 

 In other cases each line of rubber trees may be separately drained. 

 When the drains are sufficiently large and the soil from them is 

 heaped around the rubber, a dry soil is ultimately obtained in areas 

 which have hitherto been too swampy for any cultivation except 

 paddy." 



One analysis shows the soil to contain 20' 4 per cent, of organic 

 matter and combined water, 005 per cent, of lime, 0061 per cent, 

 of potash, 0'064 per cent, of phosphoric acid, and 0448 per cent, 

 of nitrogen. 



Such an analysis shows a chemical richness in organic matter 

 and nitrogen which rarely obtains in low-country districts, and 

 strongly reminds one of the soils at high elevations in Ceylon. It is 

 to be regretted that the area of such rich land in the low-country is 

 small, and the above analysis is certainly encouraging to planters 

 who have such swampy soils capable of being effectively drained 

 and made sweet by the application of lime or by burning. 

 Treatment of Swampy Soils. 



In the Straits and in parts of C?ylon drained swamps have been 

 proved to grow Para rubber, and in the former place large sums of 

 money have been spent in providing good canals for the free circu- 

 lation of water through rubber estates near the coast. 



