38 PARA RUBBER. 



ture together with the moderately good soils in the Kelani district 

 seem very suitable for Hevea brasiliensis. 



" Mechanical characters. — The mechanical composition of the soil 

 is moderately good; generally 14 to 35 per cent, passes through a 

 90 mesh, 20 to 40 per cent, through a 60 mesh, and 3 to 8 per 

 cent, through a 30 mesh ; sand and small stones constitute 30 to 

 60 per cent, on an average. The plants are mainly dependent upon 

 the finely-divided soil particles for their food supplies, and therefore 

 the amount which passes through the 90 mesh is of the greatest im- 

 portance. Some soils which are very finely divided are not so well 

 suited for cultivation as coarser types, the latter frequently allow- 

 ing of a quicker and more complete circulation of air and water in 

 the soil. The retentive power of moisture of the soils depends upon 

 the physical properties and the amount of organic matter present. 

 This variation for the Kelani soils is from 2 to 6 per cent.: i.e., every 

 100 lb. of air-dried or sun-dried soil can retain from 2 to 6 lb. of 

 water." 



" Chemical properties. — The percentage of chemical ingredients is, 

 relatively speaking, rather low when compared with soils at higher 

 elevations. In some cases the percentages of organic matter and 

 nitrogen are satisfactory. The organic matter varies from 8 to 13 

 per cent. ; the nitrogen from 005 to 0*2 per cent. ; the lime from 

 \j - 05 to 0T5 per cent. ; the magnesia from 005 to 035 per cent. ; 

 potash from 0'05 to 0*2 per cent.; and the phosphoric acid from 

 traces to 0'07 per cent. In some cases the high percentages of or- 

 ganic matter and potash are exceptional, and do not represent the 

 general characters in the Kelani District. The figures here quoted 

 indicate the general variation in the proportions of the ingredients 

 which may be expected in the district ; they do not represent the 

 maximum and minimum compositions." 



Kegalla District. 

 The Kegalla District might also be considered in connection with 

 the Kelani, as the soil and climate appear equally suitable for Para 

 rubber. According to the 1905 report of the District Association 

 the Kegalla planters possess over 6,500 acres of rubber, either alone 

 or interplanted with tea. Good growth has been obtained in clear- 

 ings only 10 and 18 months old on the Makopitiya, Dickellia, 

 Waharaka, Parambe and other estates in this district and the tap- 

 ping of trees from 12 years upwards on Yataderiya and Undugoda 

 estates has been accompanied by profitable yields. On many of 

 the estates in the Kegalle district, the Para rubber is interplanted 

 among tea; the illustration on Plate 3, Series C, shows both pro- 

 ducts doing well on Undugoda Estate, Kegalle. Elsewhere illus- 

 trations are given showing trees only 32 months old (Series D, 

 Plate 14) on Hunugalla estate and tapping of mature trees on the 

 property of the Yataderiya Tea Co., (Series D, Plate 15.), all in 

 the Kegalla district. 



