40 PARA RUBBER. 



It is well-known that the Matale District contains some very old 

 Para rubber trees, now being tapped, and that large areas have 

 been planted in association with cacao and tea as well as a single 

 product. Trees at an elevation of 2,300 feet are now being tapped 

 in this district. 



The soils characterizing the Matale District are frequently 

 similar to those near Peradeniya. 



Mechanical Composition. — " The soils from the Matale District 

 are on an average in a better state of division than those in 

 the districts previously dealt with, usually from 15 to 30 per 

 C3nt. passing through a 90 mesh, 14 to 25 per cent, through a 60 

 mesh, and 3 to 7 through a 30 mesh. Sand and small stones may 

 form from 40 to 60 per cent, of the soil. The retentive power for 

 moisture of air-dried soil does not show a very great variation, and 

 is from 3 to 6 per cent. 



Chemical Composition. — " The organic matter usually varies from 

 8 to 14 per cent, and the nitrogen from 0' 1 to 02 per cent. ; the 

 lime from 0"08 to 0'2 per cent.; the magnesia from 0'05 to 

 0'25 per cent.; the potash from 0"03 to 0*25 percent., and the 

 phosphoric acid from 0*01 to 0*1 per cent." 



PUSSELLAWA DISTRICT. 



In the Pussellawa District the soil and climate appear to resem- 

 ble those in sections of the Peradeniya and Matale Districts, and 

 although part of the district is considered to be too high for Para 

 rubber, there are nearly 2,700 acres of this product planted alone or 

 with tea. 



Ratnapura, Sabaragamu wa , and Ambagamuwa. 



The Ratnapura District, differing so widely from the foregoing 

 in having such a heavy rainfall and being one likely to be ex- 

 tensively cultivated in rubber, is here synoptically dealt with. 



Regarding the mechanical composition, " out of about a dozen 

 soils 17 to 20 per cent, of the soil passes a 90 mesh, 16 to 25 per 

 cent, a 60 mesh, and 4 to 5 per cent, a 30 mesh, and sand and 

 small stones account for from 50 to 60 per cent. The retentive 

 power of moisture varies from 3 to 5. The chemical composition 

 shows from 10 to 12 per cent, of organic matter, 0*1 to 0"2 per 

 cent, of nitrogen, 0*06 to 0'2 percent, of lime, - 07 to 0*15 

 per cent, of magnesia, 004 to 01 of potash, and from 0'03 to 0'8 

 per cent, of phosphoric acid." Para rubber is being extensively 

 planted in this and the surrounding districts. 



According to information supplied by the Secretary of the 

 Sabaragamuwa Planters' Association, the acreage of tea inter- 

 planted with lubber is 4,477 — in rubber alone 1,743 acres — ■ 

 and during the present year quite 6,000 acres will be opened 

 in rubber, thus bringing the acreage in this district up to 

 over 12,000 acres for 1906. The photographs, showing the 

 growth of Para rubber at Madampe, Rakwana, are all the 

 more interesting as indicating the possibilities in this district. 



