74 



PARA RUBBER. 



on a few rubber properties in Ceylon, the Straits, and elsewhere, but 

 it is not likely that similar development will be allowed on rubber 

 properties now being planted. Generally speaking, the planters 

 who are now laying out their estates desire to obtain some return as 

 early as possible, and their object will probably be to prevent the 

 production of tall heavy timber trees and accentuate the growth of 

 the lower part of the stem up to 15 to 20 feet, in order to secure the 

 minimum girth required for commencing tapping operations. 



It is for this reason that the following results should not be taken 

 into too serious consideration, as they have been obtained from 

 the old and previously untapped trees at Henaratgoda. In the 

 Henaratgoda experiments the trees have been tapped at various 

 heights: (1) from the base to a height of 5 and 6 feet; (2) from 

 6 to 16 feet only ; (3) from 10 to 20 feet ; (4) from 20 to 30 feet ; (5) 

 from the base to a height of 30 feet ; and (6) from the base to 50 feet. 

 The following are the details of the experiments and the results 

 obtained up to date : — 



Excised 

 Area, 

 sq. in. 



12,414f 

 7961 

 l,472i 

 1,424] 

 1,666 

 2,726 



Weight of 

 Dry Rubber 

 obtained, 

 lb. oz. 



0^ 



105 



11* 



The higher parts of such trees can be tapped alternately with the 

 lower parts, but how long this can be continued it is impossible to say 

 at the present time. The illustrations on Plate 16, Series A, show 

 one specimen tapped from the base to a height of about 50 feet, and 

 another being tapped from 6 to 16 feet from the base. 



The amount of labour involved in tapping such large areas on 

 a large number of trees is beyond comparison with that required for 

 the ordinary basal and more accessible tapping. 



JPR 



