26 THE WHOLE ART OF RUBBER-GROWING 



where these experiments were carried out, there is 

 at present a belt of magnificent Heveas the matured 

 infants that Kew sent out in 1876. In two years 

 from the date of planting they had attained 30 feet 

 in height and 14 inches in girth. By 1882 they were 

 50 feet high and 30 inches in girth. In 1893 they 

 measured in girth no less than 79! inches. One of 

 these fine trees yielded during 1910 96^ Ib. dry 

 rubber. It was measured by the writer a photo- 

 graph taken by him on 20 March last appears as a 

 frontispiece and found to be not less than 114 inches 

 four feet from the base. When it is stated 

 that the largest tree measured in Brazil by Mr. 

 Cross was 82 inches, it is clear that we have 

 here an unanswerable argument in favour of the 

 system followed by the Government experts in the 

 treatment of the Hevea in Ceylon and elsewhere. 

 The seed of the Para rubber trees readily germinates, 

 and seedlings are planted out in wet soil when they 

 have reached a stature of 18 inches to 24 inches. 

 Propagation by cuttings is to be recommended where 

 it is desired to plant out a large area at once. The 

 method employed is to take cuttings near the ends of 

 the branches, but further back than any of the 

 leaves. Each cutting is about a foot long and as 

 thick as a lead pencil, and is cut off at both ends by 

 oblique cuts just below the leaf scars. The cuttings 

 are placed in the nurseries to develop their tap-root 

 before being planted out. A wise planter selects the 

 rainy season for this work, which should be done as 

 follows : 



