108 



THE PARA RUBBER TREE 



suitable for the Para tree, and in Nyasaland it can only 

 be grown in the West Nyasa district. 



Soils. — In the first attempts to cultivate the Para tree, 

 land was selected so as to approximate as nearly as pos- 

 sible to the conditions which prevail on the Lower Amazon. 

 Low-lymg alluvial land on the banks of rivers, and in 

 some cases subject to periodical inundations, was conse- 

 quently chosen for the pm-pose. As the result of planting 

 experiments, however, it was found that land of this type 

 was not essential for the successful growth of the tree, and 

 it is now recognised that the character of the soil is of 

 less importance than the rainfall and temperature. If 

 the climatic conditions are satisfactory the Para tree 

 will thrive on relatively poor soils. Wherever possible, 

 however, it should be planted on good alluvial soil, as 

 it then makes the quickest growth. The tree will not 

 grow on swampy soil, but such land can be rendered 

 suitable for its cultivation by thorough di'ainage. 



The character of the soils upon which the Para tree is 

 being successfully grown in Ceylon and the Federated 

 Malay States will be seen from the following summary 

 of analyses : 



Ceylon Soils * 



* Circulars and Agricultural Journal of the Royal Botanic Oardcns, 

 Ceylon.Vol. Ill (1U05), No. 6. 



