THE PARA RUBBER TREE 111 



obtained are frequently twisted. If the soil is regularly 

 watered, the seeds, when fresh, usually germmate in about 

 ton days. The seedlings require careful attention in 

 the niu'sery ; the soil should be kept moist and the plants 

 screened from the direct rays of the sim. 



The subsequent procedure varies considerably. The / 

 seedlings are sometimes allowed to attain a lieight of 

 about 2 ft. and are then carefully lifted from the beds 

 and at once planted in the prepared holes. When this 

 method is adopted, the shade should be gradually removed 

 from the seedlings in the nursery, so that they are exposed 

 to the full sun for some time before being transplanted. 



In other cases the plants are allowed to remam in tlio 

 nurseries for some months until they are 5 to 6 ft. high.\ 

 The upper portion of the stem is then cut off, the plants are 

 lifted from the beds, the roots trimmed, and the "" stumps " 

 liius obtained are carried in bundles to the plantation 

 and placed in the holes. This method is generally adopted 

 in Malaya, and very little loss is experienced as a rule. 



The use of seed-baskets for raising the young plants 

 has been recommended wherever possible, as very little 

 interruption of the growth of the plant then occiu's on 

 transplanting. The baskets may be made of split bamboo, 

 palm leaves, or similar material, and should be sufficiently 

 strong to bear the weight of soil when filled. A single 

 seed is sown in each basket and the plants thus raised 

 are kept under shade and well watered until required for 

 planting out. The entire basket is then placed in the 

 soil without disturbing the roots. This method has given 

 very good results on some estates in Ceylon. 



In all cases the transplantmg should be done if possible 

 during rainy weather, so that the young plants may not 

 suffer from lack of moisture. 



The method of planting the seeds " at stake," i.e. in the 

 position which the trees are to occupy, has given good 

 results in certain cases, but the seedlings require consider- 

 able protection from animals and from the sun, which is 

 much easier given in a nursery. In this method two or 

 three seeds are planted in the prepared holes and well 

 watered until germination takes place. When the seed- 

 lings have grown sufficiently, the most vigorous in each 

 hole is selected to be retained and the others are removed. 



As a general rule Para trees do not require shade after 



