ii2 



THE PARA RUBBER TRE^ 



being planted out, but in some situations where there is 

 a cby season it has been found advantageous to provide 

 shade trees for the first two years. A similar plan has 

 been adopted where the seeds have been planted " at 

 stake." The shade trees usually employed are the dadap, 

 Erythrina lithos'perma, and Albizzia moluccana. 



Rate of Growth. — Under favourable conditions of 

 climate and soil Hevea hrasiliensis is a very quick-growing 

 tree. In Malaya, where the conditions are exceptionally 

 suitable, the rate of growth is more rapid than in any 

 other country, and cases have been known there of trees 

 attaming a height of 20 ft. and a girth of 8 in. one year 

 after bemg planted out. Usually plantation trees in 

 Malaya increase in girth from 4 to 6 in. per annum during 

 the first few years, the subsequent rate of growth being 

 determined by the distance at which the trees are planted. 

 If the trees are closely planted, the rate of increase in girth 

 is checked after about the tenth year, or even earlier if 

 the lateral branches have completely met. The growth 

 of widely planted trees is the most satisfactory, and the 

 following figures have been given by Ridley for trees grow- 

 ing 20 ft. by 20 ft. apart in good soil without manuring : 



The oldest Para tree in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, 

 when thirty-four years old measured 84 ft. in height 

 and 124 in. in girtli at 3 ft. from the ground ; it is stUl 

 increasing in girth at the rate of H in. per annum. 



In Ceylon the rate of growth is a little less than in 

 Malaya. During the first few years the trees usually 



