THE PARA RUBBER TREE 



127 



figures of Ceylon plantations indicate yields of 150 to 

 200 lb. of rubber per acre from six- to seven-year-old trees. 

 The following table, compiled by Wright from the 

 returns of Ceylon rubber companies, may be given for 

 comparison with the similar figiu*es for Malaya already 

 quoted : 



It will be seen that the yields per tree are verj^ much 

 lower in Ceylon than in Malaya ; but owing to the fact 

 that the trees are much more closely planted in Ceylon, 

 there is not the same disparity in the yields per acre. 



In view of these figm-es for Malaya and Ceylon, it will 

 be of interest to consider the yields of rubber so far 

 obtamed from cultivated Para trees in Africa, and, as 

 the results are not readily accessible, they may be recorded 

 in some detail under the respective countries. 



Southern Nigeria. — The six oldest Para trees in 

 Southern Nigeria, growing in the Gardens at Ebute 

 Metta, have been tapped for short periods during recent 

 years. The trees have been divided into two groups of 

 three each. Group I. consisting of tj^ical Hevea brasiliensis, 

 whilst the trees of Group II. are a form of that species. 

 The results of the tappings are summarised in the follow- 

 ing table : 



