]M3 THE CEARA RUBBER TREE 



ground. Equally good growth is said to have been 

 obtained at several places in the coast belt. 



Nyasaland.^ — The following measurements have been 

 recorded for Ceara trees growing in the West Nyasa 

 district, which is one of the best in the Protectorate 

 for rubber cultivation : 101 trees, 3 J years old and planted 

 15 ft. by 15 ft., had an average girth of 19" 43 m. at 3 ft. 

 from the ground, the largest measuring 30 in. and the 

 smallest 13 in. ; 105 trees, 1^ year old and planted 10 ft. 

 by 10 ft., had an average girth of 10' 66 in., the largest 

 measiuring 17 in. and the smallest 8 in. 



Trees raised from seed planted at stake on good deep 

 red soil attained a height of 6 to 8 ft. within eight months 

 after sowing, and were 16 ft. high when eighteen months 

 old. 



Southern Nigeria. — Two ten-year-old trees growing 

 at Calabar had an average girth of 44 in., whilst seven 

 eight-year-old trees at the same place measured 31 m. in 

 average girth. At Onitsha six seven-year- old trees had 

 an average girth of 33 in. 



Methods of Tapping. — ^The Ceara tree is more difficult 

 to tap successfully than the Para tree, and most of the 

 early tapping experiments, which were made by the 

 methods then employed for the latter tree, gave un- 

 favoiu-able results both on account of the low yield of 

 rubber and of the liability of killing the trees. The pecu- 

 liarities of the Ceara tree as regards its behaviour on 

 tapping are better understood now, and methods have 

 been devised which obviate the risk of damaging the 

 trees whilst furnishing remunerative yields of rubber. 

 It is stated, however, that in Ceylon no system of tapping 

 has yet been found which is not liable to kill the trees, 

 especially in districts where the rainfall does not exceed 

 50 in., but that owing to the very rapid growth of the 

 trees this is a matter of little importance, as the place of 

 any trees destroyed is speedily tilled. 



The method of tapping to he employed for Ceara trees 

 depends very largel}^ on the climatic conditions of the 

 country, particularly as regards the hinnidity. In dry 

 countries the latex will not flow freely when incisions 

 are made in the bark, but coagulates on the stem, and the 

 rubber is obtained in the form of scrap. In this case the 

 tapping is conducted by making a seric-^ of .small incisions 



