488 



RUBBER 



species, thrives in any moderately good soil from sea-level to about 

 2,000 feet elevation, provided the rainfall is evenly distributed and 

 not under 70 inches a year, with a minimum temperature of 

 60 to 70 Fah. The trees should be planted out (preferably as 

 stumps or basket plants) at distances, in the first place, of not less 

 than about 20 by 15 feet apart, say 140 trees to the acre; this will en- 

 able the plantation being thinned out later, on the merit of individual 

 trees and irrespective of lines, to distances of about 20 by 25 feet 



YUI:NG PLANTATION OF HEVEA RUBBER IN CEYLON. 



apart, leaving finally 90 to 100 trees to the acre, according to the soil 

 and c.imate ; this is considered preferable to planting out at wide 

 distances in the first place. Excessively close planting results in 

 exclusion of light and air when the trees attain maturity, and 

 therefore in slow and unsatisfactory renewal of bark over the tapping 

 area. With good growth, the trees become tappable in fron 5 to 

 6 years, or when the stems have attained a girth of about 18 to 

 20 inches at 3 feet from the ground. (See Tapping.} The average 



