Notes on the Society's Work in 1897-1918. lri. 



estates, and the proximity of the colony to the United States of America, 

 are factors -which should encourage the extension of this industry in the 

 colon}-. 



On the other hand three great difficulties have arisen. 



(a) the insufficiency of the available labour- force to continuously 

 tap large areas of Para rubber trees, 



(b) the insufficiency of the labour-force to keep the land planted in 

 Para rubber satisfactorily weeded, and 



(c) A disastrous outbreak of the Para rubber leaf-disease. 



It is difficult to suggest any remedy for the conditions (a) and (b) ; 

 conditions which at the present time appear to be insuperable. 



The ravages of the leaf-disease have been and are more serious than 

 elsewhere in the colony in the forestal districts where conditions should 

 be ideal for the cultivation of Para rubber ; some small plantations such 

 as those on the bauxite hill at Christianburg, at Greenheart Camp on 

 the Demerara-Essequibo railway, at Coverden and especially at Land of 

 Canaan on the Demerara River having been actually wiped out. At other 

 places, as for instance at the Hills and Aliki Estates on the Mazaruni and 

 Essequibo rivers, at Vreedestyn on the Demerara river, and at Creeklands 

 on the Canje river, the disease although still strongly in evidence has to a 

 considerable extent stayed its ravages and it is hoped that, as an impor- 

 tant aid to the remedial measures being carried on, the occurrence of a 

 somewhat prolonged period of dry weather in place of the almost incessant 

 rains which have characterised recent, years at these places will put an 

 end to it ; whilst at some other places, such as Issorora and the Aruka 

 rubber estates, the disease has been brought more or less under control. 



As the Kew authorities long ago pointed out would be the case Para 

 rubber has completely failed to make satisfactory growth on the old cane- 

 lands in the near vicinity of the coast, but on lands four to six miles from 

 the coast as at Tusdien, Cane Grove and at Mon Eepos, Para rubber is 

 doing well and the trees are practically free from the leaf-disease. The 

 finest and best grown trees I have seen in the colony are on the back-lands 

 of Plantation Mon Eepos. The conditions at Onderneeming where the 

 first plantings of Para rubber in this county were made by me in 1902 

 and 1903, the trees have flourished satisfactorily and are quite free from 

 the leaf-disease. 



In connection with the expressed views of Sir W. (then Mr.) 

 Thistleton-Dyer at that time Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, which 

 were similar to but far less practical than those 1 have quotjd 

 from the Subsidiary Report, I may be permitted to reproduce 



