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* Soil.—In its native country Hevea is a jungle tree usually 
growing in deep, rich, alluvial soil which is liable to be flooded 
during the wet seasons. The earliest plantations made in Ceylon 
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of any great depth, whereas in Ceylon the valleys are narrower, 
and the water may easily rise several feet. Land liable to 
frequent tlooding should therefore be avoided. 
* Chena land has been tried at Edangoda, but the result has 
been unsatisfactory ; sandy soil has also been found unfavourable 
to the growth of Hevea, and the tree also grows badly where 
exposed to much wind. 
“Tt would appear therefore that the most suitable soil and 
situation for this tree is fairly flat land, at about sea level, with 
good alluvial soil, preferably jungle land, and not sandy. The 
land should not be subject to frequent floods or strong winds. 
“The area of land in Ceylon suitable for profitable rubber 
cultivation is thus comparatively small, possibly not more than 
00) acres, but, on the other hand, this cultivation need not 
interfere with that of cocoanuts. 
“ Cultivation.—Hevea forms a moderately tall tree, not very 
much branched. It begins to flower at about six years old, but 
for planting purposes the seed of more mature trees (12 or more 
years old) is preferable. 
* About February, in Ceylon, the leaves mostly turn brown and 
flowe n afterwa r. They are 
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usually in the hot part of the day, and scatter the seeds to some 
distance. The seed is very large, weighing about half an ounce. 
It has a hard seed coat and the interior substance is very oily. 
“The seed soon loses its power of germination, and ought to be 
sown within a week of its falling from the tree. If it has to be 
sent on a voyage of more than a week, it should be very carefully 
packed in charcoal. Even thus, however, the majority of the 
seeds soon die, and the only satisfactory way of sending seeds to 
distant countries is to plant them in soil in a Wardian case and 
allow them to grow on the w 
“The germination of the seed is very rapid, and a long tap root 
is soon produced. The seed should be sown about an inch deep 
in well prepared soil, in nurseries, or, if preferred, in bamboo pots 
or baskets. "They should be kept shaded and watered, and when 
and the ma ac L D 
the method of planting out the smaller seedlings is perhaps 
preferable. 
