121 
Propagation and Planting. —Mr. Cross (p: ed suggests *the for- 
mation of plantations by cuttings, which will take root as easily as a 
willow. These should be taken from the abeo ts of strong shoots 
and may be one foot in lengih. In planting, each cuttin ng may 
be put down in the soil to a depth of six inches. If scarce, 
the entire s be cut into pieces, each possessing a bud, 
all of which will grow if covered with half-an-inch or so of 
soil. On lo ndy soils or exhausted coffee land, plantations 
sa ils 
may be formed at little expense. Hard dry grav elly wastes, if 
found to support any kind of bush, € cues suitable sites. Holes 
might be made in strong land wit th a n jumper and a stout 
cutting put into each and filled with pebhien: On bare or thinly 
covered portions of rock the cuttings might be laid down flat, and 
a little heap of stones or any kind of débris, about the size of a 
molehill, piled over each, care being taken that the extreme point 
of each cutting with a bud is left uncovered. I do not advocate 
tatio 
sprinkling from a monsoon shower, the tree ‘is likely to prosper.” 
Dr. Trimen adds (l. c. p. 4) :— 
* Experience of the plant in the botanie garden here has proved 
the general accuracy of the above remarks. There can be no 
doubt of the hardiness of = ca its readiness of culture, and 
adaptability to circumstance It grows equally readily from seed 
barren dist stricts of our eastern and northern provinces, or in 
higher districts, but it would not be wise to risk it in localities 
where the temperature is saul to fall below 60° F.” 
the following notes the results are given of the attempts 
to establish the Ceara rubber tree in our various colonies and 
possessions. 
CEYLON. 
The cultivation of the Ceara rubber tree was carried on with 
considerable energy in Ceylon for many years. Numerous 
experiments were made to find out the best means for tapping the 
trees and producing the rubber in commercial quantities. 
In the Kew Report for 1880 (pp. alae the p NE informa- 
tion is given on the authority of Dr. Tri 
* Of the three species of South Hane trees here in geris nm 
(the suecessful introduction of which was due to Kew e Kew 
Reports, 1816, pp. 8,9; 1877, pp. lush e Manihot “brazii is 
still the only one which has n of t _— been 
supplied during the year to fy Re ce ce n In 
(Calcutta, Saharunpore, cnini nd) and distributed ia "widely 
as possible among the planters in the colony, 24,550 seeds having 
been thus disposed of, as well as Eon rooted cuttings. We have 
also sent small quantities to the Botanic Gardens of Singapore, 
