59 



of the block measured 5^ feet in circumference at a yard 

 from the ground. The trees have been tapped on the 

 single oblique and herring-bone systems, and also on 

 the half-circle horizontal plan. Every effort bap been 

 .nade to procure good yields from these old trees. The 

 cuts have healed very badly, and the yield only averaged 

 89 grams per tree per annum. With gutta-percha out 

 of fashion, a -wait of fifteen to twenty years, and a yield 

 of about one-fifth of a pound per annum, I do not see 

 any reason why the Dutch Government should be envied. 

 Even if the price of the raw product should show a big 

 rise it is doubtful whether the cultivation of Palaquium 

 will ever be as remunerative as Hevea brasiliensis. The 

 Government Plantation is, according to information 

 locally obtained, about 1,500 acres in extent; a block of 

 the same size and age of Hevea would have placed the 

 island of Java in quite a different position to-day. 



Rambong and Castilloa ia Java. 



Favourable reports of the profits from either of these 

 species have not yet been given to me, and I doubt 

 v/hether Rambong or Castilloa, even in Java, will beat 

 Hevea. The Dutch take a very conservative and cautious 

 view of all cultivations, and regard Rambong as one 

 which will give remunerative but small yields for many 

 years to come. They do not despise it because it is less 

 tempting than Hevea; they encourage its cultivation 

 where Para will not grow, and believe that from plant 

 sanitation reasons alone it will ultimately be recognised 

 as useful. Castilloa, they admit, is not as hardy as Hevea 

 or Ficus, but they are content to cultivate it so long as 

 it yields a profit. Java certainly has plenty of gutta and 

 rubber trees of all kinds at its command, and in the event 

 of unforeseen difficulties may benefit very maJterially there- 

 by. 

 Government Plantations and Experts, 



One cannot suppress his admiration for the splendid 

 organisation, under the direction of Dr. Treub. Every 

 industry is represented by distinct plantations and experts, 

 and much useful agricultural knowledge is published from 

 time to time. Contrast the Java Agricultural Department 

 with those in the Straits Settlements, Federated Malay 



