245 
soil full of moisture and very rich and fertile. The young 
plants, however, were not often observed to grow actually within 
the reach of the tides, but it is iis that they must occasionally 
be partially covered with wate 
PROPAGATION. 
The most convenient means for propagating Para rubber trees 
is by seeds. As might be expected seeds are difficult to collect in 
he dense growth of the Amazonian forests. There is further no 
certainty that they are sound. On the other hand seeds are very 
readily obtained from cultivated trees now distributed over many 
parts of the tropics. If quite fresh they bear transport for a 
period of three or four weeks. Seeds forwarded from Ceylon to 
h 
other method of propagating the tree is by cuttings. These 
cuttings may be taken from the green lateral te wigs as soon as iii 
begin to harden ; they strike readily in rich firm soil. Mr. 
(p. 8) observes that “for planting on inundated lands the tel 
of high flood should be preferred. Cuttings of greater length 
would be or dies in this case, the lower ends of which should be 
sliced off in the form of a wedge. The workman could take a 
bundle of raras and wading into the iib would plant at proper 
canga but ocn upright, taking care to push each cutting 
down deep enough in the soft muddy bottom, so that B more 
Dd three or ous inches is above the surface of the wa e 
same rule would be applicable when planting in door or soft 
marsh land. The crowns of the cuttings must not, if possible, be 
put under water, as the young growths springing therefrom might 
rot. Seeds will not be found very applicable for planting in 
watery places or dae mud deposits. Some would come up, but a 
good many would mould and decay. In the varied course of 
circumstances and conditions, slight changes and modifications 
in the PAAR b working will no doubt suggest themselves. 
ould be anto] in places where nothing else 
could be iobiahiy: X gag such as rae inundated river 
argins, marsh land, an ud deposit These remarks, it 
ahedia be noted, apply only to o 06 Amasan region. In other parts 
of the world Para trees have been found very impatient of floods, 
me have actually been killed by being planted within their 
Again, it would not be desirable to form a plantation in 
an HT a Nh the temperature at any time falls to 60° F. 
The tree when fully grown does not exceed a height of aren 
sixty feet, and the pam trunk measured by Mr. 
feet ten inches i in circumference ata yard from the ground. oe 
the upright habit o. the tree it will not be necessary to plant at 
any great distance apart 
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