262 
“The average yield of this tree E ie twelfth to the twenty- 
first year is thus almost 14 lb. per annu This result is very 
the success of the cultivation would be assured. It should, how- 
ever, be noted that the girth of this tree in 1888 was larger than 
the mean girth of the whole plantation, as mentioned above, in 
reds and that therefore this yield, if me tree tapped be accepted 
as a fair sample, represents rather the result to be expected after 
twenty years, by Which time the ines go rth of the trees should 
be equal to the girth of this one at the time its tapping was com- 
need. The trees in question are about 30 feet apart, t .c., 90 trees 
to the acre. These data thus indicate a yield of about 90 lb. of 
rubber per acre in the twentieth year, a result aiani to make 
it worth the while of private planters to take up rubber cultivation. 
“It seemed probable that better results might be obtained by 
tapping younger and smaller trees more closely planted, and 
experiments were therefore begun in 1896 on a younger ese 
of trees at Henaratgoda. e mean girth in January, 
at 5 feet 6 inches from the ground, of 225 of these trees, was 
2 feet 45 inches. The figures already given for the average weekly 
yields represent the mean results of the tapping of 27 trees of a 
girth of the whole plantation. From six consecutive weekly 
tappings of each, a mean yield of 5°17 oz. per tree was obtained. 
This represents a yield $, 9i Ib. see acre a oy) eee (12 is 
apart). If the trees tapped had b of the mean girth a 
the whole plantation, the yield wean pistehiy gato Pond. at the 
rate of about . per acre. Further, only six tappings were 
made, and the trees, after a rest of a few months, would probably 
have stood three or four more AEP pat whose yield might have 
been at the rate of 30 or 40 Ib. per 
“ No record, unfortunately, was Th of the date when this plan- 
tation was m made. It is probably twelve years old at least. The 
sandy soil at Henaratgoda is unfavourable for ines eie soy in 
better soil the trees would probably reach this m 
years or even less. It would seem, therefore, that if this culti- 
vation is taken up in favourable localities, a yield of about 120 to 
140 lb. of rubber per acre may be expected after the tenth year. 
This estimate is, however, liable to modification by the results of 
experiments which are still in progress. 
“Cost of opening Plantations.—The fo aded estimate of the 
first year's cost of opening a plantation of 300 a of forest land 
with rubber was prepared by Mr. F. Lewis, Auiti Conservator 
of Forests, Colombo :— 
Rs. 
Felling and clearing at Rs. 12 per ac vi ifi cid 1- 8600 
Lining, 10 ft. by 10 ft., at Rs. 2 per aoro +i m di 600 
Holing, at 75 holes per cooly at 40 c 697 
wem m planting and c pes plants from their: nursery 
s, 300 LT cooly at 40 175 
Drejhisig : 300 ft. of drains ras per ea at 1 cent. per foot run 900 
Lines for adu lshed of 10 rooms of 12 ft. by 10 ft., 
mud walls, and battocalla roof, at Rs. 30 per room 300 
Roads for inspection, 2 miles... she dee iba x 160 
Plant nursery, including watering... do aS izi 150 
Carried forward ... e as 0,082 
