270 
At Nilambur the rubber trees (Ceara and Hevea) were planted 
amongst teak trees. In the Administration Report for 1884-85 it 
was stated “the growth of the rubbers on the whole continued 
good though Mr. Hadfield doubted whether they would yield 
much revenue as there was little milk in the seven years old 
trees.” Again: * One pound of rubber was obtained from 80 of 
the largest trees in 1886-87 but no tapping was done subsequently." 
No distinetion appears to have been made in these Reports 
between the Hevea and Ceara rubbers. It is possible that the 
failure noted applies more particularly to the latter trees 
The latest information available on the subject is contained in 
the Report of the die wae Teak mir nia 1895 (Appendix C., 
p.69). The following quoted from Commercial Circular, 
No. 8 of 1897, issued by the BO UH on pea Products to 
the Government of India) appear under Exotic Plantations— 
Rubber :— 
“3. Working. The rubber is quite out of place in the middle of 
a teak plantation, even should it prove itself of any commercial 
value. e soil o ue is some of the most valuable in the 
plantatio Experiments are now being conducted in tapping 
the rabies, and, as pia as they have gone, show little prospect of any 
material revenue being realised. The biggest trees are now nearly 
20 years npe and each covers the space d P two teak trees of 
the same age. The yield appears to be from 4 to 6 oz. of rubber 
which production may perhaps be continued 1 for five or six years 
(even this is very doubtful), and the result expressed in current 
coin would — — unfavourably with the value of two teak 
trees of the same 
* Probably the most paying thing to do would be to fell thi8 area 
in 1895, clean and to plant it up with teak. In order, however 
that the success or failure of the rubber growing may be proved, 
it is proposed to clean and fell at the end of the first rotation 
in 1900, when very few saplings of small size will be available, 
and plant up the whole area with teak in 1901. This compart- 
ment will then work into the working circle." 
n a Note on the Working Plan for the Nilambur Valley Teak 
Pisuiniun the Inspector-General of Forests in India, Mr. B. 
Ribbentrop (Indian Forester, 1898, p. ams diausse the suggestions 
for cutting out the rubber trees as follow: 
“ It would appear that the oil iuetin eit carried out with the 
introduction of rubber-yielding trees have so far been unsuccessful, 
but I feel nevertheless disinclined to agree in the proposal that 
the experiments of making the Nilambur Basin an impo pend 
centre of rubber supply should be discontinued. To m 
it an that the Nilambur Basin is eminently adapted for Ho 
wth of rubber-yielding plants, and the facility of export renders 
the prospect of a trade in a product which can bear a land trans- 
port of hundreds of miles particularly attractive. The demand 
its pri 
strongly advise that experiments should be continued till the 
most suitable rubber-yielding tree is found, which will grow in 
localities not required for the extension of the teak — u 
