2*9 



possible an almost thornless plant. If such a plant or plants 

 can be obtained, the production of a race of thornless 

 Mimosa can be accomplished, and I would ask all planters and 

 others interested in this question to be so good as to observe the 

 Mimosa in their vicinity and let me have any plants that show any 

 tendency to be less thorny than the average specimen of sensitive 

 plant. 



The sowing down or planting of cuttings of this plant on 

 areas after clearing them of weeds should, if efficiently done, need 

 no further care. In order to get the largest amount of benefit 

 from the nitryfying organisms on the Mimosa it is necessary each 

 year to cut it down, forming a mulch, and allow it to grow up 

 again. 



As the mimosa does not thrive in shade when the branches of 

 the trees in a plantation meet and keep out direct sunlight entirely, 

 the sensitive plant will be gradually killed. 



Any planter laying down all or a portion of his estate with 

 this plant will greatly help by sending to me figures of cost and 

 e J t It 11 be of greatly value if some area of similar rubber 

 's still weeded as a " control " experiment in order that the 

 Terence can be more readily judged. 



Since writing the above notes, Mr. C. M. F. Ross, of Sungei 

 culoh Estate, has brought to my notice the fact that a small 

 creeping plant of the clover tribe, Desmodium triflorum D. C, 

 ls Prevalent in his district on railway banks and bare spaces- 

 . 1 have examined the roots of this plant and they contain 

 ar ge numbers of nitryfying bacteria. The plant is a small 

 ^atnrock, making a close turf on the ground not more than 2 or 

 3 inches high. If this plant will hold its own and drive out 

 , ^sirable weeds it has advantages over the Mimosa pudica, and 

 1 >nall experiment with it in order to test its value compared to 

 ^sensitive plant in rubber cultivation. 



Ceylon Rubber Exhibition. 

 p..^! 1 Producers of rubber were much interested in the Rubber 

 ™ibition in September organised by the Ceylon Government, 

 the T Pknters who attended learnt both from the exhibits and 

 ^lectures and discussions much that was of great practical 

 the tt S them in their w ° rk - 1 was deputed to officially represent 

 hibiX? erated M alay States and Straits Settlements at the fcx- 

 de ns p' a J nd wit h Dr. Wills (Director Royal Botanic Gar- 

 S ' Her adeni ya , Ceylon), Dr. Cuthbert Christy (Uganda). 



