AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN 



OF THE 



STRAITS 



AND 



F E D E R A T E D M A LAY STATES, 



No. ii.] NOVEMBER, 1904. [Vol. III. 



LAYERING RUBBER TREES. 



Plates VII a Nip VIII. 



The tenacity of life in the Para rubber tree and its great vege- 

 tative powers are well known to many who have cultivated and 

 observed it, and is well illustrated by the photographs of layered 

 trees given with this number of the Bulletin. The trees shown in 

 the plates were overset in a gale of wind some twelve or more 

 years ago, when they were fairly big trees. The tops of the trees 

 died off and the prostrate trunks threw up a various number of 

 shoots, which have grown into strong trunks. The mail; trunk and 

 a portion of the roots remain half buried in the soil, and can he 

 seen in the figures. One tree has produced four, another six trunks 

 of good size and thoroughly healthy and all have been tapped 

 yielding good results. Others have produced two or three or more. 

 No particular attention was paid to these trees during their grow th, 

 or it would probably have been possible to increase the number of 

 the stems. The measurements of the stems now arc the one with 

 six stems from 18 to 24 inches circumference at 3 feet from the 

 base, one with four stems 27 to 44, one with three stems 16 inches 

 to 25. They averaged in tapping 8 ozs. of rubber at one lapping. 



It will often happen in windy spots that trees will be overturned 

 by a gale, and these photographs show it is by no means necessary 

 to destroy trees so fallen. They should be laid quite prostrate and 

 earth banked up along the fallen trunk about halfway and the top 

 of the tree should be cut off. In a few weeks shoots will appear 

 often abundantly from the upper part of the trunk and thes< often 

 produced in great abundance should he thinned out, till onh eight 

 or so are left and these at some distance apart. 



In many places it may not be worth while to layer trees but the 

 plan would be useful in very windy spots, for trees so layered can- 

 not be blown over as they retain a strong hold on the ground, by 



