440 



this purpose the figures of results obtained in 1906 up to the end of 

 July have been included in the tables. 



During the experiments, in addition to weighing carefully the 

 dry rubber obtained from the separate groups of trees, the latex 

 itself was first measured and this part of the experiments furnishes 

 the most interesting and important information in connection with 

 the experimental work of the year. The results show that there is 

 much difference in the amount of rubber obtained from the same 

 quantity of latex at different times in the year, at different times 

 of the day (i. e. at morning and evening tappings) and from the 

 same groups of trees when they have had a sufficient interval of 

 rest, and when they have not. The story of this variation in the 

 production of caoutchouc will be more clearly understood if we 

 sketch briefly the following chapter in the life history of the trees. 



A Chapter in the life history of Hevea braziliensis in Malaya. 



The fruit periodicity of Hevea braziliensis in the Singapore 

 Gardens from 1897 to 1905, or a period of nine years is shown in 

 the record of returns of seeds procured {see page 441). The seeds 

 gathered up to the end of October, 1906, is entered on the return 

 but not included in the total for the preceding nine years. It should 

 be remarked that this Return, although not strictly accurate in all 

 details, is fairly approximate, and from this record we extract the 

 following monthly returns for this period, arranged according to 

 abundance of crops: — 



September ... ... 324,515 seeds. 



October ... ... ... 291,430 „ 



March ... ... ... 148,050 ,, 



November ... ... ... 85,870 ,, 



August ... ... ... 79,600 ,, 



April ... ... ... 56,314 



February ... ... ... 55,800 ,, 



December ... ... ... 35,802 „ 



January ... ... ... 32,924 ,, 



July ... ... ... 29,650 „ 



June ... ... ... 28,700 ,, 



May ... ... ... 28,097 » 



