2 1 



years, there would not be much difference in the gross result, 

 then there would be double the number of trees to the acre. 



The following figures on three samples accurately weighed are 

 interesting as shewing the difference in weight between freshly 

 collected latex and dry marketable rubber : — 



Sample. 



Fresh latex 



Tare of 



Dry Rubber. 



Difference. 





gross. 



Tins. 









OZS. 



OZS. 



OZS. 



OZS. 



I 



$oh 



... 6 



13 



Hi 



2 



.. 29i 



... 6£ 



13 



• 9l 



3 



■ • 29 



... 6 



ui 







Hevea 



Braziliensis 



IN Perak. 





At Kuala Kangsar there are two well marked varieties of Hevea, 

 (i) the typical tree with large leaves attaining 13 inches long and 



5 inches wide and generally branching low down ; (2) smaller 

 leaves, tall trunk and smaller rather pointed seeds, an inferior 

 variety. The largest tree at Kuala Kangsar is 18 years old and 

 has a girth of 8 feet 6 inches at 3 feet from the ground, this is 

 larger than any observed by Cross in Brazil.* Some trees planted 

 by myself 3 years ago have now a girth of 1 foot 3^ inches at 3 feet 

 from the ground. Hevea trees have a short resting season, shed- 

 ding their leaves about the end of February, its new growth com- 

 mencing with flowers followed by leaves. It is not uncommon, 

 however, to see trees in September, half or many branches dor- 

 mant, and without a leaf, while other parts are covered with ver- 

 dant foliage. The seeds from March flowers commence ripening 

 in August, those from September flowers in February, the heavier 

 crop being in August. Here Hevea trees are planted on dry 

 ground and also low swampy ground. I have not observed any 

 difference in yield of latex, but 1 would not recommend land which 

 is liable to heavy floods. 



Tapping. — I consider the latex flows most freely when the new 

 leaves appear, which with most Hevea^ trees is about March, and 

 the advantage of tapping about that time is not so much a question 

 of actual yield as it is of the amount of bark removed in the opera- 

 tion, which would be less at the best season. There would also be 

 another season commencing in September with those trees then 

 flowering. As with all trees, the ratio ol growth is variable at 

 different periods, but taking the girth of Hevea trees here, a 3 year 

 old tree at 3 feet from the ground being 13-15 inches, and an 18 

 year old tree 100 inches, the annual increment would average near- 

 ly 6 inches in circumference and I am sanguine that Hevea trees 

 can be tapped in Malaya when 6 years old, if not earlier, when I 

 estimate the girth at 24-30 inches on good free soil.t Tapping 

 should be commenced at the base of the tree, working upwards to 



6 or 8 feet if necessary, and if a tree be operated on in a work- 

 manlike manner three annual tappings could be executed before 

 going over old incisions. 



* Vide. — Cross' report 1897 to India Office. 



t In his report to the India Office Cross mentioned that Hevea trees of 6 — 8 in- 

 ches diameter are tapped in Brazil. 



