362 



the advent of the motor car has also added to the demand. The 

 climatic conditions of Ceylon, its temperature, its heavy rainfall, 

 the character of its soil, all pointed to this island as being an ex- 

 tremely good, if not an ideal, rubber-producing country, the 

 plantations both at Henaragoda and Edangoda, where the Hevp.a 

 braziliensis so successfully flourishes, proved that the merely ex- 

 perimental stage had been safely passed ; a loamy soil, with a 

 heavy rainfall, a country not too liable to flooding, plenty of mois- 

 ture in the atmosphere not too much around the roots, at any ele- 

 vation up to 1,500 feet, had alreadv proved to yield satisfactory 

 results. Cheap and plentiful labour held out a reasonable pros- 

 pect of many coolies becoming fairly intelligent in rubber collec- 

 tion, if properly trained. In brief, the promise of Ceylon as a 

 rubber-producing country to the visitor versed in rubber culture 

 was distinctly favourable ; perhaps this opinion was influenced and 

 based by the lovely climate, by the good nature of the people, and, 

 perhaps too, by the beauty of the natural scenerv. 



The Finest Rubber, 



Far and away the finest rubber is derived from the Hevea 

 braziliensis, it is hardly worth while now to experiment with any 

 other variety, the same care and attention given to the Hevea will 

 produce a far better gum, stronger in fibre and possessirg a much 

 higher breaking strain than any other, and for this reason it will 

 command higher prices than the products of either the Syphonica 

 or Ceara. The seeds of trees now in the island arc derived from 

 plants sent hither from Kew in 1876, and although these still pro- 

 duce excellent results, it is certainly worth the experiment to in- 

 troduce a fresh stock direct from Manaos on the Amazon, the 

 native home and habitat of the true Hevea braziliensis. Reliable 

 agents are of opinion that the seeds can be safely sent to Cey- 

 lon if in proper and specially made germinating cases, and if 

 this experiment proved successful Ceylon would be in possession 

 of a new stock, the development of which it would be interesting 

 to note, side by side, with the existing growth. The growing re- 

 quires but little care. Rough weeding is quite sufficient. Upon 

 the tapping of the trees at, say, eight to ten years old, and subse- 

 quent curing of the milk the success of the crop absolutely and 

 solely depends, and upon this first crop also depends the reputa- 

 tion and future prosperity of the estate from which it is exported. 

 A new brand placed upon the market immediately attracts the 

 attention of the manufacturer. He is quick to secure a new rub- 

 ber to discover if there be "any good thing " in it. Happy is the 

 new rubber which has no history. It is received eagerly, put upon 

 its trial with every wish to make the best of it. If this test is 

 satisfactory, future success promises well ; if unsatisfactory, the 

 shadow of suspicion and the coolness of neglect will, for a time at 

 least, hang over that estate. To secure a good result from the 

 first collection, it would be advisable to import two or three expe- 

 rienced collectors from the Amazon — not a costly enterprise ; and 

 where several planters are interested and prepared to combine, the 



