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Brief account of how Rubber trees (Ficus elastica) 

 are grown in Assam, 



By D. P. COPELAND, 

 Deputy Conservator of Forests, Darrang Division. 



1. The Indian rubber fig or Caoutchouc tree is indigenous to 

 Fic Assam where it is found a dominant tree in the 



evergreen forests. It requires an exceedingly damp 

 atmosphere, and the best natural rubber trees are met with in the 

 forests at the foot of the hills, or on the hills themselves up to an 

 elevation of 2,500 feet. 



2. In its natural state, the rubber tree starts from seed dropped 



bv birds in the forks of other trees, often 20 or 



Natural germination. j Q feet Qr eyen mQre frQm fche ground> where | t 



germinates, and the young plant remains an epiphyte for years 

 until its aerial roots touch the ground; as soon as this takes place, 

 the little epiphyte changes rapidly into a vigorous tree, throwing 

 out numerous aerial roots which gradually envelope the tree on 

 which it first began life and often kill it out. 



Having started life so high up, it soon throws out branches which 

 overtop the surrounding trees, and the numerous aerial roots, which 

 fall from these and establish connection with the ground, in a few 

 years enable it to dominate the forest growth around it. 



3. The seed of this tree is contained in fig-shaped fruit, about 



75 seeds being found in one good sound fig. 



The fruit first begins to form on the trees in 

 March and ripens from May onward to December. On some trees 

 the whole crop ripens and falls off by June, but, as a rule, the 

 rubber tree has fruit on it from April right up to December, the 

 figs forming, ripening and falling off, the whole of the rains. 



After collection the figs have to be carefully dried and mixed 

 with pounded charcoal, which preserves the seed for several months. 



4. In the Charduar rubber plantation nursery, for a seed bed 



4°' x 3i': two to three seers of pulverized rubber 

 seed, 10 seers ash and 20 seers of vegetable 

 loam or good soil, is well mixed in a half cask and spread evenly 

 over the bed, and then lightly tamped down and watered. Such a 

 bed should yield, with good germination, 2,000 seedlings and should 

 be sufficient for putting out 100 acres of rubber planted 70' x 35'. 

 The beds must be well-raised and drained, the soil being prepared 

 in the same way as for vegetable or flower seed. If sown in boxes, 

 these should be put under the eaves of a house; if in beds, light 

 removable shades must be put up to keep off the direct rays of the 

 sun. The shades should be removed during rainy or cloudy weather 

 and at night. 



Light sandy loam is most suitable for s^eed beds ; if the soil is 

 stiff, charcoal dust should be mixed with it to make it porous and 

 prevent caking. The bed or boxes must never be allowed to 

 get dry. 



