44i 



9. In artifical planting it is found that the rubber grows best 



on mounds. Lines are cut through the forest 



Planting operations. 2Q ^ ^ and ^ ^ ^ Qm centre to 



centre; in these lines 15 feet stakes are put up 35 feet apart. 

 Round each stake a mound is thrown up four feet high. The base 

 of the mound is about ten feet in diameter and they taper to four 

 feet on the top; on this mound the rubber tree is planted, care 

 being taken that the roots are carefully spread out before they are 

 covered up with earth. To prevent animals pulling the plants and 

 wind blowing them down, they are tied to the stakes. 



10. The rubber tree can readily be propagated from cuttings, 



if only perfectly ripe young branches or shoots 

 Cuttings - are used, but the tree raised from cuttings does 



not appear to throw out aerial roots, and, as the future yield of the 

 tree probably depends on its aerial root system, it is questionable 

 whether trees raised from cuttings ought to be used except where 

 required only as a shade giver, such as in an avenue. In the 

 Charduar rubber plantation, propagation by cuttings was given up 

 very early, that is about 1876, the plantation having been com- 

 menced in 1873. 



The best time to take cuttings is May and June. 



11. The rubber grows equally well on high land or low land, 



in forest land or grass land, so long as it is 

 Genera1, planted on a mound and its roots are not ex- 



posed to the sun. It is a surface feeder, but, as soon as its roots 

 appear above ground, they must be covered with fresh earth until 

 such time as the tree has formed a sufficient leaf canopy to pro- 

 tect itself. 



Report on the results of Tapping operations in 

 Charduar Rubber Plantation in 1899-1900, 



No. 164K, dated Camp Dhubri, the 22nd August, 1900. 



From — J. A. McKee, Esq., Conservator of Forests, Assam, 



To — The Inspector-General of Forests to the Government of India 

 (through the Secretary to the Chief Commissioner of Assam). 



In continuation of correspondence resting with this Office 

 No. 194K, dated the 3rd October, 1899, I have the honour to 

 report the result of tapping compartments 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, etc., 

 of the Charduar Rubber Plantation in the past season of 1899- 1900. 



2. An area of 474 acres, containing 6,8 10 trees, was worked 

 over, yielding 4,502 lbs. of clean and dry rubber, 

 Area and outturn. ag per detail below, and it should be noted that 

 the trees in compartments 3 and 4 were tapped for the second 

 year in succession, having been also operated on in 1898-99: 



