AGRICULTURAL  BULLETIN 
OF  THE 
STRAITS 
AND 
FEDERATED  MALAY  STATES. 
No.  I.]  JANUARY,  1903.  [Vol.  II. 
PARA  RUBBER  IN  THE  BOTANIC  GARDENS 
SINGAPORE. 
With  Plate. 
The  Plate  given  this  month,  shows  a view  of  the  large  planta- 
tion of  Para  Rubber  in  the  Botanic  G'^rdens,  Singapore.  The  large 
trees  on  the  right  are  among  the  oldest  trees  in  the  Peninsula  and 
were  planted  in  1878.  They  are  about  6o  feet  in  height  and  be- 
ginning from  the  nearest  to  the  spectator  measure,  at  five  feet  from 
the  ground  : — 
No.  I.  five  feet  two  inches  in  circumference. 
Branches  at  3 feet  from  the  ground  just  below  this,  it 
is  9 feet  in  circumference  while  the  three  branches 
measure  respectively  at  416  from  the- ground,  4 
feet  7 inches,  3 feet  9 inches  aild  4 feet  6‘inches. 
At  5 feet  from  the  ground  4 feet  i inch. 
2. 
n 2 
„ 10 
M 9 
5 
This  tree  throws  a branch  below  this  point  measuring  2 feet  9 
inches  at  the  base. 
No.  9.  At  5 feet  from  the'ground  5 feet  7 inches. 
The  other  trees  on  the  left  were  planted  at  a much  later  date 
about  1884  and  vary  in  diameter  according  chiefly  to  the  amount 
of  light  and  expanse  of  branches.  The  'distance  apirt  varies  a 
good  deal,  as  seedlings  have  often  grown  up  in  and  between  the 
original  rows  which  were  about  12  feet  apart  in  most  cases. 
The  following  measurements  of  trees  of  this  age  will  give  an  idea 
of  their  dimensions. 
A.  Trees  in  a row  with  light  on  both  sides  about  9 feet  apart. 
Diameter  at  five  feet  from  the  ground  — (i ) 4'  8",  (2)  4'  8"  [2)  n'4" 
(4)  4 (s)  4 I ffi)  2'  10'^,  (7)  4'  6".  No.  3 which  is  smallest 
is  only  28  inches  distant  from  the  next  tree. 
B.  Another  row  by  the  roadside  \vith  light  on  both  sides  and  the 
trees  11  feet  apart  gives  at  the  same  height— 4'  to  3'  6''  : 2'  ii"- 
3 2:4  9 and  3 I . 
