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each of which is found under quite distinct surroundings. As a result 

 general opinions on rubber lands, are three times differently expressed. 

 One man will feel assured that rubber to be successful must be planted 

 on land that is inundated a few feet at least once a year ; another will 

 say that low ground near a wet swampy country is the only available 

 locality ; while still another will talk of the medium upland country as 

 the most promising. 



These are widely different opinions, yet each is correct. Some 

 species of Hevea do best on low around that is subject to slight annual 

 floods. Other species of the tree thrive over low, rich woodlands just 

 beyond the reach of floods. Castilloa elastica does well on the foot hills 



wherever there is a rich, clean soil and abundant water. It is also 

 found in low swampy ground, but amid such surroundings does not 

 yield as fine rubber as in the healthier localities. 



Rubber is taken from a number of trees and vines, but the species 

 that I have noted, yield the commercial suppliess of America ; of these 

 Castilloa elastica is of the most interest to people who think of planting, 

 because it does well on healthy ground where a man from the temperate 

 regions can expect to live and see his trees develop. 



The proper land should be clean, rich, and abundantly watered, 

 with a good drainage. Such lands give the best returns. The trees 

 grow abundantly on low unhealthy lands, but do not yield so good a 

 quality of rubber, for which reason if one proposes to cultivate, it is well 

 to have the best, and on this much will depend, for it will have an im- 

 portant bearing on results. Of the two methods of cultivation that are 

 being tried little ha* been done with forestry as yet, but the few ex- 

 periments made have been almost universally successful and promise 

 important developments for the future. Husbandry so far has not been 

 a great success, and in many places rubber trees have been carefully 

 planted and tended for a long term of years but have not given any 

 returns, though it is claimed that some of the trees are twenty to forty 

 years old. 



The claims in favour of husbandry are that a great number of trees 

 can be planted on one acre, and that all are within easy reach, while 

 better returns can be expected from cultivation than from the natural 

 conditions of the forest. It must be borne in mind, however, that 

 Castilloa elastica is a tree of the shade, and that the flow of sap, and not 

 beautiful proportions or an abundant yield of fruit is the object sought. 

 Another important point is that the tree has a comparatively tender 

 bark in the shady wood*, which in an open cultivation becomes much 

 heavier as a protection against the sun and dry air at the expense of the 

 flow of sap, and the provisions of nature which permit the tree to grow 

 anywhere defeat the objects of a planter and makes rubber-cultivation 

 a doubtful undertaking. Hence in many cases the thousands of dollars 

 that are being invested in such enterprises will be the source of grievous 

 disappointment. On the other hand, a careful selection of a run of for- 

 est property where rubber-trees reproduce themselves naturally, must 

 yield returns that will surprise even the most sanguine expectations. 



