139 



At this distance four square feet of ground will be allowed to each 

 plant. Some planters recommend 3 feet between the rows, and 2 feet 

 from plant to plant in the rows, but the tendency now is to plant 

 closer, as it has been found in close planting that the suckers support 

 each other and are not liable to be blown over when in fruit, as is so 

 often the case when more space is allowed ; also that the plants in time 

 completely cover the ground and prevent the growth of weeds to a 

 considerable extent. 



In planting, make holes at the proper distances, and put the suckers 

 in just deep enough to cover the naked base of each, then draw in the 

 earth and press firmly around them. The ground should be kept free 

 from weeds, and the surface open, by means of a Dutch hoe. 



Manures, If land is planted that had previously been used for 

 several years to pasture stock, and the soil is good sandy loam, manure 

 will not be necessary for a few years ; on the other hand, if it is arid and 

 poor, it would be well to fork in, or plough in a good dressing of 

 farm-yard manure when breaking up the soil, 6 months or so before 

 planting, and give a top-dressing of wood-ashes which should be light- 

 ly raked in after the plants have started co grow. Artificial manures 

 for pine-apples are now offered for sale, and are largely used by grow- 

 ers who wish to force their crops. In clayey soils, the application of 

 lime, when preparing the land for planting, is highly beneficial. Soils 

 that have become exhausted by other crops may be made suitable for 

 pines by growing a crop or two of cow-peas, and ploughing these in 

 when they are in flower. 



The best time to plant pines is July-August ; good, strong suckers 

 put in at this time of the year, will fruit in 9 to 12 months from time 

 of planting. If planted earlier or later in the year, the suckers will 

 take longer to fruit, 15 to 18 months or more. 



YIELD OF RUBBER. 



Although we have on several occasions given full particulars con- 

 cerning rubber-planting, yield of rubber, &c, we have repeated in- 

 quiries as to the net returns which may be expected from a planta- 

 tion. Perhaps the following letter addressed to the India Rubber 

 World by Mr. A. H. Berkhout, late Conservator of Java Forests, will 

 convey to intending rubber-planters the necessary information. Mr. 

 Berkhout writes : — 



In The Indian Forester (Vol. XXIV., page 160*). I presented some 

 facts in relation to the oldest india-rubber plantation in the world, 

 which is located on the Pamanukan-Tjiassem estate, in the Residence 

 Krawang, in Java. At that time I wrote that the plantation came 

 into existence in the year 1872, basing my information on personal 

 conversation with the owner of the estate, but the opinion of the 

 present chief overseer, Herr van Henkelom, seems to be that the plan- 

 tation dates from the year 1864. 



The young plants of Ficus elastica were obtained from the adjacent 

 forests, by cuttings of branches, or by mareotting the uncultivated 



* Quoted in The India Rubber World, 1st August, 1898. 



