140 



trees, an operation to which the inhabitants of Java frequently resort. 

 The before-mentioned rubber trees are especially adapted to the pro- 

 cess of marcotting. All that is necessary is the removal of a strip of 

 bark J inch wide, and to bandage the wound with earth. After about 

 fifty days, roots will appear through all sides of this ball, which 

 can then be cut off. It is advisable before planting these young 

 plauts, which are about 20 inches in height, to place them, or rather 

 nurse them, in rich, well-shaded soil for a period of about fifty days, 

 in order to heal the cut thoroughly. 



It is my opinion that the original cost of this plantation on the 

 Tjiassem estate was not very much, because the Ficus elastica was 

 planted about yards apart each way, or seventy-two to the acre, 

 within coffee plantations which were no longer productive, and re- 

 quired not much cultivation, I estimate the cost of the plantation at 

 about 29s. per acre. Altogether 72J acres, embracing 5,200 trees, 

 were planted. 



The first tapping was done in 1886, and the following figures will 

 give the details : — 



Years . 



Pounds. 



Average Ounces 

 per Tree. 



Value. 









£ 



s. 



1886 



5,512 



17 



572 







1887 



4,954 



15 



518 



4 



1888 



1,514 



4 



158 



4 



1890 



3,307 



10 



345 



6 



1891 



6,113 



18 



371 



6 



1892 



5,992 



18 



245 



8 



1895 



3,197 



10 



394 



6 



1896 



3,113 



10 



312 



2 



1897 



6,731 



21 



729 



6 



1898 



6,731 



21 



842 



6 



Total 



47,164 





4,490 



8 



Tappings could not be made in every year. In thirteen years (in 

 three of which the trees were not tapped) a total of 47,164 lbs. was 

 harvested, an average of 3,628 lbs. per year, or 10 ozs. per tree per 

 year. During the four years, 1895-98, the average was 4,913 lbs., 

 or 15 ozs. per tree. The yield per acre, therefore, from 1886 to 1898 

 averages 50 lbs., and from 1895 to lb98, 68 lbs. 



The figures given above, by the way, in the column headed "Value" 

 must be understood as referring to the income to the planter after de- 

 ducting all expenses, not only of harvesting the crop, but also the 

 initial expenses and the yearly expense for care of the plantation. 

 From the information supplied to me in regard to the prices obtained 

 for the rubber, I should infer tnat the yearly expense for the last 

 four years covered by the table had amounted to an average of £2 10s. 

 per aore per year. 



An analysis of the figures above given will show an average yearly 

 net profit of £8 3s. 9d. per acre, the figures for 1898 showing a profit 

 jper acre of £12 Is. 8d. 



With respect to the possible yield from Ficus elastica, it may be 



