Gums, Resins, 12 



Mr. Wright :— A tree having a circumference of 20 inches would have a 

 bark representing to some extent the development of other parts of the tree; 

 and if you tap trees much under 20 inches, although many estates are doing 

 this, it is hard on the bark and the rest of the tree and must affect its future 

 health. 



Mr. Smith :— And bring on disease ? 

 Mr. Wright :— That is a disputed question. 

 Mr. Smith :— But it is more liable to it? 

 Mr. Wright;— That is so in some cases. 



THE AGE FOR PRUNING. 



Mr. Franklin :— At what age would you recommend pruning? 



Mr. Wright :— I would rather not consider age. The size of trees of the 

 same age varies so much. I would first prune at 10 to 15 feet— prune to such a 

 level that it will allow you 10 feet to tap. I do not believe that high tapping 

 can be considered in the future. 



varieties of bark on para trees. 



Mr. Hunt .-—What accounts for the absolutely different bark on the trees ? 

 Some have a polished plain and pink colour and others have a very sawdusty 

 and very crumbly bark. They seem to be distinct trees to cut. Is there any 

 particular reason for this ? 



Mr. Wright .-—It is only what occurs in most plants. You are dealing 

 with one species, and when you have two million plants it is only natural to 

 expect that there should be some variation. 



Mr. Hunt: — The pink bark is a very thin and a high-yielding one? 



Mr. Wright : -Jumelle, Ule and other botanists have made or recorded 

 observations conducted in the forests of the Amazon valley. Like others they 

 concluded that the seedlings from five hundred seeds from the same tree might 

 produce more varieties than can be detected in the average forest. It is a natural 

 variation and nothing more. Two species of Hevea have been introduced to 

 Ceylon, but only Hevea brasiliensis has survived. 



Mr. Hunt : — A gentleman was visiting me, and as far as the growth and 

 yield of my rubber was concerned, it compared very favourably with other places, 

 but the characteristic that struck him was the smallness of the leaves compared 

 with the trees on other estates- Even on big trees as well as on saplings the 

 leaves were all very small. 



Mr. Wright : — You did not think you had got the wrong variety did you ? 

 Mr. Hunt:— My yield compared very favourably. 



Mr. Wright :— With a tree it is very difficult to make selection experi- 

 ments. You have to let it grow into a tree, and by the time you find out its 

 real value it is 8 years old, and it is then time to take a rest. 



TAPPING ALL THE YEAR ROUND. 



Mr. Smith :— Do you believe in tapping all the year round? 



Mr. Wright: -That is a difficult question to answer right aAvay. We 

 have been conducting experiments to determine the best frequency for tapping, 

 and it is rather curious that tapping every day has given less rubber than 

 tapping every alternate day from trees tapped at Heuaratgoda from 26th September 

 up to date. The trees tapped every alternate day gave something over 10 lb. 



