Gums, Resins, 



450 



[Dec. 1906. 



foot per year. And in three or fours years roots may extend 15 or 20 feet, and 

 the roots of many trees planted 15 by 20 have already crossed and passed each other 

 forming a lace work. It remains to be seen how far you can cut these roots in 

 order to apply the necessary manure without interfering with the flow of latex 

 in the trees. I think that for that reason alone the greatest care should be taken 

 not to go in for too close planting. Coming here in the brain yesterday I noticed 

 rubber planted 8 feet by 8 feet. It seems to me that this is absolutely throwing 

 money away. The soil in Ceylon, although we have some good soil, is not 

 particularly rich — especially in the low-country, and we have to remember that 

 large areas have been more or less exhausted by the growing of tea ; but as regards 

 the actual loss from the manufacture and sale of rubber it is practically nil. It 

 is a question whether something can be done with the waste waters, but as far 

 as I can see there is very little loss even if this were thrown away and not replaced 

 in the soil. But I certainly think every care should be taken to prevent trees 

 getting set as it were from exhaustion of the soil. 



MANURING. 



And especially the application of organic matter ought to be taken in hand 

 early if the flow of latex is to be continued, I noticed in working at rubber lately 

 that in the first latex— you have got it in the old figures— the latex contained 32 

 per cent, of rubber, that is to say that for 3 lb. of latex there was 1 lb. of rubber, 

 but in all the latex sent to me recently, and from what I hear from planters the 

 latex does not now equal that proportion, and the caoutchouc has in some instances 

 gone down to 15 per cent, or less. It seems to me the laticiferous tubes are refilled 

 very rapidly, and the actual flow of water into the tubes also is fairly rapid, but 

 there is apparently a slight want of power of formation of actual rubber in the 

 latex, and this, I think, must be carefully watched in the future. The yield of the 

 trees certainly has not fallen off, but it must mean that there is a much larger 

 proportion of soft laticiferous tissues and larger secretion of moisture which may 

 possibly render the trees more liable to attacks from insects. There is no knowing 

 how this power of the actual formation of the caoutchouc in'the latex may fall off. 

 It has already fallen off, and for that reason I think myself manuring should be 

 taken in hand at an early date. Several people have already applied manure to 

 young trees without thinking of the proper method which resulted in their putting 

 in a forcing manure producing an excessive head of leafy growth and which 

 renders them very liable to be blown over by the Avind or having their heads 

 broken off, and I think the greatest care must be taken in the manuring of trees— 

 especially if they are planted in tea and if the flow of latex is to be successfully 

 continued. (Applause.) 



Mr, Wright :— Might I just mention that Mr. Bamber only refers to 

 exhaustion following the extraction of latex, but I think it is quite probable that 

 there will be far more exhaustion following the excision and renewal of the bark, 

 rather than in the extraction of the latex. As you know unfortunately we cut off a 

 large area of bark to get a few pounds of rubber. 



Mr. Bamber :— Of course, that exhaustion can be replaced in the estate. 

 It is not actually lost to the estate. It is not removed out of the Island. 



Mr. Wright :— With regard to the composition of the latex it is interesting 

 to find that though some of the trees at Henaratgoda when first tapped gave latex 

 with only 30 to 50 per cent, of water, the tapping of the renewed bark has often 

 given us latex with as much as 90 per cent, of water. 



Mr. Bamber — That is what I say. I say the proportion of caoutchouc is 

 greatly reduced. 



