272 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Oct. 1, 1902. 
that Para Rubber is unsuitable for this district, 
and that Castilloa is preferable —which deduc- 
tions are mainly based upon experiments made 
with a few trees, and most probably growing 
in a favoured locality, viz., near a river — 
1. do not think such figures can be used as 
an estimate over a large area ; not that I for 
one moment doubt them, but as they are ac- 
knowledged experiments, they cannot have 
the same weight as the actual results gained 
over a large number of trees. 
2. Prices quoted for samples cannot be de " 
pended upon, especially when the brokers 
know there is no bulk behind them. A sample 
of Para Rubber sent from this estate, when I 
first started tapping, was valued at 4s. l|d. 
per lb.; but when the first foi was despatched, 
which was every bit as good as sample, it sold 
for 3s. 6d. This proves that a price quoted 
for a sample is not given when the article is 
sent in bulk, especially for a new product. 
Therefore I now give you a few figures of 
the actual results of tapping, for the first 
five months of this year, January to May, 
1902, and trust the figures will be of interest 
to all concerned, as I believe they are the first 
published from any estate in Ceylon ; and as 
Para Rubber is still in the experimental stage 
these figures would provide some data to work 
upon. 
I have had the actual results from one or two 
of the Kalutara estates given me ; but I must 
admit that I cannot hope, at any rate at pre- 
sent, to compete with them, in either the 
quantity per tree of dry rubber or the low 
rate per lb. of gathering the latex ; or it 
appears the trees in Kalutara are capable of 
yielding nearly twice the quantity of rubber 
obtained here. But in prices Matale can quite 
hold its own. At the last sales in London 
four boxes of Keppitigalla rubber was sold at 
3s. 6|d per lb. against about seven cases of 
Kalutara at 3s. 6d. 
Much higher prices than these have been 
gained by the latter mark at previous sales. 
The trees growing on this estate are about 8 
miles from Matale town, as the crow flies, at 
an elevation of about 600 feet to 1,400 feet, ages 
of trees from 8 to 11 years ; the largest girth 
one foot above the ground is 47 inches. Tem- 
perature in shade 77 to 92 degrees highest re- 
corded in April. Average rainfall 70 to 80 
inches. The trees are not inclined to spread, 
and grow straight up, with few side branches, 
and make an excellent light shade for cacao 
planted 12 feet apart in line, and 24 feet from 
line to line, thus giving about 150 trees to an 
acre. Tapping proceeds throughout the year, 
and each tree has two series of tappings last- 
ing about two months. 
Now we come to results : — Number of trees 
tapped once 3,903 : — Since October 1901, and 
dry rubber from first tapping 2,128 lb, or just 
over half lb. per tree. Some of these trees 
were tapped again in June-July, and gave 
equal results, thus making 1 lb. rubber per 
tree per year. By the above figures, it will 
not be too much to estimate three-quarter lb 
dry rubber per tree all round, having 150 
trees to the acre. The best results are not 
always gained from the largest trees, as many 
of the smaller trees yield twice as much. 
An experienced person can tell fairly well 
by the appearance of the bark whether a tree 
will yield well or not. A tree with a greyish, 
and hard-looking outer bark very seldom 
yields well, while on the other hand a sof tish- 
looking bark, almost flesh-coloured, is sure to 
give a good yield. 
The proportion of scrap rubber to best 
quality is very small indeed, about 4 per cent 
only. 
Number of pounds dry rubber gathered 
from January to May, 1902, 1,362 lb. 
Best quality 1,302 lb. 
Scrap rubber 60 lb. 
Total ... 1,362 lb. 
Cost of tapping and curing 1 362 lb 
dry rubber R570 63 
Transport, rail fare, boxes, &c. R 31 13 
Cost for the year: 1,600 
collecting tins ...R 48 00 
(Jost for the year: 1 doz. 
tapping knives ...R 30 30 
48 coagulating tins ...R 9 60 
Total cost accessories 
for 12 months ...R 87 90 
Jan. to May 5 months 'share of 
accessories .. R 36 60 
Total cost in Colombo for 
1,3621b. rubber R638 36 
or cents 46 86. per lb. 
Most of the rubber was sold at 3s 6d per 
lb., and the scrap rubber at 2s. 
Prom the above facts it remains for your 
readers to judge whether Para Rubber is 
suited to the Matale district or not.— I am, 
sir, yours faithfully, 
FRANCIS J. HOLLO WAY. 
Samples of rubber sent. 
[Which can be seen by any one interested, 
at the Observer Office.— Ed. T.A.] 
TROUT FISHING IN CEYLON. 
Aug. 26. 
Dear Sir, — This sport has so far been more 
or less in its infancy, though I have had 
many a pleasant day's fishing during the 
past few years ; but there's a real good time 
coming in the near future and I hope all 
interested in this most healthful, pleasurable 
pastime will now join the Club and so help 
to make things hum generally. I had occasion 
to be in Nuwara Eliya yesterday and, of 
course, made it convenient to have a couple 
of hours' fishing from 2 to 4 p.m. During 
that time I landed 28 fish. One a brown of 
just under 1 lb., I kept and the other 27, ail 
locally-bred rainbows and real little beauties, 
ranging from 3 to 8 or 9 inches, I safely 
transferred from the Nuwara Eliya stream 
to the Nanuoya at Blackpool. 
