512 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
(Feb. 2, 190S. 
^ere is a comparatively easy matter. From reports 
o hand it would appear that this tree naturally 
affects swampy places ; but here it thrives in any 
locality — at low elevations, and on almost any kicd 
of soil. Swampy districts or places that are periodi- 
cally inundated are not essential to success and 
fine specimens are to be seen growing in what 
would generally be supposed to he the most unde- 
sirable spots. A good tree for instance is growing 
in the Penang Botanic Gardens on a dry stony 
bank "*i ot at all the place I should choose," and 
although probably much smaller than if grown under 
better conditions, this tree has given an average 
annual yield of over 2J pounds of rubber from the 
eleventh to the fifteenth year of its existence. 
Other good specimens, 11 years old, 70-75 feet high 
with a mean girth of about 4J feet at 3 feet 
from the base, are to be found in Perak, growing 
on disused mining land which is about as devoid 
of plant food as it is possible to find. If tlie reports 
concerning the conditions under which this tree grows 
in a wild state are correct, it is somewhat strange 
that it should flourish here under such different root 
conditions, for the only trees I have seen in the 
Peninsula which could hardly be said to be thriving 
were those which were planted in a swamp. I find 
the eame fact is reported from Zanzibar, where the 
Director of Agriculture states that " although planted 
in typical rice swamps they are nearly all dead.' 
This at any rate goes to strengthen the theory that 
plants do not alv.-ays occur naturallj', under those 
conditions to which they are best adapted, although 
as a general rule it is as well in the cultivation of 
plants to imitate as far as possible the conditions 
which the plant is known to affect. 
There are many instances of plants succeeding 
much better in the country of their adoption, and 
the orange may be cited as an example : this plant 
although indigenous to eastern Asia succeeds nowhere 
so well as it does in Southern Europe and California. 
Some writers have advocated the cultivation of 
Heveas on partly cleared land or in lines 
cut through the jungle ; and others to plant it very 
closely on the aieuniption that being a jungle plant 
it would require plenty of shade. But this I venture 
to think is a mistake, for we are informed that in 
the forests of Brazil it towers above all other vege- 
tation, thus indicating, that so far from being a 
shade loving plant it enjoys plenty of light. 
Nothing could succeed better than this tree does 
in the Federated Malay States, planted on newly 
cleared, well drained land ; and although it is often 
Btated that partial shade, swampy places and other 
conditions are essential to success, given a climate 
with a uniform temperature of about 90° P., and a 
large rainfall equally distributed throughout the year, 
the conditions laid down above are eminently suit- 
able. So far as I can judge it does not appear 
that the nature of the soil affects either the quantity 
or the quality of the latex (milk) but in any case 
it is advisable to plant on a fairly rich soil, a loamy 
soil for preference, as under such circumstances the 
tree would grow quicker and stronger, and probably 
give a return at a younger age than if grown on 
land dtficient in the necessary constituents of plant 
life. The rate of growth is very rapid, and 1 have 
measured trees grown under the conditions recom- 
mended, which were 2 feet 6 inches in girth at a 
yard from the base, and approximately 30 feet high 
though only 4 years eld; although this must not be 
taken as an average si^e. The mean girih of an 
acre containing 161 tiees, 3^ years old, was 17'51 
inches, and that of an acre of 4 year old trees 
22'4.5 inches, while lO year old trees, growing on a 
very sandy soil at S'tiawan, Perak, were approximately 
65 to 75 feet high, having an average circumference of 
about 4 feet 6 inches taken at 3 feet from the 
ground, the largest being 5 feet 5 inches. 
* C. Curtis, F.L.s,, Annnal Eeport, 1900. 
Gtrminaiion of the seed. — The usual method adopted 
when planting Hevea is to germinate the seeds in 
nurseries, where they remain until they are about 
5 to 6 feet high, when they are cut down to within 
6 inches or a foot of the ground ; the stumps being 
then planted in the open, in holes previously cut 
and filled with surface soil, without any shade, and 
needing very little care beyond keeping the ground 
free from weeds for the first 3 or 4 years. This 
metliod, although retarding the growth for a short 
time, is perhaps advisable, especially on land which 
has previously been used for other cultivations, as 
a preraution against the attacks ot vermin, which 
would greedily devour the seeds were they planted 
"at stake"; though on land from which the jangle 
has recently been burned off, the advantages do not 
appear to be quite so great. 
Another very successful method is to germinate 
the seeds in small baskets— similar to the small 
strawberry baskets so familiar on the home markets 
and which could be made by coolies on the estate 
at a very cheap rate, or in bamboo pots— the 
hollow bamboo cut into lengths of about a foot. 
These should be nearly filled with soil and one seed 
placed in the centre of each, about ]| inches deep, 
and the baskets or bamboo stood out in blocks, aa 
near as possible to the place in which it is intended 
to plant them. When the ground is ready they can 
be put out into holes, without being removed from 
the basket, which will soon rot and the plants will 
thus avoid any check whatever. If bamboo pots are 
used, they should be split down each side, and the 
pieces can then be drawn out after the plant has been 
placed in the hole and surrounded with soil. This 
method is recommended when planting must be done 
in dry seasons, and although a little more expensive 
at first, will, I consider, repay the extra attention 
bestowed on the seedlings by avoiding the check which 
must necessarily ensue; when the system of planting 
from stumps is followed. 
The watering of the seed in the nursery beds is a 
matter requiring careful attention. Before sowing, 
the soil should be thoroughly moistened, and if the 
surface becomes hard it must be stirred up again 
before watering, otherwise the water will not soak into 
it. The aim of the cultivator, however, should be to 
avoid the necessity of watering, by shading the beds 
fairly heavily, but if it becomes necessary it should be 
done tJwrotigfdy not freqvcntly. The effect of sprinkling 
the seeds ' when the soil has become dry, is disastrous, 
as it simply attracts (he young growing tips of the 
roots towards the surface, there to be shrivelled up 
immediately the surface becomes dry again. 
The chief difficulty in planting the seed " at stake," 
i.e., in the position it is to permanently occupy, is that 
as it retains its vitality for so short a period, planting 
can only take place at definite intervals, for it is essen- 
tial that the seed he sown within a week from the time 
it arrives at maturity. Nevertheless, I am of op'nion 
that when possible this practice has points which re- 
commend it to the consideration of those concerned. I 
refer more especially to the method invariably adopted 
by planters, of cutting away the tap-root when 
transplanting stumps from the nurseries. Now it 
should be remf mbered that in addition to it being an 
organ for the absorption of food, one of the fnnctiona 
of the root is to act as an organ of support, so that to 
cut away the tap-root is to deprive the plant of ita 
main support. 
Moreover, I consider it very probable that white ants 
effect an entry into the heart of the tree by means of 
the root so injured. I have examined scores of trees 
that have fallen over, due to the ravages of these 
insects, and the fact that at the time of falling, these 
trees were, almost without exception, to all appear- 
ances in a robust state of health, shews that the 
cambium layer was not affected, or at least only to a 
very small extent, while on examination the trunk of 
the tree was found to be completely riddled. I very 
much doubt whether these ants could enter into the 
heart of the tree protected aa it is by the laticiferooa 
