on as “good clean Java character” and valued at 3s. 6 d. per 
but sold for 35. lod. . . . , 
1 he largest tree at Kuala Kangsar is about 90 feet high mea- 
sures 88 feet at 3 feet from the ground, measuring round all the 
aerial roots, the branches extend to 36 paces, and the largest leaves 
are 13" x 7", its age, 19 years. The growth of this tree has been 
remarkable during the last three years, from the time its aena 
roots reached the ground. , 
Ficus elastica is an indigenous tree, found m Upper rerak. 
is naturallv an epiplyte, and its growth would be no doubt assisted 
if planted at the bases of felled trees. Its growth is slow at first 
but rapid when well established. Considering the enormous di- 
mensions this tree attains, 10 to the acre would be close (enough 
planting, and as perhaps 8 years would have to elapse before the 
tree could be profitably tapped the intervening spaces could be 
utilized by some other crop, even Hevea, which would be beneticial 
to the growth of the Ficus . 
Tapping. 
As the latex of Ficus elastica coagulates on the tree it is best to 
tap on dry days only. From single incisions, about 4 inches long, 
and rather more apart, the latex slowly exudes, and in 2 or 3 days 
afterwards can be collected. At times the latex runs more freely 
and then some drops to the ground, this can be collected on plan- 
tain leaves, but the quality is not so good as that which coagulates 
on the tree. At Kuala Kangsar, seeds ripen about October, the 
fruiting season being between July and October, and I should not 
think these the months for tapping. I consider December, Jan- 
uary, and the following months best. 
Yield. . 
1 have not any information as to the age when Ficus elastica 
could be profitably tapped. At Kuala Kangsar there are two trees 
12 years old, and two 19 years old, from the latter 25 lbs. of rub- 
ber has been obtained from each tree, and the tapping was far 
short of being exhaustive. The result of the other trees has not 
vet been ascertained, but l expect good results. 
Getah Singret ( W Ulugh l in a firm a). A small sample was sent 
to London with the Para parcel, and reported on as “ good strong 
Borneo character,” valued and sold at 2s. 6d. per lb. This is the 
best of the indigenous creepers, but 1 doubt very much if it ordin- 
arily reaches the European market in a pure state, being usually 
used to adulterate getah percha. 
Getah Taban Sutra {Die hop sis gutta var). There is one ex- 
ample of this tree in the Kuala Kangsar garden which is said to be 
17 years old, and fruited for the first time in November, 1900- A 
few herbarium specimens were obtained, all the other fruits being 
carried off by squirrels before being ripe. The height of this tree 
is 25 feet, and girth 2 feet at 3 feet from the ground, a jungle tree 
growing under heavy canopy would of course be much higher, 
with less branching habit, and smaller girth. 
'ill 
