3°2 
the advent of the motor ear has also added to the demand. The 
climatic conditions of Ceylon, its temperature, its heavy rainfall, 
the character of its soil, all pointed to this island as being an ex- 
tremely good, if not an ideal, rubber-producing country, the 
plantations both at Henaragoda and Edangoda, where the Hevea 
braziiiensis so successfully flourishes, proved that the merely ex- 
perimental stage had been safely passed; a loamy soil, with a 
heavy rainfall, a country not too liable to flooding, plenty of mois- 
ture in the atmosphere not too much around the roots, at any ele- 
vation up to 1,500 feet, had already proved to yield satisfactory 
results. Cheap and plentiful labour held out a reasonable pros- 
pect of many coolies becoming fairly intelligent in rubber collec- 
tion, if properly trained. In brief, the promise of Ceylon as a 
rubber-producing country to the visitor versed in rubber culture 
was distinctly favourable ; perhaps this opinion was influenced and 
based by the lovely climate, by the good nature of the people, and. 
perhaps too, by the beauty of the natural scenery. 
The Finest Rubber. 
Far and away the finest rubber is derived from the Hevea 
braziiiensis, it is hardly worth while now to experiment with any 
other variety, the same care and attention given to the Hevea will 
produce a far better gum, stronger in fibre and possessing a much 
higher breaking strain than any other, and for this reason it will 
command higher prices than the products of either the Syphonica 
or Ceara. The seeds of trees now in the island are derived from 
plants sent hither from Kew in 1876, and although these still pro- 
duce excellent results, it is certainly worth the experiment to in- 
troduce a fresh stock direct from Manaos on the Amazon, the 
native home and habitat of the true Hevea braziiiensis. Reliable 
agents are of opinion that the seeds can be safely sent to Cey- 
lon if in proper and specially made germinating cases, and if 
this experiment proved successful Ceylon would be in possession 
of a new stock, the development of which it would be interesting 
to note, side by side, with the existing growth. The growing re- 
quires but little care. Rough weeding Is quite sufficient. Upon 
the tapping of the trees at, say, eight to ten years old, and subse- 
quent curing of the milk the success of the crop absolutely and 
solely depends, and upon this first crop also depends the reputa- 
tion and future prosperity of the estate from which it is exported. 
A new brand placed upon the market immediately attracts the 
attention of the manufacturer. He is quick to secure a new rub- 
ber to discover if there be f ‘ any good thing ” in it. Happy is The 
new rubber which has no history. It is received eagerly, put upon 
its trial with every wish to make the best of it." If this test is 
satisfactory, future success promises well ; if unsatisfactory, the 
shadow of suspicion and the coolness of neglect will, for a time at 
least, hang over that estate. To secure a good result from the 
first collection, it would be advisable to import two or three expe- 
rienced collectors from the Amazon — not a costly enterprise ; and 
where several planters are interested and prepared to combine, the 
