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Brief account of how Rubber trees (Ficus elastica) 
are grown in Assam, 
By D. P. Copeland, 
Deputy Conservator of Forests , Darrang Division, 
1. The Indian rubber fig or Caoutchouc tree is indigenous to 
Assam where it is found a dominant tree in the 
evergreen forests. It requires an exceedingly damp 
atmosphere, and the best natural rubber trees are met with in the 
forests at the foot of the hills, or on the hills themselves up to an 
elevation of 2,500 fe£t. 
2. In its natural state, the rubber tree starts from seed dropped 
bv birds in the forks of other trees, often 20 or 
Natural germination. f eet or even more f rom the ground, where it 
germinates, and the young plant remains an epiphyte for years 
until its aerial roots touch the ground; as soon as this takes place, 
the little epiphyte changes rapidly into a vigorous tree, throwing 
out numerous aerial roots which gradually envelope the tree on 
which it first began life and often kill it out. 
Having started life so high up, it soon throws out branches which 
overtop the surrounding trees, and the numerous aerial roots, which 
fall from these and establish connection with the ground, in a few 
years enable it to dominate the forest growth around it. 
3. The seed of this tree is contained in fig-shaped fruit, about 
75 seeds being found in one good sound fig. 
Seed - The fruit first begins to form on the trees in 
March and ripens from May onward to December. On some trees 
the whole crop ripens and falls off by June, but, as a rule, the 
rubber tree has fruit on it from April right up to December, the 
figs forming, ripening and falling off, the whole of the rains. 
After collection the figs have to be carefully dried and mixed 
with pounded charcoal, which preserves the seed for several months. 
4. In the Charduar rubber plantation nursery, for a seed bed 
40" XSY: two to three seers of pulverized rubber 
Seedbeds seed, IO seers ash and 20 seers of vegetable 
loam or good soil, is well mixed in a half cask and spread evenly 
over the bed, and then lightly tamped down and watered. Such a 
bed should yield, with good germination, 2,000 seedlings and should 
be sufficient for putting out 100 acres of rubber planted 70' x 35'. 
The beds must be well-raised and drained, the soil being prepared 
in the same way as for vegetable or flower seed. If sown in boxes, 
these should be put under the eaves of a house; if in beds, light 
removable shades must be put up to keep off the direct rays of the 
sun. The shades should be removed during rainy or cloudy weather 
and at night. 
Light sandy loam is most suitable for seed beds ; if the soil is 
stiff, charcoal dust should be mixed with it to make it porous and 
prevent caking. The bed or boxes must never be allowed to 
get dry. 
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