484 
There can be no doubt, I think, that every aerial root should be 
encouraged to reach the ground either by running it through hol- 
low split bamboos with plenty of ventilation and dried grass or 
other vegetable matter placed inside them or by leading them 
down a piece of stick or string and old vegetable matter, grass, 
etc., being heaped round the tree which acts as a cool shelter 
against the sun and also adds manure to the soil. 
f have seen many plants which were dead amongst the indige- 
nous trees we have in our Perak jungles, and in, 1 think , every case, 
}he cause of death may be traced to the severing of the aerial roots, 
therefore I think where possible one should be content to tap the 
main stems and branches and not the roots. We should remember 
this is not a tree proper and requires careful treatment. 
Amongst my seedlings I have been lucky enough to grow a pink 
and green leaf variety and I have planted it at the Forest Bunga- 
low, Taiping, as a King Edward VII Coronation tree. 
Yours faithfully, 
A. B. STEPHENS. 
Golden Hope Estate, 
Klang, Selangor, 
16th August, 1902 
FICUS ELASTICA. 
To the Editor 
Agricultural Bulletin: 
Dear Sir, 
Referring to letters you have received from Mr. Irving and 
Mr. CAREY on the subject cf lopping Rambong trees, I, some time 
back, wrote to Mr. Derry, of Perak, for his opinion on the matter. 
I too being in doubt as to the advisibility of cutting branches or 
aerial roots of young trees. Mr. Derry’s reply will no doubt be 
interesting to your readers: He says, — “I should on no account 
“cut away any part of Rambong trees. The main stem has no 
“advantage over the roots or any other stem so far as yield of 
“rubber is concerned [although it is best not to tap the roots 
“which yield the best rubber really.] 
“ When your trees are older, you will find the immense crown 
“ which now seems a little jungle in itself will be lifted from the 
“ground and plenty of workable stems will then be available.” 
Mr. Derry proceeds to state that to make himself quite clear 
would involve a long explanation, but that he was prepairing an 
article on Rambong for the Bulletin. 
Yours faithfully, 
EDMUND 8, PRIOR. 
