2 
C. Another row similarly placed 
gives— 3' i" ; 3' 5" ; 2' 3" ; 4' 6" ; 4 6' 
^ 1 It I MM / « / ^ 
apart, 
3 ' A* 
but only 5 to 7 feet 
; 2' 6"; 4' 10"; 3' 3" ; 
3' 6 " ; 2' 10" ; 2 ' 9 " ; 3' o " ; 4' o" ; 2' f ; 3 ' 5 " ; 3 ' 8" ; ^ 8" ; 4 4 "- 
This planting is unusually close but it will be noticed that the 
trees are not very far behind those planted more distantly. 
The averages are as follows — 
A. 3' 1 i" B. 3' 8" C. 3' 5". 
The biggest tree of about the same age in the plantation, on the 
edge of a large group measures 5 feet 8 inches in circumference 
at 5 feet from the ground. 
The soil in which these trees are growing is an alluvial soil, rich 
in humus, and very damp. It seems to have been formerly a tidal 
river, of some size", as fruits of the Nipa palm, are found in the soil 
and the tidal river fern, Acrostic hum aureitm still grows there. 
The water in many parts is on ordinary weather about 6 inches 
underground, and in very wet weather is flooded. The defect of 
this is that the tap root of the tree disappears with growth, and 
large masses of high roots close to the surface are developed. This 
gives the tree a less firm hold in the soft soil, and in rough weather 
trees are not rarely blown down. 
Trees were also planted in the dryer parts of the Garden for ex- 
periment, but in most cases the stiff rocky clay did not permit the 
trees to produce enough roots and the trees made little growth. 
Some however planted some years ago in a wooded hill in the 
gardens though of stiff clay with a small amount of humus, have 
made grand growth. 
The ideal soil for Para rubber is I think the low alluvial flats full 
of well decayed vegetable debris, and sufficiently good drainage to 
prevent the soil being sodderi. 
THE HISTORY OF THE INTRODUCTION OF 
PARA RUBBER INTO THE 
MALAY PENINSULA. 
As there has been a good deal of confusion as to the history of 
the introduction of the plant into the East. The following history 
may be of some interest. In a letter dated April 17th, 1878, from 
Sir William Thiselton Dyer, then Secretary to Sir Joseph 
HOOKER at Kew Gardens, he writes “On 4th June, 18^3, we re- 
ceived from Mr. Markham some hundreds of seeds, obtained from 
Mr. JAS. COLLINS, of these seeds less than a dozen germinated and 
six of the plants so obtained were taken by Dr. King, Superinten- 
dent of the Botanic Gardens, Calcutta, in the same year to India. 
The climate of Calcutta did not prove very favourable to the 
Heveas which require the conditions of growth met with in hot and 
moist tropical forests. It was therefore decided on consultation 
with Mr. Markham that in the event of more Heveas being raised 
and sent out from Kew they should be received at the Botanic 
Gardens Ceylon which should then be regarded as the depot for 
