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greater length than 8 inches. A few years ago the land was 
covered with a layer ot ashes through the eruption of a neighbour- 
ing volcano, Santa Maria, just across the Guatemala line. These 
ashes have formed a cover over the ground which materially 
assists in checking evaporation. ^ The fertility of the soil is not 
unusually high, so that we may in time have to apply fertilizers. 
Experiments are now being conducted to ascertain the results 
of manuring this soil for rubber. The soil is rather poor in 
nitrogen and it has been found that the growing of leguminous 
plants between the rubber trees markedly influences the develop- 
ment of these. 
If I add that the plantation is comparatively little exposed 
^o high winds I have shown some of the reasons why I consider 
the natural conditions of this place nearly ideal for Castilla planting. 
The method of planting first employed was to sow the seeds 
in nurseries, and when the seedlings were 4 to 6 months old they 
were transplanted. Very often, however, transplanting was not done 
before a year after sowing. The plants were then from five to 
twelve feet high. The seedlings were cut 5 or 6 inches below the 
surface, and topped, leaving a pole some 3 feet long. Tied into 
bundles, which were packed on mule back, these poles were carried 
to the field. With a pointed stake, holes were made in the ground 
about one foot deep, the pole placed in the hole and the soil pressed 
^close to the stem. When this planting was done carefully and 
if rain fell within the next two or three days not more than 3 or 4 
per cent, of failures occurred. In places where the soil was some- 
what sandy the failures were more frequent. On Zacualpa as 
many as 18,000 trees have been planted per day in this manner. 
At first it was believed that shade was necessary, but it -was soon 
noticed that this idea was erroneous' and a system of planting in 
semi-shade was adopted. When clearing a certain amount of high 
forest trees were left standing, about four to the acre. It is now 
demonstrated, however, that dven this amount of shade is too much 
on Zacualpa. On tbfe other plantations, however, Juilapa and 
Zacualpa II, this semi-shade is beneficial as it assists the young 
plants through the dry season. These plantations are situated at a 
somewhat higher elevation, and the land is undulating and more 
drained. 
Later experience has proved that the cheapest and surest 
method is to plant the seeds at stake. Nearly a year’s growth is 
thus gained, and it does away with the expensive replanting where 
failures occur under the transplanting method. The seeds are 
planted in small hills, about seven seeds in each hill, three inches 
between the seeds. The hills are at a distance of about seven feet, 
in rows twelve feet apart. This 1 method of planting appears at 
first sight decidedly wrong as the plants stand too close. A planter 
of Para rubber naturally thinks of the price of every seed be puts 
in the ground, but this is a minor consideration in the case of the 
small and rather cheap Castilla seeds. On Zacualpa we have the 
seeds for the picking, and any quantity of them. 
In planting in the manner described we allow for a high 
percentage of failures in germination, we are prepared to give ants, 
lizards and field rats their due amount, and we still have plants in 
