planted, will last for many years and has to flourish or fail according 
to its fitness. Mistakes cannot be corrected as easily as in corn 
growing, or cultivation of similar crops. It is clear that it will pay 
a planter to exercise care in the first instance, even more care than 
in the case of many other nlants. This does not imply that a bad 
start is absolutely hopeless, but rather that care and discretion in 
the beginning will pay in the long run, and will save the planter 
many disappointments. 
It is naturally difficult, well nigh impossible, to make any detailed 
selection of seeds, when a large planting, say of thousands of acres, is 
to be done in one season. But the planter can always subject his 
seeds to the ordinary methods of selection, such as mentioned below. 
When commencing a plantation always get the seeds from 
^planters who to your knowledge cultivate their trees and keep 
them clean. Naturally a tree that is well cared for will supply 
better seed than a neglected tree. Choose seeds from trees that 
look healthy, have straight tapering trunk, a full conical crown, 
and are known to give a large amount of latex and rubber. 
Seeds from young trees, four to six years old, are larger and 
look better than those obtained from older trees. It is proved by 
experiments and experience • that seeds from such young trees 
develop into a healthier plant than seeds from older trees. When- 
ever the tree is looking yellow or sickly, carefully avoid its seed. 
The large seeds are always better than the small ones. In regard 
to size the seeds should be selected by using a screen with meshes 
one-fourth inch in diameter. All seeds passing through should be 
discarded. The next step in selection of seed is to place them in a 
vessel of water, and separate all seeds that float, or do not sink 
rapidly, as these are defective. 
Influence of Maturity of Seed. 
If seeds are taken from fruits which are not mature and do not 
have the clear colour, of the flqsh they will most likely either fail to 
germinate, or produce Inferior seedlings. Experience has shown 
in regard to most cultivated plants that the maturity of the seed 
has a considerable influence on the offspring. Immature seeds 
lessen the vitality of the subsequent seedling and tree. 
I have noticed that seeds from young plants are fuller and 
more rounded than those frdm older trees. The seedling from 
such a seed has smoother and bigger leaves than those developing 
from seeds with a loose seed coat and ribs on its surface. 
The root development is much stronger in a seedling from seed 
taken from younger trees, and this is another reason why careful 
attention should be paid to the age of the parent tree. 
There can be no doubt but that planters who are careless and 
do not select their seed, make a grave error which they will find 
out to their regret. Thousands of dollars have been wasted by 
ignorance or neglect in this respect. If a mistake is made in 
selecting or non-selecting of seeds it will not be realised before the 
lapse of at least a number of years, when it probably will be 
impossible to correct the blunder, and make the plantation as 
productive as it otherwise would have been. 
