3 
It is evident that seeds which are t j be exported are best selected 
from untapped trees. 
Experiments are to be conducted to compare the growth of 
plants resulting from seeds of + apped and untapped trees. 
Table i. 
Percentage of Seed Germination obtained from Tapped and 
Untapped Trees. 
No of 
box. 
No. of | 
seeds 1 
in box. 
Length of 
time the 
seeds were 
in boxes. 
No. of plants 
obtained. 
Percentage of seed 
Germination. 
Tapped. : 
| 
Untapped. 
Tapped. 
Untapped. 
— 
I 
200 
3 weeks 
67 
156 
33 
78 
2 
200 
5 » 
46 
133 
2 3 
66 
3 
200 
7 » 
48 
IOJ 
24 
50 
4 
200 
8 „ 
40 
167 
20 
83 
5 
200 
9 » 
40 
164 
20 
82 
6 
200 
f 10 „ 
49 
165 
24 
82 
Experiment II. 
The Preserving of Rubber Seeds from Tapped Trees. 
The seeds in these experiments were collected and packed in a 
similar way to those in the first experiment but they were coated 
respectively with bees wax, hard paraffin, and vaseline. The bees 
wax and hard paraffin were melted and the seeds dipped into their 
respective liquids, allowed to solidify and then packed. Previous to 
planting the seeds, the hard paraffin, bees wax, and vaseline were 
removed. 
The percentage of germination of untreated seeds from tapped 
trees can be seen by referring to experiment I. On comparing 
this with the seeds coated with bees wax it will be seen that 
the latter showed an increased germination to the extent of ap- 
proximately 30 per cent. The seeds coated with (hard paraffin gave 
better results than untreated seeds from tapped trees but not as good 
as those coated with bees wax. 
The seeds treated with vaseline did not germinate. The coating 
of rubber seeds with any substance is undoubtedly an expensive 
treatment but if seeds have to be sent to countries which take from 
1 y 2 to 2 x / 2 months to reach and seeds from untapped trees cannot 
be obtained, then, I think that the extra percentage of germination 
resulting from seeds being coated with bees wax would more than 
repay the extra expense entailed by this system of treatment. 
