( 2 ) 
to assist plantation companies to pay the largest 
dividends over the longest possible period are, in 
one form or another, the object of all agricultural 
work. Apart from economic factors, such as effect 
of increased production on selling price, the principal 
methods must be those for the improvement of 
yield per unit area (due regard being paid to the 
cost of collection), at the same time preserving the 
trees in a perfect state of health over as long a 
period as possible. 
In the case of new areas, considerable expectations, 
have been aroused by the benefits which it is hoped 
to derive from the planting of selected stock. From 
some points of view attention would appear to have 
been unduly concentrated on what is after all an 
experiment, affecting the relatively small area likely 
to be planted in the immediate future. It is neces- 
sary to point out that expectations of this nature 
are based on a priori arguments and not on actual 
results, and it remains to be proved that the vari- 
ability admittedly existing in rubber is fixed, and 
that high yield can be transmitted from parent to 
offspring. 
It is not suggested that selected stock should not 
be planted, but that planters should realise that 
their hopes may not be fulfilled. It would certainly 
be inexpedient at the present time to plant widely 
(say 50 trees per acre) in the hope that all the 
trees, because selected, will be highly yielders. 
The real need for research of the second type has. 
been recognised by the F.M.S. Government since 
1904 when the Department of Agriculture was 
formed. Steady increases, both of material and 
personnel, have taken place since that date. 
