India Rubber and Gutta Percha. 8i 
tree is not found, the best plan to obtain plants would be 
to sow seed, which is very plentiful in the fruiting season. 
There would be no difficulty in raising a large number of 
seedlings in nursery beds. They should be formed on 
ground not likely to be flooded in the wet season, pos- 
sessing a little shade. The seedlings make by far the 
,best growth under the influence of slightly modified 
sunlight. The seed should be sown thickly and covered 
lightly with leaf mould or any similar forest rubbish. 
They spring up rapidly after germination, and in six to 
nine months would be large enough to be finally planted. 
In collecting plants which have grown up spontaneously, 
those of the current year's growth should be preferred. 
Those and those alone may be transplanted without 
risk. They are readily recognised by the green unjointed 
stems. The older plants have the normal grey bark of 
the nature tree. Cuttings taken from lateral shoots will 
root when inserted deeply in cool shady places. But 
where seeds or seedlings are obtainable, this latter system 
of propagation is not to be recommended, as it is some- 
what more difficult and uncertain and occupies some 
time. 
Enterprising collectors of ballata-gum would do well 
to turn their attention to india-rubber, and test the value 
of Hevea spruceana in caoutchou, as compared with the 
other known species of this genus. The fact of the 
greater demand for the india-rubber, and its greater worth, 
especially that derived from plants of this genus, over 
gutta-percha, should not be overlooked. Woodcutters 
and others acquainted with the forest trees of the colony, 
would do well to use their knowledge, and search for 
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