1 June, 1898. | QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. ATT 
Tropical Industries. 
! iJ 
A RESUME ON RUBBER. 
By E. COWLEY, 
Manager, Kamerunga State Nursery, Cairns. 
HOW TO ESTABLISH A PLANTATION. 
So many fallacies-have been made public in regard to caoutchouc (Indiarubber) 
that a résumé of the subject may with confidence be undertaken, All tropical. 
agricultural journals abound with information on the subject; but we, in 
tropical Queensland, are isolated through lack of tropical labour, and it would 
not appear wise to advocate the cultivation of Indiarubber-trees except where 
the necessary labour can be obtained. There is but little doubt that many 
_ rubber-producing plants will grow well in North Queensland. 
Mr. Smythe, of Hammond Island, tells me he is obtaining some plants 
from Ceylon, and it is likely, provided he has the rainfall, he will be more 
successful than anyone further south in this colony. 
Hevea braziliensis, as is well known, grows on the banks of rivers in 
Brazil, South America, which country affords the necessary humid temperature. 
It is unlikely that any part of Australia would afford equal meteorological. 
conditions, but it certainly should be tried on Cape York and in the Northern 
Territory of South Australia. But in this case “ Eaperientia docet.” 
Perhaps the Governments concerned might be interested sufliciently to go 
to the expense of establishing snall plantations for test purposes, as they have 
done with other plants of economic interest. 
To me it seems that the eastern end of New Guinea would form a suitable 
spot for this enterprise, provided the necessary capital were forthcoming. 
This, of course, is merely speculation. In any case the seeds of Hevea 
braziliensis do not seem able to sustain the voyage from Brazil to Queensland. _ 
Whether from climatic influence or from distance of journey, this cannot be 
determined. Live plants, however, may be obtained from Ceylon. 
Manihot Glaziovii (the Ceara rubber) would appear to come next in value 
to Para rubber, and this plant undoubtedly does well in North Queensland. 
But even here it is a question of labour. 
The fallacy that the seeds of this plant take twelve months to germinate, 
has been distinctly proved at Kamerunga. Seeds obtained from Messrs. 
Christy, of London, germinated within two months of being planted in the 
open ground withont any preparation of seed. 
The idea published in the Ceylon papers that seeds planted in fresh horse- 
dung would germinate still more rapidly, was quite exploded by trial at 
Kamerunga. Every care was taken ; 100 seeds were planted, only six of which 
germinated after a prolonged period. It has been found by experience that 
half-ripened wood of this plant will grow readily, while the older wood will not 
grow at all, except in isclated instances. This was proved by the reception of 
some cuttings of old wood from Mourilyan Harbour. The younger wood 
freshly planted grows to a height of 20 feet, and bears flower and fruit within 
twelve months. ; 
It is better, however, to plant seeds in sheltered positions, and, when the 
plants are about 1 foot high, to transplant them into their permanent positions. 
This should be done during the wet season, and the plantation made ina 
sheltered locality. The tree, like all the family, is tender. — 
Of course, where it is possible, seeds themselves may be planted where the 
plantation is to be formed, though this the writer somewhat deprecates. 
