The Preparation of Plantation Rubber

ailing which is not confined to those interested in modern planting methods. Looking at the matter broadly, however, it must be acknowledged that the pioneers, wrong though they ma

employed by our predecessors. In fact, although we may be of opinion that on general lines there is little now to be learned regarding the planting of Hevea Brasiliensis,

opening and development of rubber estates. For this the reader is referred to the literature dealing specifically with rubber planting. Certain points in connecti

ariable Size, Sh

cide whether such explanation fits the case demands a full knowledge of all the possible factors governing the question of yields. It may, or may not, be a fact that seed from a poor strain is wholly or partially accountable for low yields; but whatever the degree in which the see

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nt is necessarily the best yielder; such is often not the case. In the matter of selection, therefore, one has to take other standards than that of size; and the issue is narrowed chiefly to a consideration of the yields of latex given by individual trees. It has been found by various experimenters that there is no necessity to

wing Root-Sys

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rom selected seed would have to be under observation before any sound deductions could be made from statistics obtained in the course of the work. Thus the problem of seed-selection as it concerns the establishment of a high-yielding strain would involve many years of observation on the part of a tr

Clea

reground, a flat and wet area with main drainage outlined. (By c

Aged about Three Years

gle Timber s

lly. These seeds are germinated in a special nursery, and the best-grown seedlings are selected for further operations. At a certain stage a bud is taken from a high-yielding parent tree and grafted upon the stem of the seedling. When this has "struck" the original head of the seedling is removed. This ensures that one has in the seedling both the stem and future branch system of the same strain as the parent high-yielding trees. It is possible to go a step farther, and by certain processes induce a new root system

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uccessive breedings from selected seed. The course of the investigations, also, are thereby shortened considerably. Care must be exercised in the work of obtaining and grafting the buds, bu

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practicable the inception of a planted a

e seed is planted in specially prepared beds, and the percentage of germination noted for future reference. The plants should be tended carefully, and close observation ma

Ready for

removed, but st

The roots and head are cut off, and the "stump" is ready for immediate planting in the field. Naturally any appreciable delay in planting, or unfavourable weat

e is retained, and the others removed. The possible objections to this method of planting are obvious to those acquainted with field conditions, but in actual practice planting seed "at stake" has often proved highly successful. Naturally the results obtained must

e and growth. They are then conveyed to the field, and the baskets are planted in prepared holes. The baskets, being of vegetable material, are liable to be attacked by various diseases while in the nursery or after planting. It is

rge stumps are the last to be tackled. The objection to this procedure is really not strong, but unfortunately an important point is generally overlooked. Granted that most of the dreaded diseases travel beneath the surface of the ground by means of buried timber, it is plain that as far as stumps are concerned, the chief source of danger lies in the existence of the roots. If these were carefully exposed and removed, the isolated stumps would then not be such potential infection points. It follows from

Holed" for Planting; F

er, Membakut Estate,

d is not extended to more moderate slopes where loss by wash is still considerable. It is the opinion of the writers and others that the general case calls for the institution of silt catchment trenches, which, as the name denotes, fulfil the duty of catching any surface soil and of retaining rainwater. These trenches are usually laid out on contour, and do not exceed a length of 20 feet. They are usually from 18 inches to 2 feet wide and deep, and are so arranged on the slope that they occupy overlapping positions. The actual number of trenches require

l upkeep until the soil becomes well shaded by trees, but the actual amount of work demanded in cleaning and maintaining the trenches will depend largely upon the thoroughness with which the original wor