The excellent quality of this rubber has commended the plant to the attention of agriculturists in India and elsewhere. The result of experiments hitherto seems to be favourable to its esta blishment in Ceylon, Malabar, S. Burma, Zanzibar, and Jamaica, but not in Central and N. India.
The propagation and planting may generally be combined in one operation, the object being to reduce the expense, simplify and accelerate the work, and promote the more perfect development of the primary roots and trunk. The green-coloured terminal shoots of succulent growth, with the leaves fully matured, make the best cuttings. These should be cut off low enough, so that there is a joint at the base. When it is desirable to plant in dry firm land, a spadeful of soil should be turned over at each place, and the cutting planted in a sloping position. It should be covered with mould to within 3 in. of the point. The portion above ground should rest on the earth on one side of its termination, so as not to suffer during hot sunshine. In all stages, the crowns of the plants may be exposed to the rays of the sun. Plants intended for cutting stocks may be planted in open places, in the richest dark loam capable of producing a luxuriant rank crop of sugar-cane. Seeds might be planted out permanently at once, also in the same way as the cuttings. These would prosper much better if at the time of planting a handful of wood-ashes were added to the soil with each seed. Good ashes may be obtained by the burning of auy description of green wood or newly-felled piece of forest. If the wood is allowed to rot before burning, almost the whole of the fertilizing principle will be found to have vanished. If stored in
a damp place, the value of the product is diminished. For planting on inundated lands, the period of high flood should be preferred. Cuttings of greater length would be required in this case, the lower end of which should be sliced off in the form of a wedge. The workman could take a bundle of these, and, wading into the water, would plant at proper distances, but perfectly upright, taking care to push each cutting down deep enough in the soft muddy bottom, so that not more than 3-4 in. is above the surface of the water. The same rule would be applicable when planting in sludge or soft rnarsh land. The crowns of the cuttings must not, if possible, be put under water, as the young growths springing therefrom might rot. Seeds will not be found very applicable for planting in watery places or deep mud deposits. Some would come rip, but a good many would mould and decay. In the varied course of circumstances and conditions, slight changes and modifications in tbe methods of working will no doubt suggest themselves.
Para rubber occurs in commerce in two forms :—" biscuits," prepared as described on pp. 1622-3, containing about 15 per cent. of water ; and rounded balls of " negrohead," containing 25-35 per cent. of woody fragments, and other impurities. Occasionally an intermediate quality called " entrefine " appears. Adulteration is sometimes practised by the addition of the juice of the cow-tree or massarandaba (Mimusops data).