288 Agricultur. — Horticultur. — Forstbotanik. 



This little book is intended ior the use of cotton growers in the 

 West Indies in order to assist them in selecting the right kind oi land 

 for growing cotton, and to afford information as to the manner in which 

 the land ought to be treated in order to produce large crops". 



The method of „question and answer" is adopted throughout the 

 pamphlet to bring out clearly the essential points in successiul cotton 

 cultivation. 



After the general introduction, the cultivation, insect pests, blights, 

 manuring and by-products of cotton are successively dealt with. 



Whilst primarily written for West I n d ian cultivators the pamphlet 

 should prove of service in other parts of the tropics. 



W. G. Freeman. 



Willis, T. C. and H. WRIGHT, Castilloa or Panama Rubber. 

 (Circulars and Agricultural Journal, Royal Botanic Gardens, 

 Ceylon. Vol. II. No. 7.) 



Two species of Castilloa are of importance as rubber plants, namely 

 C. elastica, Cervantes, the Ule of the Spaniards, found wild in 

 Mexico from 21 u southwards, and in Guatemala, Honduras, San 

 Salvador, Costa Rica and Nicaragua and apparently also in 

 North-Western South America, and C. iiinu Hemsley. known as 

 the Tunu, found in Honduras and Costa Rica. Plants of Castilloa 

 were introduced into Ceylon, from Kew, in 1896; these have been 

 described as C. Markhamiana Markham (not Collins) but they cannot 

 be specifically separated from C. elastica, although varieües of this may 

 occur, three being recognized in Costa Rica, differing in the colour 

 of their barks (partly due to lichens) and nature of their yield of rubber. 

 The tree is now common in parts of Ceylon, and recently fresh seed 

 has been imported direct from Mexico. Plants are readily raised from 

 seed, and cuttings (main shoots are the best) may also be employed. 

 Directions for the cultivation of Castilloa in Ceylon are given. 



Tapping may be commenced when the trees are from 2 to 2' ; 2 feet 

 in girth, 1. e. about 8 years after planting. V-shaped incisions, 3 to 4 

 feet apart are adopted in Ceylon. Further information is required to 

 ascertain how much tapping a tree will stand. Good results have been 

 obtained by creaming the latex and by the use of a centrifugal machine, the 

 rubber being dried in sheets. The best Castilloa sheet rubbers are valued 

 at the market next to iine Para. W. G. Freeman. 



Willis, T. C. and H. Wright, Ceara Rubber. (Circulars and 

 Agricultural Journal, Royal Botanic Gardens, Ceylon. Vol. II. 



No. 8.) 



The Cearä rubber tree, Manihot Glaziovii Müll. -Arg., a native of 

 Brazil, was introduced to Ceylon, from Kew, in 1877, whence seeds 

 were distributed to Burma, Calcutta and Madras. The plant was 

 rapidly propagated in Ceylon, and in 1S83 about 1000 acres were 

 stated to be under Ceara rubber. The early results as to yield were 

 disappointing and the product was soon neglected in favour of more 

 profitable industries. At present there are probably not more than 

 500 acres of Ceara rubber although it is common everywhere as a 

 hedge plant. 



Notes on the cultivation and mode of tapping of the tree are given, 

 and it is suggested that it may yet pay to grow Cearä rubber in waste 

 land in the drier parts of the hüls. W. G. Freeman. 



Ausgegeben: 20. September J904. 



Commissions-Verlag: E. J. Brill in Leiden (Hollard). 

 Druck von Gebrüder Gott helft, Kgl. Hofbuchdrucker in Cassel. 



