ANATOMY OF OlAVl'LE. I 73 



which has economic interest on account of the fact that the 

 rubber which it secretes has induced the investment of a large 

 amount of capital in Mexico. Dr. Ross spent some time dur- 

 ing 1906 in Mexico studying the plant, and has given us 

 some of his results in the paper mentioned. 



While in many points the writer finds himself in 

 harmony with Dr. Ross, there are certain matters on which 

 he finds himself in disagreement, and the purpose of this 

 present writing is to give a summary in English of Dr. 

 Ross' contribution to our knowledge of the plant in question, 

 and in addition to record in brief form the views of the 

 writer. 



Reproduction. Ross points out that in most cases the 

 plant, in being gathered, has been pulled up by hand, a 

 clumsy method which results in breaking off the roots, which 

 are left in the ground and then die. It is true that the 

 method of pulling up by the roots has been used largely, but 

 it is of interest to know that a cutting tool (the "talacho") 

 is more and more being used for the purpose. This more 

 modern method brings it about that practically all the root 

 system is left in the ground, and, especially in the event of 

 rain, new shoots promptly appear in very many cases both 

 from any portion of the stem that may happen to be left, 

 and from the severed roots also. But there is no difference 

 between a severed root and one left in the ground by breaking 

 off, sa\e that, when broken off, the pieces left are buried rather 

 deeply in the soil, and have less bulk. Now as a matter of per- 

 sonal observation, all the roots broken by pulling up the plant 

 do not die. I have pulled up plants myself, and in a few months 

 have found new shoots growing from the roots left in the 

 ground. There were only a few of them, but a total lack 

 of rain during the period of observation probably accounts 

 for this. A much larger proportion of new shoots are found 

 to sprout out after cutting, and, as Ross observes, in 6-10 

 years sufficiently strong plants have grown, only that 6 years 



