May I, 1884.] ^ THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 851 



suitability of this tree for cultivation L}' a Forest Department as a source of prospective revenue ; 

 and as comparatively few of the plants were disposed of to private persons, 1 made an endeavour 

 to get plantations of this valuable tree formed at Ratnapura and Kalutara. The plan was sanc- 

 tioned by the Governor, and I gave the necessary instructions : but after three months' delay it 

 was discovered that the trifling sum necessary could not be provided. 



The growth of the largest CasttUoa tree at Henaratgoda is, at a yard from the ground, 

 30^ inches, an increase of 4^ inches during the year. 



Six of the seedlings of 1882 were sent in April to Mr. T. J. Ferguson (Messrs. Hinde & 

 Co.) of Calicut, who has undertaken experiments on behalf of the Madras Government at Nilam- 

 bur.* 



Para Rubber. — A Wardian case with 27 rooted stumps of Ilevca brasUlensis was sent to 

 Calicut with the Castilloa plants.* There are some trees of this already at Nilambur, 33 having 

 been sent to the Forest Officer there in 1879 from Ceylon. 



Nine trees flowered at Henaratgoda in ilarch, and the fruit ripened in August. About 

 260 seedling plants were raised, many of which have been disposed of to persons desirous to try 

 the cultivation. Oar largest tree is now 30 inches in circumference, an increase of 4| inches ia 

 the year. 



Eighteen plants of another species of Hevea, //. Spruceana, were received from Kew in 

 October. This is a native of British Guiana where it is generally known by i ts Arawack name 

 " Hatie." It has been stuilied in its native forests 'by Mr. Jentuan, who sent us a plant in 18sl, 

 which unfortunately died. Dr. Spruce also collected it on the Amazons. It is closely allied to 

 //. brasUlensis, and grows under quite similar conditions. The specimen of the rubber sent home 

 by l\Ir. Jenman for report appears to have been unfortunately mixed with some impurity which 

 prevented its value being accurately ascertained. The plants have been put out mostly at 

 Henaratgoda, and are doing well. 



Some seeds of this species were also kindly sent to the garden by the Manager of the 

 Ceylon Company, Limited, in July, but were quite dead. It is useless to attempt to import seeds 

 of this descripti<}n from any distance, as they loose their vitality in a few days. 



Other Rubber Plants. — Landolphia Petersiana, one of the E. African rubbers, has flowered 

 during the year, and L. Klrk'd is now in bud at Henaratgoda. Two plants of Tabernmrnontana 

 crassa are now doing well. Among seeds received from Mr. L. Wray, of Perak, were some of 

 " Gutta Singret" which appears from leaf specimens, also sent, to be a species of Chilocarpus, 

 another climbing apocynaceous genus. Its ruliberis not of a good quality, and is chiefly used for 

 adulteration. A few plants were raised and are planted at Henaratgoda. 



Gutta Percha. — A valuable series of dried herbarium specimens, of woods, and of the com- 

 mercial products of the various gutta-producing trees of Perak has been sent by Mr. L. Wray, 

 junior (collecting for Sir H. Low), which has enabled me to determine with more certainty the 

 species we possess is a living state. He has also sent me a copy of a report to Sir H. Low on the 

 gutta question, which contains some valuable additional matter to that collected at Kew and 

 publislied in the report of that institution for 1881, pp. 38-47. 



I am now satisfied that the identification of " Grutta Sundek" with Payena {Ceratephorus) 

 Leeri'i, on which doubt had been thrown, is correct. Mr. AVray describes the tree as partial to 

 swampy places near the coast even where the water is salt ; the wood is hard and close-grained, 

 and the fruit sweet and eaten by the Malays. There is an inferior variety with a thinner bark 

 known by its longer leaves. Our plants at Henaratgoda have grown quickly ; their rate of 

 growth is much more rapid than the species oi' Bic/iopsis — the largest are over eight feet high ; 

 the tallest at Perddeniya is six feet two inches. 



The young plants of " Gutta Taban putih" grow very slowly. The good dried specimens 

 now sent show this to be distinct from Bic/iopsis Gutta, but I am not able to say to which 

 species of Bic/wpsis they should be referred. This tree is found in the lower hills, 1,800 to 2,.500 

 feet, and not in the plains ; the gutta is a dirty white (whence the name, putih=white), coagu- 

 lates slowly, and does not thoroughly soften even in boiling water. Mr. Wray also distinguishes 

 a snmll-leaved variety with a longer fruit. 



The specimens further confirm our previous knowledge that the best and most frequent 

 sort of gutta percha of commerce, " Gutta Taban merah," is the produce of Bichopsis Gutta. 



* Though the receipt of those was not acknowledged, I see that they arrived in very good order. Of the 

 Castilloa, five have done remarkably well, and of the Hevea to are flonrishing. 



