Vol. VIII. No. 175. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



11 



CEARA RUBBER IN HAWAII 



The characteristics of the L'eara rubber tree 

 (Maniltot Glaziovli), the best methods of cultivation 

 and tappincj. the preparation of che produce, and the 

 resulr.s so ftir achieved in Hawaii, are discussed in 

 Bulletin 10, issued b}' the Hawaiian Agricultural 

 E.xperiment Suxtion. The natural home of this rubber 

 tree is in the drj' districts of Brazil. It has been intro- 

 duced into Jamaica, Trinidad and other West Indian 

 islands, as well as into British Guiana, but is regarded 

 as a much less valuable kind than the Para and 

 Castilloa varieties. In Hawaii, howe\er, it is reported 

 to grow even better than in its native Brazilian habitat, 

 and to have shown remarkably good results. About 

 360,000 trees of this species had been planted in the 

 Hawaiian Islands up to a year ago. 



In the experiment.s de.scribed, the young Ceara plants 

 were raised in a nursery bed, situated in a dry and sunny 

 district. Dealing with this stage of the work, it is mentioned 

 that sseds of Jfuiihot Glnziovii from six to eighteen mouths 

 old usually germinate better than seeds fresli from the tree. 

 The seeds usually retain their vitality fioni two to three 

 years. In consequence of the thickne.ss of the seed-coat, it 

 is advisable, in order to hasten germination, to file the edges 

 of the coat. 



The seedling.s are transferred to pots aljout a week after 

 germination. Later on, the young plants are set out in the 

 fields in holes about '2 feet across, and as deep as practicable. 

 A good time of transplanting to the fields is at the beginning 

 of the rainy season. Clo.so planting is recommended, such as 

 10 feet by 10 feet, or 12 feet by 12 feet. 



Rubber has so far been planted without admixture with 

 any other crojj in Hawaii. It is believed, howe\'er, that sucli 

 crops as pine-apples, tobacco, soy beans, I'assava, and garden 

 vegetables might profitalily be grown bet\\'een the rubber trees 

 for the first two or three years. In this way an early return 

 \\\\\ be obtained from the land, and the laibber trees will 

 benefit from the cultivation given to the under crops. The 

 mulching of rubber trees with leaves, grass, weeds, etc., is 

 also highly recommended. 



The Ceara tree frequently sheds its bark and rapidly 

 forms a new growth. It is recommended that the entire 

 Outer bark be removed without injuring the living bark 

 beneath, before beginning to tap the tree. The ' vertical 

 <;ut ' system has been found to be the best method of tapping 

 Ceara rubber. In this, from one to six vertical cuts, with or 

 without oblique laterals, are made. The Hawaiian officials 

 state that a number of vertical cuts, from 3 to 6 inches 

 apart, without (jblique laterals except at the base, gives the 

 heaviest yield of rubber and the least waste. The cuts 

 should be very shallow, so as to avoid injury to the young 

 bark It is believed that daily tappings for a period of two 

 to four weeks or more will yield much lietter results than 

 tapping on alternate days, or at longer intervals over a period 

 of several months. The recovery of the tree, too, is more 

 rapid under the former conditions. 



The best time for tapping appears to be in the night, or 

 very early in the morning. Ceara latex coagulates very 

 rapidly under ordinary circumstances, and as a result the flow 

 of latex tends to stop withm a very short time after tapping. 

 By trickling a stream of water, made alkaline with ammonia, 

 over the wound, the flow may be continued for so long as 

 from thirty to forty minutes. This is effected by fastening 

 a cloth bag containing water to the tree, just above the cuts 

 made in ta[iping. Coagulation is brought about Vjy the 



addition of a bcjiling concentrated solution of ammonium 

 sulphate. The temperature of the liquid, however, should 

 not be allowed to go above 170' T., or the elasticity of 

 the rubber will he injured. Washing and drying follow, and 

 after this the rubber is ready for shipment. 



As already mentioned, the Ce;ira rubber tree flourishes 

 very well in Hawaii, and many trees are reported to show 

 a growth of fiom _10 to 1.") feet in a single season, with 

 girth measui-oments in proportion. The results so far 

 achieved indicate that the first returns of rubber may be 

 olitained at tlie end of five years. 



GRENADA BOARD OF EDUCATION AND 

 AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION. 



At a meeting of the Grenada Board of Education, 

 held in November last, the Board expressed its 

 sympithy with the scheme of reading courses, and 

 examinations in theoretical and practical agriculture 

 lately established by the Imperial Department of 

 Agriculture, and the Inspector of Schools for the colony 

 was directed to considei- in what way the Board could 

 assist in furthering the aims and views of the Depart- 

 ment in this matter. The Inspector of Schools has 

 lately issued a circular letter to school managers and 

 teacher^ in Grenada, in which he suggests that the 

 examinations in agriculture at present held in the 

 elementary schools of the colon}' be replaced by the 

 Preliminary E\-amination in the syllabus of the Imper- 

 ial Department of Agriculture, which may in some 

 cases be taken by pupils before leaving school. 



In view of this sugge.--tioii, which the Inspector of 

 Schools has recommended shall be adopted by the 

 Board of Education, it is seen that the scheme may 

 probably in future be of considerable value in the 

 educational sj'stem of the colony. The following 

 extracts dealing with the examinations are taken from 

 the circular letter above-mentioned :— 



It is intended by the Iin|,)erial Department of Agriculture 

 to e.xact a high standard of proficiency, especially on the 

 practical side : and as it is most desirable for the older boys 

 who think of taking up agriculture as a profession on leaving 

 school, to have the benefits and objects of the scheme put 

 before them early, a great deal of methodical work which 

 cannot fail to be remunerative, can thus be conveniently 

 achieved by the teaching body. 



It is my intention to recommend to the Board of Educa- 

 tion that in place of the examination in Agriculture hitherto 

 conducted by the Inspectors at the annual examinations of 

 schools, those ikjw proposed to be held for the issue of 

 certificates of proficiency should be substituted. One very 

 great advantage of this proposal is that Primary School 

 pupils who propose sitting for the Imperial Department's 

 certificates v.-ould have, in addition to the teaching received 

 at school, the benetit of .such lectures, advice and demonstra- 

 tions, as might from time to time be given and carried out 

 in the several districts by the Department's officers. The 

 [jayment of a fixed lump sum to teachers for every certificate 

 gained at the respective examinations would, I feel sure, be 

 sutticieiit incentive to them to devote their best services to 

 the furtherance of this scheme which has been de.signed for 

 no particular clas.s, but with the object of benefiting the 

 entire community. 



