J)ec. 2, 1908.] Agricultural Gazette oj N.S.W, 



963 



leaves remind one of those of the (Quince, hence the specitic name, whicb, 

 however, I cannot trace. The origin of many Figs now under cultivation is 

 exceedingly perplexing, and, as t)pportunities offer, I may draw attention to 

 them from time to time. 

 . M 25. 



10. F. elastica, Roxb. " India-Rubber Tree." Native of Tropical Asia, 

 The sap yields some of the India-Rubber of commerce. See t. -54 of Ann. 

 Bot. Gard., Calcutta. 



In my view this is the india-rubber producing tree most likely to be com- 

 mercially successful in eastern New South Wale?. From the photograph of 



,f:*%^^,'e.v^ 



8. Ficus Cunninghamii, Miq. 



Goveriimeut Domaiu, Sydney. 



the Botanic Gardens' tree it will be seen that it will grow in Sydney, but it 

 ■does not grow rampantly as an India-rubber tree should, and therefore it is 

 oidy recommended for our warmer Northern rivers. 



In its native countries it is a gigantic tree, and is usually epiphytic. When 

 we read of the veiy great size and abundance of this tree in the Indian 

 Empire, and realise the fact that there is an enormous amount of native labour 

 available, skilled in rubber getting, we see that the competition of New 

 South Wales in the world's markets (and even Australian) for i-id)ber is 

 exceedingly difficult. 



For an account of the cultivation of this tree and the extraction of rubber 

 from it, with practical details, see Gamble, oji. cit, p. 641. 



L 21 c, 35. See photo, of specimen in Garden Palace Grounds. 



