ToL. XI. No. 277. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



38& 



is still much to be learned. Mr. \Vester found that the 

 flowers of the cherimoyer were unable to fertilize themselves 

 because of the pistils maturing before the stamens, and 

 consequently not receptive to the pollen wheait was liberated, 

 thus necessitating the assistance of some oiuside agency for 

 fertilization. The pollination of the mature pistils with 

 pollen from another flower was attributed to insects. 

 Mr. Wester believed the sterility of the cherimoyer in 

 Florida to be due to a scarcity of flowers and an insufficient 

 cumber of insects to assist in pollinating .tfa#m. He further 

 states that: 'the extraordinary productivity of a few indi- 

 vidual trees suggests a chance in regard to the pollination of 

 the flowers of these trees, possibly due to sjnacmy [the 

 coming to maturity of the anthers and stigmas at the same 

 tiu.e] and self-pollination.' (From the Pomona CoUege 

 ■Journal of Economic Botany, May 1912.) - 



OASTILLOA ELASTICA ON THE IVORY 



COAST. 



Here, in the same way as other plants yielding rubber 

 that are being tried, Castilbxt elastira has been planted in 

 open spaces and seems suited to the conditions. It appears, 

 however, to be unable to bear standing waier at the roots, 

 as is shown by the death of trees that have been reached by 

 floods; nevertheless it behaves well under the rainy condi- 

 tion.s of Tiassale, where the trials are being made. 



This and the following information is given in 

 L'Agricvltvre Pratiqiie des Pays Chauds for December 1911, 

 which proceeds to remark upon the large growth of one of the 

 trees, in comparison with that of the others in the same set, 

 from which however it is situated at some distance. Although 

 this tree is only three and a half years old, it has commenced 

 to fruit, and it is thought that its better development is due 

 to its superior position. In any case, measurements (which 

 are given) show that on the Lower Ivory Coast, Castilloa 

 makes rapid growth, comparable with that of Mattihot 

 Glazlorii, and it is considered that facility in producing 

 rubber should go along with this. 



Tapping trees two and a half years old by means of 

 horizontal grooves about an inch long, arranged vertically, 

 gave 0.35 oz. of drj^ rubber from three plants. Another tree 

 cf the same age, for which herring-bone tapping to a height 

 of about 4 feet was employed, gave 015 nz. of scrap rubber 

 possessing little elasticity; in this case, all the rubber remained 

 in the cuts. These experiments with very young trees are 

 not considered to show that plants of such an age should be 

 tapi'ed, on account of the interference with their growth and 

 the poor quality of the rubber given by them. 



In the case of older trees, three and a half to four years 

 old, one plant tapped by means of horizontal grooves arranged 

 vertically gave 0'62 oz. of dry rubber, in scraps, the product 

 being black in colour and very elastic. A second tree of the 

 same age, with herrring-bone tapping to a "height of about 

 4 feet, gave 014 oz. of rubber, all of which remained in the 

 incisions: though the product was good, the yield, as is 

 seen, was small. Lastly, a very vigorous tree which had 

 been bled three months before by the careless herring- 

 bone method used by the natives for Funtumia, in 

 the forest, was first tapped in horizontal grooves; but 

 the latex was so much more fluid than that in the other 

 •eases that there was a risk of the loss of the rubber. 



Tapping was therefore carried out by the herring bone method^ 

 from a height of about 6 feet, on one half of the trunk. 

 Coagulation took place before the latex could reach the cup 

 placed at the foot of tlie tree. The product, like that of the- 

 first of these older trees, resembled the grade Sernamby; it 

 was black in colour, with an agreeable femell, and very elastic, 

 being a better product than that obtained by collecting the- 

 la'tex and treating it in order to obtain the rubber. It i» 

 stated that the rubber does not coagulate immediately in the 

 air, but forms a more or less pasty mass having a white colour 

 turning to yellow. The yield from the tree was 44 oz. of 

 dry rubber, and the reason for this low return is seen easily 

 in the way that the plant h^d been abused three months 

 before. 



The article concludes by reviewing shortly the prospects- 

 for Castilloa-growing on tlie Ivory Coast, which appear to- 

 be good. 



THE CAMPHOR INDUSTRY IN FORMOSA^ 



1911. 



The details below have been taken from the Board 

 of Trade Jour'aal for September 12, 1912. An account 

 of the Camphor industry in Formosa in I9I0, and aa 

 article entitled Useful Infoimation Regarding Camphor, 

 are to be found in this volume of the Agricultural 

 News, pp. 9 and 302. 



The export of camphor (a Government monopoly) showed 

 a decrease of 872,5541b. in 1911. The quantity shipped was 

 5,613,7l!<lb. 



The estimated output of refined camphor by the 

 Monopoly Bureau's refinery during 1911 was 7, 267,0001b. 



The number of owners of crude camphor works was 

 fourteen, but the number of works exceeded this. It is stated 

 that no new licenses will be issued during 1912 as the 

 authorities still hold surplus stocks brought over from two 

 years ago. The estimated receipts of crude camphor and 

 camphor oil for the financial year 1911 were 6,264,0008). and 

 7,272,0000). respectively. 'These quantities were received, 

 though in part after the turn of the year, the late receipts 

 being brought over to the following year. 



The estimated demand in Japan for Formosa camphor 

 during 1911 was 3, 280,0001b. to be extracted from the oil 

 sent over. The quantity of camphor sent was very small. 

 This demand is expected to increase considerably this year in 

 consequence of the newly established manufacture of celluloid. 



The improved refining machinery installed by the Bureau, 

 last autumn is said to give satisfactory results, producing 

 camphor to the amount of 48 per cent, of the weight of oil 

 used; this camphor is of superior quality, viz., 93 per cent, 

 pure, containing only 2 per cent, of oil and 5 per cent, of 

 water. The distillation is effected by steam heat, steam being 

 also forced through the oil during distillation. 



The Government has since 1906 encouraged the planting 

 of camphor trees by distributing seedlings gratis. Over 

 3,000,000 plants were distributed in 1911. 



As the result of experiments carried on for five years, 

 the Bureau will commence the distillation of camphor from 

 leaves on a practical scale this year. A considerable area has 

 been afforested for this |)urpose. Leaves will be gathered 

 from the young trees. The best results were obtained frota 

 the use of the leaves only, branches not being cut; 1'3 per cent, 

 of camphor was. obtained in this manner, together witli 

 0'4 per cent, of oil. 



