May I, 1883.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST 927 



are very encouraging so far as the quality and value of the product is concerned. In no way does 

 the rubber fall short of that from the wild trees. 



A tapping of Ceara {Manlhot Glaziovi) was made at the end of April (dry weather) and 

 aboi;t 20 ozs. of dry rubber were obtained from nine or ten trees. One of these afforded nearly 4 

 ozs., whilst another, which had been bled to the extent of 2 ozs. the year before, gave scarcely I oz. 

 The process followed consisted merely in peeling off the dry parchment-like outer bark and making 

 short slanting cuts with a sharp knife on the green surface exposed. The milk flowed most freely 

 in the early morning. I at first experimented with a small axe purposely constructed with a 

 sharp cutting edge prevented from penetrating too deeply by a projecting shoulder, but this did 

 not answer so well as an ordinary knife. The milk which trickled down the stem was allowed to 

 remain there till it solidified, when the strings were pulled off and rolled into balls. By this 

 means a generally clean and dry sample was secured; a portion, however, afterwards acquired a 

 somewhat sticky consistence along with a slight admixture of sand contracted by dropping on to 

 the soil at the foot of the tree. I separated this from the rest and submitted both to Messrs. 

 Silver for report, in June. They valued the dry and clean portion at 2s. dd. to 3s. per pound— a 

 high price for " Ceara Scrap"; the sticky portion, which could not be properly washed and analyzed, 

 was not considered worth more than Is. to Is. 3d. per pound. The importance of taking care to 

 secure a clean, dry rubber is thus very evident. 



The value of Ceara rubber being now assured, it may be expected that planters (some of 

 whom have now a large stock of trees) will institute experiments as to the method which will 

 secure the largest quantity of milk per annum or during the life of the tree. 



Further supplies of seed have been sent to the Gardens and Forest Departments at Saharun- 

 pore, Lucknow, Assam, British Burmah, Bombay, Perak, and Jamaica. 



The Castilloa trees both at Peradeniya and Henaratgoda have flowered during the year, but 

 a single tree only (at P(5radeniya) ripened any seed. Two fruits were matured in June from which 

 15 seeds were obtained ; of these 9 germinated on the thirteenth day after sowing, and have grown 

 rapidly. It is hoped that a larger quantity will be produced during 1883. The trees are now six 

 years old ; the largest at Henaratgoda is about 46 feet high and 26 inches in circumference at a 

 yard from the ground, an increase of 3^ inches in girth during the year. 



A few plants have been sent to India in 1882, viz. :— to Ootacamund 2, to Calcutta 2, and 

 to Nilambur 3 ; and I am about to despatch 6 more to the Malabar Coast. 



Hevea has not yet flowered at Peradeniya, and I am disappointed that only 36 seeds were 

 secured at Henaratgoda. In Mr. Low's experimental garden at Perak several trees have seeded, 

 and to his courtesy I am indebted (through Mr. J. A. Swettenham) for 18 seeds, but they were 

 all quite dead on arrival, in March. 



The plantation at Henaratgoda has been thinned out in the hope of more sunlight leading 

 to a larger production of flowers. Our largest tree there is now about 50 feet in height, and at a 

 yard from the ground measures 25^ inches in girth, 4^ inches more than last year. 



I regret that no information has reached me as to the safety or otherwise of the case of 28 

 plants of Hevea sent to the Andaman Islands in November, 1881. 



An experimental bleeding of both Hevea and Castilloa was made at Henaratgoda in October, 

 Five of the Hevea trees were prepared by scraping off on one side the rough surface of the outer 

 bark ; a few short cuts with a knife were then made and the rubber allowed to dry (as in the Ceara) : 

 the strings were rolled off into a ball, which weighed somewhat over 2^ ozs. Only two Castilloa 

 trees were slightly bled in the same way, the sample ball obtained weighing above 3 ozs. Both 

 samples were perfectly clean, and were forwarded to Messrs. Silver for report in November.* 



* This (dated 8th December, 1882), was received in .January, 1883. The Hevea rubber was found to differ 

 chemically in no respect from the better descriptions of Para bottle rubber, but the ash was about one-half only. "As 

 far as can be determined on so small a sample, there is reason to believe that as regards strength and elasticity it 

 would be fully equal- to good Para India-rubber." The market value was estimated at is. per lb. 



The Castilloa sample was found to become on drying much darker and shorter than the Para. This shortness 

 "would restrict its use to some slight extent where tensile strength or tenacity is required. When mixed with the 

 usual proportion of sulphur and heated, it vulcanizes well, but imperfectly, and is devoid of strength — characteristics 

 of the better kinds of rubber. Nicaragua rubber is not at present met with in this country to any great extent, bnt 

 there is no doubt that the purity and general qualities of this sample would gain for it a favourable reception even if 

 our supplies from present sources were more adequate to our demands. 



The chemical analysis of the ash of the Castillo.i shows that there is no very marked difference in the mineral 

 constituents of the pieces of the Hevea and Castilloa under the present system of cultivation." 



This is most encouraging, and it may be expected that the Indian Governments will be stimulated by it to seriously 

 take up the cultivation of the American rubber trees. — \_Note added."} 



