126 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



April U, 190G. 



ST. VINCENT BOTANIC GARDENS. 



The Agricultural Superintendent at St. Vincent 

 has furnished the following note.s :— 



Of the four yoiuig Para rubber trees {Ilivea hm.ii/ieiisif, 

 Meul.) established in the garden, two are flowering freely, 

 and it is hoped that seed may be obtained in order to raise 

 plants of this valuable economic tree for distribution. So 

 far, no in.sect or fungoid diseases have been noticed on the 

 established trees, whereas both the Castilloa and Funtumia 

 rubber trees have been constantly attacked liy scale and 

 ©tlier insects. 



The ordinary type of West Indian l^eriwinkle (Viiica 

 rosea. L.) and its white variety aie well kncuvn in the West 

 Indies, and are common in some islands. At St. A'incent, 

 ■both varieties arc found growing in large masses, more 

 especially in the areas devastated by the eruptions of the 

 Soufriere in 190'2-3. This is so noticeable, and the appear- 

 ance of the.se plants, which are iierpetually in Hower, is so 

 charming, that they might appropriately be termed the 

 'Flowers of the Ash.' In visiting this part of the island, 

 I have frequently looked, but without success, for some 

 intermediate variety, as both the rose and white varieties 

 are found growing in such profusion and intermingled one 

 with the other. Just recently, however, I have received 

 a plant of the white variety, which, instead of having the 

 light yellow eye, has a jiretty and distinct purple one. This 

 plant was kindly presented to the garden by Dr. C. W. 

 IJranch, who. I undersrand, brought it from St. Kitt's, where 

 it is occasionally found, but is at all times very rare. 



RUBBER CULTIVATION FOR SETTLERS 

 IN THE TROPICS. 



The following notes, (iii (lie cultivation of rubber 

 1>\ jirivate individual.s, are taken from the February 

 issue of Tnipii-al Life. They might prove of interest 

 to young men who June a little eaijital at their 

 command : — 



With the present demand for cultivated rubber, many 

 young men, at present at home, with £2,000 t(i £3,000, and 

 unable to live on the interest of so small an amount, could 

 do very much worse than take up the cultivation of rubliev 

 on scientific lines in one of the I'ritish colonies, where the 

 rubber tree thrives. Such private cultivators need not fear 

 that the industry will j)rove unremunerative to them, 

 provided they start a carefully chosen and well-equipped 

 estate themselves, and do not buy one already planted by 

 some one else. The reason is plain. When a man plants his 

 own trees, he knows it is properly done. The seeds are started 

 in the nursery, and when planted out, the spaces are carefullj- 

 regulated and adhered to throughout, so that he is .sure when 

 the trees are full-grown that they will all have the same area 

 in which to develop. The seedlings will be idanted with 

 care, and as the trees grow uji, he will grow with them, and 

 learn to know their tricks and ailments, and knowing this, 

 •will train and cure them. Or, if they die, he will at once 

 replace them, with the result that when his estate is ten 

 years old he will know almost to a jiound what his yield will 

 be, and that yield will be worth him three times as )nuch 

 as it would if the estate had been started by another 

 man, The prospective rubber planter must mean business. 



and be determined to stick to what he has begun. He 

 nmst not exiiect to grow rich through sheer good luck, 

 and without hard work. He will succeed provided : — 



(1) That he secures good land at a moderate price. 



("_') That he studies the matter thoroughly, and sees 

 that no planting out takes place except when he is there to 

 superintend. 



(3) That when the estate is coming along, or is fully 

 grown, he keejis a steady watch over it, and does not let it 

 go back through the trees dying, and not being replaced, or 

 over-growing one another. 



(4) That he is always careful to keep himself well 

 informed both as regards the latest improvements in cultiva- 

 tion, and also as regards the distribution and consumption of 

 the article. This latter is most important, as it enables the 

 producer to supply the rubber that best meets the require- 

 ments of the consumer, and docs not compel the consumer 

 to take only the rubber that the second-rate planter turns out. 



Before making a start, it is strongly recommended that 

 n trip should be taken to the place selected, in order to study 

 the industry on the spot, and the life it will involve. It is 

 better to lose £100 on such an expedition, than all one's 

 capital in an undertaking that nature never intended one 

 n.an to follow no matter Iioav remunerative it may prove tcv 

 another. But even the £100 will not be lost, for the amount 

 of experience that can be picked up on such a journey will 

 be most useful in after life. 



THE INSTITUTE OF COMMERCIAL 

 RESEARCH IN THE TROPICS. 



This institute is attached to the University of 

 Li\crpool. Its objects, as stated by the quarterly 

 journal for January 1906, are as follows: — 



(1) Clollecting and tabulating all kinds of information 

 regarding raw products, natural resources, trades, industries,, 

 and economic conditions, which can be of service either to 

 connnerce, or to science ; (2) studying the botany, zoology, 

 geology, ethnology, meteorology, and physiograjihj- of 

 tropical countries, more particularly in their relation to the 

 devehipment of Briti-sh commerce ; (3) investigating all kinds 

 of scientitic problems which arise in connexion with trade 

 and industry ; (4) training experts in the various branches of 

 applied science concerned ; and (o) supplying scientific 

 information and advice to all interested in commerce. 



The means adojited to effect these objects are : Scientitic 

 and exploratory expeditions ; the establishment of a bureau 

 in Liverpool, where the latest scientific and commercial 

 infoimation may be obtained ; research work in the labora- 

 tories of the city, and of the University, by a stati' of experts: 

 the preparation and publication of rei)orts, returns, pamphlets 

 and monographs; the delivery of lectures and addresses; 

 correspondence and exchange with Government departments, 

 and learned societies, both at home and abroad. 



It is stated that arrangements are being made to 

 des[iatch an expedition to the British Colonies on the West 

 Coast of Africa to investigate several scientific problems of 

 the utmost importance from a utilitarian point of view. 

 Special attention will be devoted to rubber, tindier, pulfp, 

 and oil. 



Co-operation has been unangcd with scientific expedi- 

 tion.s, eitlier private or under the auspices of similar bodies, 

 in the following parts of the world ; The Amazon, 

 Ceylon, Uganda, Bolivia and Western Brazil, British and 

 Spanish Honduras, the Red Sea, and the Congo. 



