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strongly than the other eventually forming the trunk. Among 

 the advantages of Funtumia one may mention tnat the latex flows 

 more easily and quickly than that of Castilloa or Ficus and the 

 seeds keep good for six week: and even germinate after three 

 months. Nor is the Funtumia particular as to soil, it grows equally 

 well in lateritic or basaltic soils rich in humus or stony. As to 

 altitude, it has been noticed that it does best below 800 metres 

 (2625 ft.) It is reckoned that in April, 1902, there were in the 

 Cameroons 200,000 plants, exclusive of wild ones. The plan of 

 planting Funtumias in a lightly cleared forest as has been frequently 

 done is not recommended. They do not grow so well in shade as 

 in full sun ; when they are too weak to resist the drying action of 

 sun and wind, they naturally should be protected, but when they 

 are strong enough to resist this, they develop better when fully 

 exposed to the sun, provided that the ground is damp enough. 

 From the experiments made in plantations in German territory 

 the Funtumias should be planted 6 meters [20 ft.] apart." 



" The tree is one of the best shade trees for cocoa, but as it is 

 pyramidal in form it will be necessary to plant close which is not 

 a disadvantage." 



Best Districts in Jamaica. Small ti-ees of this species are growing 

 at Hope Gardens and at Castleton. It will probably be found that 

 it will succeed best in the districts recommended for Para rubber. 



Pruning. In Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago it is noticed that 

 the young trees if left to themselves are liable to assume a bushy 

 habit and are thus rendered less valuable for rubber-yielding 

 qualities. To correct this it is recommended that the trees be 

 pruned by gradually taking off all the lower branches and that 

 one central, clean stem be encouraged. In Lagos the tree attains 

 a height of 90 to lOO feet before branching, which makes it easy 

 for the collector to tap the trunk. 



Collecting and preparing tlie rubber. "In tapping the trees the 

 bark is first cut in a vertical direction from the bottom to the top. 

 This single line is about i to f of an inch broad, and deep enough 

 to reach the inner bark. This forms the main groove. On each 

 side of this two series of oblique grooves, about two feet apart, 

 are cut, each running into the main groove. The side grooves 

 are made beginning at the top, and gradually reaching the base of 

 the tree. All the milk exuding from the lateral grooves will find 

 its way into the main groove and so ultimately reach the bottom, 

 where a vessel is placed to receive it. When sufficient milk has 

 accumulated it is then collected and made into rubber. 



The methods adopted for coagulating the milk are at present 

 of two kinds, viz., " the cold process" and "the heat process." 

 The cold process is chiefly practised by the Fanti men introduced 

 from the Gold Coast. A cavity is excavated in the trunk of a 

 fallen tree so as to form a cistern of the capacity necessary for 

 holding the milk collected during several days. Into this the 

 rubber gatherers pour the milk, after straining it, from day to day, 

 until it is quite full. It is then covered with palm leaves and left 

 for 12 to 14 days and sometimes much longer, depending on the 



