268 



described by Mr. Cross as manifestly possessing ' a very dry, arid 

 climate for a considerable part of the year. This is evident from 

 the fact that mandiocca and other crops require to be irrigated. 

 The rainy season is said to begin in November and end in May or 

 June ; torrents of rain are then reported to fall for several days in 

 succession, after which the weather moderates for a brief space. 

 According to some statements there are occasional years in which 

 hardly any rain falls. This assertion concurs with the aspect 

 presented by the country in general. The daily temperature on 

 board the ship ranged from 82° F., but inland in is often probably 

 90°. The localities traversed by me nowhere seemed to be 

 elevated more than 200 feet above the sea.' At Pacatuba, about 

 forty miles from Ceara, the actual place where the specimens were 

 obtained, ' the general forest was tolerably high, but the sparse 

 small foliage did not afford much shade from the fierce rays of the 

 sun. The soil was in places a sort of soft sandstone or gravel 

 which was bound up in the most extraordinary manner. Neither 

 grass nor weeds grew among this underwood, and there was an 

 entire absence of ferns, mosses, and other plants.' In another 

 place somewhat further from the coast, the traveller, shortly after 

 entering the bush-like forest, 'came on a large tract of land 

 covered by immense masses of grey granite, some of which might 

 be fifty tons or more in weight. These had been broken where 

 they lay, and were the result of a volcanic explosion. Rounded 



masses of the same rock also cropped out in many places 



Many good-sized rubber trees were growing in the spaces between 

 these granite masses . . . The situation was very dry, but no 

 doubt some seedlings had sprung up, which owing to numerous 

 thickets of shrubs, were not perceived.' (Joiinial of Botany, 1S80, 



P- 323.) 



United States Consul Furniss reported recently that vast forests 

 of this tree have just been discovered in the interior of the State 

 of Bahia. The area is said to be very large, but cannot be defined 

 as the region has not been fully explored. The attention called 

 to the first discovery, has led to further explorations, with the 

 result that from time to time comes notice of other sections where 

 like trees occur in profusion. 



It is native to many parts of Brazil and when planted will grow 

 on the interior plains and highlands as well as close to the sea . . 

 It is also cultivated in many sections, large plantations having 

 been set out during the last few years in Sergipe, Bahia and other 

 States." (Bull. Dcpt. of Agri., Jamaica, 1905, p. 72.) 



In Nicaragua — The cultivation of Ceara, or Manitoba rubber was 

 begun in Nicaragua about four years ago. The splendid condi- 

 tion of the plantings and the large yield and excellent quality of 

 the product taken in trial tappings, give promise of the success of 

 the enterprise. The Ceara rubber tree is a dry land plant, and 

 will not prosper in a wet soil. It is being planted in the districts 

 of La Pas and Momotombo (300 feet above sea level), where the 

 Momotombo mountain by driving the clouds to one side, protects 

 this section from the force of the tropical rains so that it is com- 



