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Malay Peninsula reaching from the Equator to about io° North. 

 In the Philippines, the Island of Luzon is situated between 12° 20' 

 and 18°. This island is generally not considered to be suitable 

 for rubber, while Mindanao is referred to by the Manila authori- 

 ties as the true rubber country. These data are not inducive to 

 a favorable opinion as to the future of rubber in Hawaii. Still 

 it is generally known that on account of the insular climate pre- 

 vailing in these islands, most tropical plants succeed extremely 

 well. It has also been demonstrated that certain rubber pro- 

 ducing trees flourish in suitable locations in these islands and it 

 may be safe to say that in a very few selected localities rubber 

 will become a commercial success. 



The question then arises which species of rubber is the most 

 profitable to plant. We would without hesitation say Hevea 

 brasiliensis. The Ceara rubber is the one which has been most 

 extensively experimented with in these islands and its growth has 

 been truly remarkable. Now, it is a fact, however, that the 

 Ceara has been planted in locations with plentiful rainfall and 

 under such conditions it always makes a good growth. As for 

 the actual results in yield of rubber we must reserve our opinion 

 until proofs have been obtained. 



In a few places where Castilla has been grown in the islands 

 the young seedlings are doing well, but this does not prove any- 

 thing as regards its future. The Ficiis of East India is not likely 

 to become a rubber yielder in Hawaii, for many reasons. Even 

 in its native country it does not produce rubber profitably before 

 it has reached a rather advanced age, from 18 years upwards. It 

 is further a native of a very warm tropical country. That it 

 grows fairly well in certain places in these islands does not prove 

 that it would be advisable to plant it for commercial purposes. 

 It also grows well in pots all over the United States and Europe. 

 It must reach a very large size if it is to become commercially 

 important. There is another species of rubber which should be 

 tried in Hawaii, as its natural habitat shows a certain similarity 

 to conditions here. This is Sapiiim toliincnsc of Colombia. This 

 tree grows very rapidly, it produces a good kind of rubber, and 

 it stands a comparatively low climate as it occurs naturally at an 

 elevation up to 7000 feet. The Hancornia, which gives the 

 Mangabeira rubber of Brazil, is a very slow growing tree, diffi- 

 cult to cultivate, and it would hardly be a success here. 



When we consider these different rubber trees we find that the 



