738 EXPEEIMENT STATION KECOED. 



Progress report on forest administration in the Punjab for 1908-9, C. P. 

 Fisher {Rpt. Forest Admin. Punjab, 1908-9, pp. 20+CIII, map 1). — Data simi- 

 lar to the above are given relative to the administration of the state forests in 

 the Pniijab for 190S-9. 



Report of the chief forest officer, J. M. Pueves (Ann. Rpt. Agr. and For- 

 estry Dept. [Nyasniand], 1910, pp. 20-22). — A brief report on the work of the 

 Nyasaland Forestry Division for the year ended March 31, 1910, with an ap- 

 pendix showing the royalties collected on timber and firewood. 



The new Forest Products Laboratory, E. A. Start (Amer. Forestry, 16 

 (1910), No. 7, pp. 387-Ji03, figs. 13). — A detailed description is given of the new 

 forest products laboratory of the Forest Service of this Department, located at 

 Madison. Wis. (E. S. R.. 23, p. 199). 



The work of the Government in forest products, H. S. Graves (Amrr. For- 

 estry, 16 (1910), No. 7, pp. Jf0,)--'i08, fig. 1). — An address on this subject deliv- 

 ered at the opening of the forest products laboratory, Madison, Wis., June 4, 

 1910. 



[Rubber investig'ations in Nyasaland], J. S. J. McCall (Ann. Rpt. Agr. 

 and Forestry Dept. [Nyasaland], 1910, pp. S, 9). — Results are given of experi- 

 mental tappings of 4-year-old Ceara rubber trees. 



The trees were planted 15 by 9 ft. and 12 by 9 ft. From 170 trees having a 

 girth under 12 in. at 3 ft. from the base was obtained 42 oz. of dry rubber, or 

 approximately i oz. each, while 273 trees with a girth over 12 in. gave a total 

 yield of 356 oz.. or approximately IJ oz. per tree. The tapping operations con- 

 tinued for 22 days and the rubber was collected at an estimated cost of 8 cts. 

 per pound, exclusive of European supervision. 



From the above experiment and other experiments conducted in the same 

 region the conclusion is reached that 3 oz. of dry rubber \)er tree will be a good 

 average yield for trees over 4 years old. lu some experiments conducted in 

 Zomba the vertical and pricking tapping systems cost 25 cts, and 31 cts. per 

 pound, respectively, for dry rubber collected. The flow of latex from cultivated 

 Ceara trees was quite superior to that from uncultivated Ceara trees. 



Experimental tapping of Para rubber trees in the Botanic Gardens, Singa- 

 pore, for the year 1909, H. N. Ridley (Agr. Bui. Straits and Fed. Malay 

 States, 9 (1910), No. 7, pp. 237-255). — This consists of a tabulated summary 

 showing the progress made in the various tapping experiments during 1909. 



The trials of different methods of tapping indicate that the single herring- 

 bone method is the most satsfactory, with basal excisions second. Tapping on 

 alternate days showed an advantage of nearly 4 i)er cent over tapping daily. 

 It was foinid that there is not only a variation in the quantity of latex obtained 

 at the different seasons and in different years but also a variation in the com- 

 position of the latex itself from day to day. During 21 tappings almost daily 

 from the same group of trees, the volume of latex varied from 114 to 338 fluid 

 ounces, while the weight of a sheet of rubber prepared daily from 30 fluid 

 ounces of the latex varied from 6 to 8i oz. (avoirdupois). 



Where other conditions are normal, the variation in rainfall is believed to be 

 the important factor, bringing about variations in the composition of the latex. 

 The results of one year's tapping show that the quantity of latex required to 

 produce 1 oz. of dry rubber, including some added water to retard i-apid coagu- 

 lation, varies from 23 fluid ounces in April and May to 8J fluid ounces In 

 February and March. These 2 latter months, however, represented the principal 

 resting season between 1908 and 1909. 



Notes on the cultivation of Para rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) and the 

 yield of rubber, H. N. Ridlkv {Agr. Bid. Straitx and Fed. Malay States, 9 



