March 1, 1912.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



271 



the base of the hills or along low dry ridges running from them. 

 An apparent peculiarity of this species (well marked in Uganda, 

 but less so in western Africa) is its habit of growing in groups, 

 varying from "family parties" to large belts and areas several 

 square miles iij extent. 



.\LTITUDE. 



Fuiuniiiia riaslica. Air. Christy remarks, thrives best in the 

 moist hot regions of the tropical zone. The altitude of the west 

 .African forests in which it grows so luxuriantly is compara- 

 tively low, being in Southern Nigeria generallv only 300 or 400 

 feet, or in Kamerun between 300 and 1,500 feet. It is, however, 

 found at higher altitudes — on the Kamerun mountain at over 

 2,000 feet and in the rubber zone of .Angola at 4,000 to 5.000 feet. 

 .At the eastern limit of its distribution, in the forests of Uganda, 

 it flourishes at a similar elevation. 



CLIM.VTE. 



.As the chief factors in determining the climate of a region are 

 rainfall and temperature, it is appropriate to consider them to- 

 gether. Rainfall, in particular, is a very important element in 

 deliniug the suitability of any given locality for the cultivation of 

 l-'untniiiia elastica. 



In Sierra Leone, the average rainfall for the four years ending 

 1908 varied, according to location, from 100 to 165 inches, the 

 temperature ranging from 71 degs. Fahr. to 91 degs. Fahr. Dur- 

 ing July and August, the two wettest months, it varied from 

 71 degs. to 84 degs. Fahr. Liberia, which is mostly covered with 

 dense forests, has an exceedingly humitl climate for nine months 

 of tlie year, with an annua! rainfall of about 150 inches in the 

 coastal districts. During the short dry season the temperature 

 ranges from SO degs. Fahr. to 100 degs. Fahr., while at other 

 periods there is little variation night or day from the mean of 

 75 de'gs. Fahr. The "Hinterland" has a much lower rainfall 

 than the western part of the country. 



The rainfall on the Gold Coast and in Ashanti varies accord- 

 ing to the physical configuration of the country, being greatest 

 at Tarkwa (92 inches) and least at Accra (25 inches). In the 

 temperature there is less extensive variation, the average maxi- 

 mum varying from 81 degs. Fahr. to 87 degs. Fahr., and the 

 minimum from 68 degs. Fahr. to 72 degs. Fahr. Southern 

 Nigeria displays a relatively high rainfall, ranging according to 





Kamerun displays two distinct climates, that prevailing at 

 Victoria and round about the Kamerun Mountain, and that of 

 the rest of the colony. The rainfall in the former section is 

 very much the heavier of the two. .At the typical plantation of 

 Molive, near Victoria, the annual rainfall in the period from 



A Funtumia Nursery -\t Bot.snic G.vrdens, Entebbe, LTgand.'\. 



locality from 75 to 133 inches, the variation of temperature re- 

 corded for 1908 having been from 69 degs. Fahr. to 94 degs. 

 Fahr. In Northern Nigeria (where, it will be recalled, there is 

 nowhere an abundance of Funtumia) the rainfall for 1909 ranged 

 from 44 to 59 inches. 



A Tapping Party and Their Implements. 



1906 to 1909 ranged from 115 to 140 inches. Debundscha, also 

 near Victoria, at the foot of the mountain, said to be the second 

 wettest place in the world, has a yearly rainfall which often ex- 

 ceeds 400 inches, as much as 4 inches having been known to 

 fall in a single night. The southeastern region of the colony 

 lias a relativ,ply lower average rainfall, generally ranging from 

 52 to 70 inches. 



In the root-rubber district of Angola the annual rainfall is 

 only 35 inches, the maximum temperature being 96 degs. Fahr., 

 and the minimum 26 degs. Fahr. Excepting in the more elevated 

 portions, which contain the large forests, having consequently a 

 lower temperature, the climate of Uganda is not dissimilar to 

 that of the Congo and Western Africa. .As Mr. Christy re- 

 marks, soil and other conditions being favorable, the Funtumia 

 tree will probably thrive best in those parts of Equatorial Africa 

 in which the rainfall is about 100 inches per annum, while it 

 should certainly not be less than 50 or 60 inches. 

 OTHER SPECIES OF FUNTUMI.\. 



The genus Fnntuiiiia includes besides Funtumia elastica two 

 other species, Funtumia latifoUa and Funtumia Africana. the 

 latices of which contain little or no caoutchouc. Hence pre- 

 ponderating attention is claimed by Funtumia elastica, so far as 

 the rubber industry is concerned. 



NATURE OF SOILS. 



In the Chagwe forests of L'ganda the prevailing soil is red and 

 clay-like, Funtumia elastica apparently thriving better in that 

 soil than in any other. The close coincidence in the Uganda 

 forests between the limits of the rubber areas and the line of 

 demarcation between the red and the black soil, is very marked, 

 and, in Mr. Christy's opinion, the tree will flourish in almost any 

 red soil, if rainfall and other conditions are favorable. 

 PROPAGATION OF SEEDS. 



Funtumia seeds have been known to retain their vitality as 

 long as five or seven weeks, while in the ordinary course they 

 will germinate in about 28 days after being sown in damp earth. 

 The native practice followed in the communal plantations of 

 Southern Nigeria, of transferring seedlings direct from the seed 

 bed to the clearing, and protecting them from the sun for the 

 first few months by raised grass and rubbish, is quite successful 

 in small areas. 



In Mr. Christy's opinion, complete felling, firing, clean-weeding 

 and holing, entail unnecessary e.xpense, presenting the further 



