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Rubber,” near Sao Raymundo, Piauhy, Brazil, which are now 
becoming important. The J equié and R rubbers—M, dichotoma 
and M. piauhyensis—were the species planted and plantations were 
made in different situations. Some particulars as to the mode of 
tapping and the yield are given. The trees can be tapped when 
3-4 years old, and there are two seasons of about 15 days each in 
the year. average of 1 lb. of rubber per tree per year is 
considered a satisfactory yield, though 2 lbs. per tree has been 
obtained. The best time for tapping is said to be just after the 
rainy season when the leaves are falling. In a dry season the 
yield is markedly less. Some good figures of M. piauhyensis and 
M. dichotoma illustrate the article. 
Cultivation of Funtumia elastica—The Director has received the 
following interesting letter from Mr. G. L. Bates, Bitya, Ebolova, 
Cameroons, W. Africa. Mr. Bates went out to W. Africa in 1895, 
and in that and the following year communicated to Kew two sets of 
plants, numbering 297 specimens, from the neighbourhood of Batanga. 
In 1897 a set of 116 was received from him from the M’Komo 
ver—as the Gaboon river is called above the estuary. These 
collections contained several new species, some of which have been 
named after him :—Impatiens Batesii, Wright, Luffa Batesii, 
Wright, Mostuca Batesii, Wright, Oncinotis Batesii, Stapf, &e. 
Bitya, Ebolova, 
eles Ge ; 6 Nov., 1909. 
. T wave lately looked over with interest some old numbers of 
the Kew Bulletin which were sent to me in 1896-8 because they 
contained descriptions of some new plants that I had found and sent 
to Kew. Though I have not since been engaged in botanising in 
that way, I have become interested in the practical side of botany 
lately through attempts to raise a few rubber trees here. So I 
write to you of a few things I have learned by experience in that 
line, in the hope that you might find some parts of my letter of 
sufficient interest to publish in the Kew Bulletin. | 
The place which is now my residence is about 200 miles, by the 
crooked path—in a straight line it would be less—due east from 
Kribi on the coast. It is near the river Ja (or Dscha) where it 
etween here and the coast FE. africana is found. In buying seeds 
may here confine myself to what I have done this year, in 
starting from the seeds 1,000 trees. Some not very serious attempts 
