323 
the country is set on fire and the tubers, which can then be easily 
seen, are hoed up and brought to headquarters in baskets, Large 
and small tubers are gathered indiscriminately, but the contents of 
the baskets are weighed and sorted, and only those of large size are 
kept for the production of the rubber. The two illustrations from 
photographs, taken by Mr. May on the concession plateau, shew a 
quantity of the Kcanda tubers brought in by the natives for the 
extraction of the rubber, e smaller ones are thrown aside, and 
as they are not materially damaged by the burning of the grass, 
they are replanted and commence to grow again quite readily. 
No attempt at the cultivation or clearing of the ground has been 
attempted, nor have any experiments been made with the sowing of 
seed. In replanting the smaller tubers a hole is simply dug in the 
earth amongst the grass with a native hoe and the tuber is planted 
and left to grow unattended, 
As to the rate of growth of the tubers, it is unfortunate that at 
present we have no reliable information. According to Professor 
Geraldes (K.B., 1908, p. 214) the plants are biennial (?), and one- 
year old plants are stated to be about 3-4 ins. in diameter, and to 
weigh from 7-10} 02s. Mr, May has not made any careful observa- 
tion but is of the opinion, however, that a three-year old root would 
weigh about 6 ozs. As the natives always burn the long grass 
once a year in order to obtain fresh herbage, he thinks that these 
fires may possibly check the growth of any tubers over which 
they pass. We have been informed that the yield of tubers, on an 
experimental plantation in a neighbouring region, at a minimum 
estimate is likely to be 8 tons, and that there is every prospect that 
a yield of about 12 tons per acre will be realised. : 
SEEDLINGS OF RAPHIONACME UTILIS. 
i The seeds 
Sown at Kew, on the 2nd January of this year. — 
germinated quickly and developed two cotyledons with — 
nearly 1 cm. in length; the lamine are oblong-obovate obtuse, 
glabrous and sli¢htl fleshy. : 
The Fae lt develops with an elongated wrt meee 
about 1 cm. in length, the subsequent internodes arti : ort. ae 
internodes are delicately hairy with short. glandular hairs. : 
A2 
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