296 



has been calculated that 100,000 trees would yield 300,000 Kg. 

 (about 294 tons) latex per annum, from which 54,000-60,000 Kg." 

 (53-58 tons) rubber and 120,000 Kg. (116 tons) resin might be 

 obtained. The price of the rubber is estimated at 2 pesos (about 4s.), 

 and that of the resin at 75 cms. (Is. 6d.). The scattered occur- 

 rence of the tree, however, and the great distance of the areas 

 where the tree is fairly common are a considerable drawback. It 

 has therefore been proposed to lay out plantations of the tree, 

 the more so as it is easily propagated by cuttings and grows fast. 

 Large tracts of waste land might in this way be made productive. 



A valuable by-product of the Palo Amarillo is the oil (about 

 30 per cent, ) extracted from the seeds. It is a good drying oil for 

 varnish, and, like the oils of other Euphorbiaceae, a purgative. 



Considering the favourable nature of Dr. Altamirano's and 

 I Jr. hndhchs accounts, it may be useful to point out that 

 Mr. George Kennedy, H.M. Vice-Consul at Mexico, reports as 

 late as February 28th, 1907, that no satisfactory process has vet 

 been discovered to separate these two substances at a sufficient! v 

 tow cost to give the "Palo Amarillo" a commercial value as a 

 rubber producer. He also gives the proportion of rubber and 

 resin (desiccated ?) contained in the latex of Euphorbia 

 40 and 60 respectively.* 



/' 



ifoliae 



fulva 



West Indies. One of these 



TWn!' ?' . ml y™ lata > H. B. K., locally known as Chupire or 

 iJpv T ' m s . 0I ? e : parts of Mexico, occurs with E. fulva. Its 



mini T 6ry infe " 01 ' and Dr - Altamirano suggests that the 

 unsatisfactory result of the examination of certain samples of 



i ° A ™ n l lo 7 ™ bb f ma y l>e due to a confusion of the two 

 K u *\„ \/ U T Can b o e easi1 ^ distinguished from E. calyculata 

 beneath ?t« I l**? 8 S^ Cm ' b >' l ~ 2 cm ") which are woolly 

 4 ?™vPd rJ' St ? t ' 1 leafleSS flow ering branches, dividing into 



Notr ™1t l ' a DatlVe of Jai » a i<*< Cuba, and the Bahamas. 

 JNotning is known as to its economic value. 



XLVIII.-MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. 



leased' fn ^^r^ ^ eBt ? the Kin * ha * »een graciously 

 pleased to confer the Order of Merit on Sir J. D Hooker, 



Gardens Kew. ' formerl y Director of the Royal Botanic 



Cambridge and TT.V ^' t 0W and Dean of Kin &' s College, 



Marc^mr. enCl08ed in Mr ' Tower ' 8 de8 P»tch, Commercial No. 13, of the 1st of 



