50 RUBBER 



In 1871 this energetic pioneer had published a book 

 entitled " Rough Notes of a Journey through the 

 Wilderness," wherein were included drawings, made 

 by himsalf , of the leaf, seed-pod, and seed of the Hevea 

 hrasiliensis. These drawings came under the notice 

 of Sir Joseph Hooker, who was then Director of Kew 

 Gardens, and attracted his attention to the subject 

 of rubber cultivation. Sir Joseph soon became keenly 

 interested in Mr. Wickham's ideas. Not only did he 

 favour the theory that rubber- trees could be cultivated, 

 but he fully agreed that the Eastern Tropics would 

 make a capital experimental nursery for them, and 

 thought that the East ought not to neglect so promising 

 a possibility of agricultural development. He managed 

 to win for the cause of rubber cultivation its third 

 supporter, Sir Clements Markham of the India Office. 

 Sir Clements, in his turn, did his best to interest his 

 colleagues in the proposed new branch of agriculture, 

 with the result that in 1876 the Indian Government 

 agreed to find the money for the introduction into 

 India of " the tree which produced the true ' Para ' 

 rubber of commerce." 



Mr. Wickham, who was still living in the up-country 

 region of Brazil, was deputed to carry out the com- 

 mission. His instructions were to obtain a large 

 number of Hevea seeds, and get them delivered to the 

 Indian Government. Although he was not hampered 

 by any restrictions as to ways or means, this was a 

 difiicult enough task. The seeds would have to be 

 collected at the particular season when they ripen ; 

 they would have to be very carefull}^ packed for their 

 journey so that they should not get damp, and yet 

 should obtain ei .ough ventilation to keep them alive ; 



