66 PHILIPPINE RESINS, GUMS, AND OILS 
In the Philippines very little rubber has yet been planted, ‘ 
despite the fact that the United States is the world’s greatest 
consumer of crude rubber. The imports of crude rubber into 
the United States for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1917, 
were 151,533,505 kilos valued at #878,657,348.t The imports 
from the British and Dutch East Indies for the same period 
were 82,468,900 kilos valued at #208,451,104. At the present 
time practically all the plantation rubber produced in the Phil- — 
ippines is grown on one plantation in the Island of Basilan. 
Several other plantations are, however, beginning to produce 
rubber. 
Large quantities of gutta-percha have been collected in the 
southern Philippines, and at the present time gutta-percha, ob- 
tained from wild species, is still being exported. However, as 
in the case of rubber, no very considerable industry can be 
expected until the trees are grown in plantations. 
The next most promising Philippine gums would seem to be 
those which form the basis of chewing gum. Two native spe- 
cies of Artocarpus appear worthy of note in this respect, while 
Achras sapota (chico), the source of gum chicle, is grown ex- 
tensively throughout the Archipelago for its edible fruits. 
Gum chicle is exported in enormous quantities from Mexico to 
the United States, where it is the principal substance used in 
the manufacture of chewing gum. In the Philippines this prod- 
uct has apparently never been collected. 
Family ORCHIDACEAE 
Genus GEODORUM 
GEODORUM NUTANS (Presl) Ames. 
Local names: Bandabok (Palawan); cebollas del monte (Cavite); kula 
(Manila) ; luwbi-lubi (Negros). 
GEODORUM NUTANS GUM 
The tuberous roots contain a substance which is used as a glue, 
especially in cementing together parts of mandolins, guitars, 
and other musical instruments. In preparing the glue the rhi- 
zomes are first cooked and then finely grated. Glue thus 
prepared is said to have great tenacity. 
Several other Philippine orchids are used for the same 
purpose. 
Geodorum nutans is a terrestrial orchid with somewhat fleshy 
underground roots. It reaches a height of 70 centimeters. The 

~ India Rubber World, Volume 57 (1917), page 59. 
- 
~ 
