68 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, 

 vvere 151,533,505 kilos valued at ^378,657,348.* 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); lubi-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. 



