34 Same yiccount of the Eldjllc-Giim Vine. 



than the maiuifafturing it from malt ; but imagines that the 

 greater value of the refufe may corapenfate for that expence ; 

 and that the favirig of corn, for other purpofes, is an obje6t 

 worthy of attention and encouragement. 



V. Some Account of the Elajiic-Gum Vine of Prince of lVales*s 

 Jjlttnd, and of Experiments made on the milky Juice ivhich 

 It produces ; luith Hints refpe£iing the ufcful Purpofes fa 

 which it may be apflicd. Bj James Howison, Efq.* 



UR firft knowledge of the plant being a native of our 

 iftand arofe from the following accident : — In our cxcurfions 

 into the forcRs it was found necelTary to carry cutlaflps for 

 the purpoic of clearing our way through the underwood. Ii^ 

 oneof thofe an elafiic-gum vine had been divided, the milk 

 of Vi'hich drying upon the blade, we were nnich furprifed in 

 finding it poficfs all the properties of the American Cuout- 

 chouc. The vine which produces this milk is generally about 

 the thieknefs of the arm, and ahnoft round, with a ftrong 

 a(h-coloured bark, much cracked, and divided longitudinally ; 

 has joints at a fmall diftance from each other, which often 

 fend out roots, but fcldom branches ; runs upon the ground 

 to a great length j at laft rifcs upon the highefl trees into the 

 open air. It is found in the greatefl; plenty at the foot of the 

 mountains, upon a red clay mixed with fand, in fitu,ationi 

 completely fliaded, and where the mercury in the thermo- 

 meter will feldom exceed fummer heat. , 



In my numerous attempts to trace this vine to its top, I 

 never fucceeded ; for, after following it in its ditTerent wind- 

 ings, fomctimcs to a diftance of two hundred paces, I lo(i it, 

 from its afccnding among the branches of trees that were 

 inacceflible either from their fize or height. On the well 

 coaft of Sumatra, I underftand, they have been more fuecefs- 

 ful ; Doilor Roxburgh having procured from thence a fpe- 

 cimen of the vine in flowers, from v^•hich he has clafled it. 

 but whofe defeription I have not yet fecn. 



* From the J/7uiic RePratrbn, Vol. ^^ 



With 



