Liberia «•- 



Ground Nuts (^Arachis and Voandzeid) are grown in 

 small quantities and are disposed of locally. 



Rubber. — The industry in this product is increasing since 

 the foundation of the Monrovian Rubber Company^ in 1904. 

 In all probabiHty rubber will become in time the principal article 

 of export. 



The present price of Liberian rubber is about 2J-, 9^. per 

 lb. The price during 1898, 1899, and the first half of 1900 

 remained very constant at an average of about is. '^d. per lb. 

 During this time Para rubber rose from y. <^d. to 4^". ^d. per lb. 

 The lowest price for Para rubber since 1880 has been 25. \d. 

 in 1884; in 1891 it was 2J. %d. per lb., and it steadily rose to 

 4J. ()d. per lb. in the beginning of 1900. During the first half 

 of 1900 Para rubber fell rapidly, recovered somewhat, and again 

 fell, until at the end of the year it was 4^. per lb. It is now 

 about 5J". per lb. The average price for the last ten years has 

 been about 3^". ^d. per lb. During the latter six months of 

 1900 Liberian rubber fell steadily to about \s. %d. per lb., 

 I J. '~i\d. having been the lowest price touched ; is. \od. was the 

 highest reached (1905). 



Liberian rubber is chiefly used, mixed with other 

 kinds, in the manufacture of rubber for mechanical purposes. 

 The quantity of rubber used in " mechanicals " is very large 

 indeed, probably about equal to the total amount of Para 

 imported. 



In Liberia sixteen classes of rubber are known at present, 

 probably attributable to as many species of rubber-producing 

 trees and vines, a list of which, so far as they are known, will 

 be found in the Botanical Appendix (p. 616 et. seq.). The quality 

 of the rubber varies very much according to the species. Lan- 

 dolphia owariensis and Funtumia elastica probably yield the best. 



^ Now styled the Liberian Rubber Corporation. 

 416 



