80 BRITISH HONDURAS. 



so much to introduce the quinine-yielding plants to India, has 

 also advocated the extended cultivation of rubber-plants. The 

 authorities at the Eoyal Gardens, Kew, with their accustomed 

 interest in the welfare of our colonial possessions, have procured 

 rubber seeds and plants, and distributed them far and wide, for 

 the purpose of establishing them under cultivation ; but many 

 of the rubber-plants thus distributed are not such as can be 

 easily cultivated under ordinary circumstances. For instance, 

 the Para-rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) will only grow in swamps 

 or estuarine banks, places quite unsuitable for an European to 

 live in. The Landolphias, and other shrubby climbers, require 

 such special conditions and attention that I fear they will not 

 commend themselves for general adoption. The true india- 

 rubber-trees (Ficus elastica) and their allies do not appear to 

 thrive and yield commercial rubber except in Bunuah and 

 other warm, steamy countries, and they are seldom planted 

 elsewhere, except as ornamental shade-trees. There remain, 

 therefore, only two important rubber-plants on our list, and 

 these are the Ceara rubber-tree (Manihot Glaziom\ yielding the 

 Ceara scrap of South America, and the subject under notice, viz., 

 the Castilloa rubber-tree of Central America. The Ceara rubber- 

 tree, being a spurge-wort (EuphorlnacecE) ,has a tendency to form 

 large tuberous roots, almost like those of the Cassava plant, and 

 these, being near the surface, tend to impoverish the soil and de- 

 stroy any hopes of growing other plants near it. This tree, also, 

 does not become large enough, nor strong enough, to afford high 

 shade for cacao-trees : and lastly, the rubber is not so abundant, 

 nor does it command such high prices, as that derived from the 

 Castilloa tree. Hence, under these circumstances, I am led to 

 recommend, very strongly, the adoption of this Central American 

 rubber, as the best tree for all tropical plants requiring shade, 

 and also as the best rubber-tree, which, all round, offers the 



