CASTILLA LACTIFLUA. 



In a letter received from Mr. O. F. Cook 

 of the Agricultural Department, Washington, 

 he says: "You will doubtless be interested 

 to know that I have recently described the 

 Soconusco rubber tree as a distinct species, 

 under the name, Castilla Lactiflua. 



"The Castilla of the Soconusco District of 

 the State of Chiapas (C. Lactiflua), is peculiar 

 in having the complemental infloresence flat- 

 tened and with a broad mouth; it is very 

 similar to the primary, except in the smaller 

 size. 



"The specific name alludes to the fact that 

 the milk of the tree flows freely when the bark 

 is cut, so that it can be collected in quantity 

 and coagulated by improved (creaming) meth- 

 ods, instead of the rubber being harvested 

 wholly or partly by pulling the 'scrap' (burucha) 

 from the gashes in which it has dried." From 

 Science, No. 457. 



15 



