which I give now should do much to settle the minds rubber 

 of the doubters as to which is likely to prove the yields. 

 most paying crop for this country. The tapping of 

 rubber at Kivuvu is by no means looked upon as an 

 experiment to-day, but forms a very important part 

 of our work. The results now begin to give some 

 idea of the ultimate profit to be obtained from the 

 crop. 



The crops for the three years were, per tree : — 



1014 

 8 ozs. 



1915 

 11/^ ozs. 



I9I6 



22^4^ ozs. 



These yields are sufficiently progressive to show 

 that rubber is a soimd commercial proposition in 

 this country. It should be remembered that they are 

 average yields over all trees tapped, big and small. 

 I have not been able to keep yields separate, but I 

 am certain that if I could have done so, our oldest 

 trees would have been shown to yield 3 lbs. per tree 

 for 191 6. We also read in the Report of the Botanic 

 Gardens, Entebbe, that close on 3 lbs. per tree was 

 collected last year. 



The costs per lb of rubber work out as follows : rubber 



. COSTS 



1914. 1915. 1916. 



Landed in London 



66.7 



51-5 



44.0 



Add all market 

 selling charges 



and 



9.0 



9.0 



9.0 



Making the cost to place 

 in the hands of the pur- 

 chaser 



i/o^^d. o/iod. o/gd. 



Id. 



This table shows the cost of collection reduced 

 per ft) this year and also that we place the 



61 



