A FLYING TRIP TO JAMAICA 271 



Unfortunately when the first real experiments in rubber culture in 

 Jamaica were undertaken, the Ceara tree was selected as the best fitted 

 for that climate. As far as can be learned, the tree behaved exactly as 

 it did in Ceylon, grew vigorously, but as a latex producer was a disap- 

 pointment. 



There were several specimens of Ficus elastica and Landolphias 

 as well as some fairly good Cast ill oas. The rubber trees that gave the 

 most promise, however, were Hevea Spruceana and the Hevea Brasili- 

 ensis. The Spruceana was particularly thrifty and gave out good latex 

 abundantly. The rubber from it was of a light yellow color and very 



CASTLETON GARDENS. 



tough. The trees that we saw were only a remnant of a fine lot, most 

 of which were destroyed by a hurricane that swept the island some 

 little time before. Our guide, by the way, who was a negro foreman 

 at the garden, knew the botanical names of all of the plants, and was 

 indeed better posted than any white man that we saw out there. 



The elevation of the gardens is three hundred and seventy feet, 

 and there seemed to be plenty of land thereabouts that could be utilized 

 for Hevea growing. As labor (negro) is very plentiful, and the daily 

 wage fifty cents, and as in addition the laws are as good as anywhere 

 in the North given no more hurricanes it would look as if rubber 



