RUBBER PLANTING 207 



Age, years 5678 9 10 



Dry rubber, ounces ...3 4 5 9 12 15 



Coagulation is effected by simple dilution with water 

 or by the use of various reagents, amongst which tannic 

 acid, formalin and hydrofluoric acid are said to be 

 specially effective. The fresh latex is neutral in reaction 

 or very slightly acid, and acetic acid alone does not 

 produce coagulation. Centrifugal machines are also 

 useless, probably on account of the very small size of 

 the latex globules. The physical properties of the 

 rubber are found to vary considerably, according to the 

 nature of the chemical reagent employed. 



Christy regards Funtumia as better suited than 

 Hevea for growth in African plantations. It is less 

 liable to the attacks of insect pests, and is much cheaper 

 to cultivate. It is also considerably cheaper to tap, 

 owing to the relatively large yields obtained at a single 

 tapping. Plantations have already been opened on an 

 extensive scale in Kamarun, and the cultivation is under 

 trial in Southern Nigeria and in other parts of British 

 West Africa. 



The introduction of Funtumia into countries outside 

 Africa has not generally been attended with much 

 success, for in other climates the plant appears to 

 suffer widely from the attacks of insects. At Pera- 

 deniya the growth of the trees was found to be very 

 slow, largely owing to the depredations of a leaf-rolling 

 caterpillar, which led annually to the complete defoliation 

 of every branch. 



