RUBBER PLANTING 209 



Another disadvantage of Ficus elastica is the very 

 rapid spontaneous coagulation of the latex, which makes 

 it impossible to collect and treat the latex by ordinary 

 methods. 



Other species. 



The above comprise all the species which have been 

 used at all extensively in plantations proper. The 

 method of replanting in the forests in which the wild 

 rubber plants have been partly destroyed is being 

 adopted in several countries, notably in Brazil and in 

 the Mabira forest of Central Africa. Rubber vines were 

 extensively planted some years ago in the Congo by the 

 orders of the Belgian Government. This method was 

 recently given up in favour of Funtumia plantations, 

 and still more recently there has been a tendency 

 to abandon Funtumia in favour of Hevea. On the 

 whole, it seems probable that in the future the world's 

 supply of rubber will depend more and more upon the 

 plantations of Plevea, including those established or 

 about to be established in Brazil. 



