RUBBER 63 



The rubber made in the manner mentioned above has 

 been valued at more than twice the price obtained for 

 the adulterated stuff, but it appears difficult to persuade 

 the local merchants to offer a higher price for it, and it 

 therefore suits the rubber collector better to make the 

 inferior quality. So long as this state of things continues, 

 it is to be feared that instruction in the improvement of 

 quality will not lead to the adoption of better methods. 



In 1908 a Commission of Enquiry was appointed and 

 made certain recommendations for legislation for the 

 protection of the industry. Articles on Gold Coast rubber 

 will be found in the Bulletin of the Imperial Institute, 

 vols. viii. (1910), x. (1912), xi. (1913), xii. (1914), xii. 

 (1915) and xv. (1917). 



Plantations. Large numbers of Funtumia seedlings have 

 been grown at and distributed from the Government 

 Botanic Gardens at Aburi, Tarkwa, and Kumassi, and 

 some of the Ashanti kings and chiefs, who have expressed 

 a wish to attempt to renovate their rubber forests, havo 

 obtained assistance from the officers of the Agricultural 

 Department, who have conducted planting operations in 

 the forests in the presence of those interested. Plantations 

 under European management and with European capital 

 are in progress in the vicinity of Axim and Sekondi. 

 Most of the recently made plantations are said to consist 

 more of Para than of Funtumia rubber trees, although in 

 1913 one of these in the Dunkwa district of Ashanti was 

 reported to contain 20,000 trees of the latter kind. The 

 tree appears to thrive well when planted closely, and 

 straight trunks are soon formed. 



Insect Pest. At Aburi and elsewhere the Funtumia tree 

 is found to be attacked by the larva of a moth of the family 

 Pyralidce, identified as Glyphodesocellata, Hampson, which 

 denudes it of leaves. No severe damage seems to be 

 done by this pest, which has only been observed in 

 plantations, and was destroyed at Aburi by repeated 

 applications of lime and ashes. 



Fungoid Pest. A sooty fungoid growth is sometimes 

 seen upon the leaves, similar to that occurring on orange 

 trees in the country, and probably belongs to the genus 

 Meliola. It is destroyed by the application of sprays 

 of Bordeaux mixture. 



Rubber Machinery. A fully equipped installation of 



