RUBBER PLANTATIONS 129 



" Danko Gawi," shea gutta being known as " Danko 

 Kadainya." 



7. Ficus trachyphylla. This tree is called in Ilorin by 

 the Yoruba name " Oapottoa," and yields a latex which 

 is discoloured pink by the sap of the tree with which it 

 becomes mixed in tapping. When boiled and allowed 

 to cool, the product is a reddish hardened substance, 

 somewhat resembling guttapercha in appearance. 



8. Ficus Vogelii. Scrap rubber from this tree is said 

 to be collected. In appearance this rubber is often good, 

 but the shreds break up easily. 



It will be seen from the above, that several of the 

 so-called rubbers are unlike the valuable kinds in appear- 

 ance and composition, and as such are, perhaps, incapable 

 of being used in a pure state and for the most important 

 manufactures for which rubber is employed. All kinds, 

 however, seem to be marketable at a price which is 

 remunerative to the exporter, so that the trade has 

 become an extensive one. 



Plantations. It has been urged that Para rubber (Hevea 

 brasiliensis) might be grown upon a large scale in the 

 moist and well- watered areas, and Ceara (Manihot Glazi- 

 ovii) and Funtumia elastica in the drier districts ; but the 

 country is not generally favourably adapted for growing 

 the first and last mentioned. Ceara rubber seems to 

 thrive well in climates similar to that of this country, 

 and the rubber made from it is of the finest quality, but 

 in many tropical countries it has shown great uncertainty 

 in yield of latex, and often unaccountable cessation of 

 flow. This has caused it to be less favourably regarded 

 for plantation work. (Cf. Bull. Imp. Inst., 1913, 1916.) 



Many parts of the country are suitable for Ceara 

 cultivation, thriving as it does in localities susceptible 

 to long periods of drought. In the German African 

 Colonies the method of treating the tree seems advan- 

 tageous, in view of the uncertainty of the yield after 

 maturity is reached. In these places the plants are put 

 out in extensive plots each year, and, after they have 

 reached full growth, all the latex possible of extraction 

 is taken out of them, and the exhausted trees are cut 

 out, permitting the area to become renovated by the 

 self-sown seedlings, which spring up in great profusion. 

 Thus, each year a plot becomes completely renovated, 



