18 RUBBER IN THE GOLD COAST 



paration, but also by the native practice of adding to 

 the latex of Funtumia elastica before coagulation the 

 latices of non-rubber-yielding plants, such as Funtumia 

 ajricatm, Stapf, Chlowpliora excelsa, Bth. and Hook, f., 

 Antiaris toxicaria, Lesch., Alstonia sp., etc., which 

 render the rubber resinous and adversely affect its 

 physical properties. In consequence of this procedure 

 Gold Coast " lump " is usually of inferior quality and 

 realises a comparatively low price in the market. 



Attempts are being made to induce the natives to 

 keep the latex of Funtumia elastica piu-e, and to coagulate 

 it by boiling the diluted latex or by adding to the latex 

 a hot infusion of Bauliinia reticulata leaves or a quantity 

 of the juice of the Diecha vine, Strophanthus Preussii. The 

 freshly coagulated rubber is then rolled out into biscuits. 



The rubber of Landolphia owariensis is usually col- 

 lected in the form of balls, and is of very good quality. 

 This vine has also been found to occur in the Northern 

 Territories of the Gold Coast, where it is known as " Pem- 

 peneh," but it does not appear to be very abundant there. 



An inferior " flake " or " paste " rubber, which is of 

 very resinous character, is also prepared from the latices 

 of certain vines. 



Ficu^ Vogelii is freely distributed in certain parts of 

 the Gold Coast, but the tree is not usually tapped by 

 the natives. The rubber is of very resinous character, 

 like that obtained from the tree in the Gambia. 



Considerable progress has been made in the cultivation 

 of rubber trees in the Gold Coast. Hevea brasiliensis, 

 the Para tree, was first introduced into the Botanic 

 Gardens at Aburi, and Government plantations of the 

 trees have since been established at Tarquah, Coomassie, 

 and Assuantsi. The cultivation of this tree has also 

 been undertaken by European planters, and large numbers 

 of the seeds and seedlings have been distributed to the 

 natives in different districts. In 1911 three of the 

 European plantmg companies had each from 40,000 to 

 60,000 Para trees of various ages on their estates. The 

 results of experimental tappings on both Government 

 and private plantations have been very promising. 



Similar action has been taken with regard to the 

 indigenous Funtumia elastica, plantations of which have 

 been established by the Government, by planters, and 



