RUBBER IN NORTHERN NIGERIA 21 



which lias been successfully introduced and found to 

 grow well in parts of the wet zone. A number of European 

 companies have already formed plantations of Para trees, 

 the hirgest of which are in the Sapele district, where 

 two estates had respectively 70,000 and 20,000 trees 

 of various ages in 1911. The results of the experimental 

 tappings have been exceedmgly promising. 



Other exotic rubber trees, such as Castilloa elastica, 

 Manihot Glaziovii, and Ficus elastica, are also being grown 

 experimentally in Southern Nigeria. 



Northern Nigeria 



The rubber collected in Northern Nigeria passes in 

 transit tlirough Southern Nigeria and is included in the 

 exports from the latter country. The separate returns 

 of the exports of rubber from Northern Nigeria have 

 only been given during recent years, and are as follows : 

 511,110 lb. in 1908; 449,345 lb. in 1909; 519,943 lb. in 

 1910 ; 752,569 lb. in 1911 ; and 451,300 lb. m 1912. 



The rubber-yielding plants of Northern Nigeria are 

 the same as those occurring in Southern Nigeria, and are 

 chiefly found in the south of the Protectorate in the 

 Provinces of Kabba, Bassa, Nassarawa, and Ilorin. The 

 rubber is prepared in similar ways to those in use in 

 Southern Nigeria. A considerable quantity of " root 

 rubber " is made in Northern Nigeria by beating the 

 bark of the roots and stems of vines, and is known as 

 " brown cluster " or " brown medium." 



An inferior product known as " paste " rubber is also 

 prepared in Northern Nigeria by mixing the latex of 

 the " Ebo " or " Ibo " vine {Larulolphia florida) with 

 an equal quantity of the wood oil obtained from Daniella 

 ihurifera. The liquid is then boiled and kept constantly 

 in motion by stirring until it forms a sticky mass which 

 can be handled in water without adhering to the skin. 

 This " paste " rubber is exported in casks. 



The rubber of Ficus Vogelii is exported under the 

 name " balata," the product being of inferior quality 

 owing to the large percentage of resin present. 



Other species of Ficus, such as Ficus platyphylla, 

 Del., furnish the product known locally as " red Kano 

 rubber." It is a hard resinous material, exhibiting some 

 resemblance to gutta percha in its properties. 



