170 



THE AFRICAN RUBBER TREE 



In Uganda a form of " canker," caused by a fungus 

 which has been named Nectria funtumiae, Massee, develops 

 on the stems of Funtumia trees and is very common in 

 some districts. It begins as a black patch on the ba,rk, 

 and gradually spreads until it encu'cles the stem. The 

 bark of the affected area becomes badly cracked, which 

 seriously interferes with the tapping of the trees. This 

 disease has not yet been noticed in West Africa. 



Rate of Growth. — Funtumia elastica, if planted closely 

 on good soil without shade, makes fairly quick growth, 

 whereas if planted under shade it develops extremely 

 slowly. In the following section particulars are given 

 of the rate of growth of Funtumia trees in different 

 countries : 



Gold Coast. — Government plantations of Funtumia 

 trees have been established in the Gold Coast at Aburi, 

 Tarquah, and Coomassie. 



The conditions of climate and soil at Aburi do not 

 appear to be entirely suitable for the growth of Funtumia 

 elastica, the rainfall being rather low. The trees, however, 

 are healthy and show fairly satisfactory groAvth on the 

 whole : where the soil is deep, they have made excellent 

 growth, about equal to that of Para trees ; but in places 

 where the soil is shallow, they have done badly. The 

 trees were planted 10 by 10 ft. apart in 1902-3, and the 

 following table shows their average girth at different 

 dates : 



At the end of 1909 there were 12,800 Funtumia trees 

 in the Aburi plantation. 



At Tarquah, where the rainfall is heavier than at 

 Aburi, the cultivated Funtumia trees have made very 

 good growth. Four- year-old trees planted 20 by 20 ft. 

 had an average girth of 14i in. at 3 ft. from the ground, 

 whilst trees of similar age planted 15 by 15 ft. had an 

 average gu'th of 13 in. According to measm'ements 



