[ 157 3 

 XIII. 



SOME ACCOUNT OF THE 



Elajlic Gum Vine of Prince of Wales's IJland, 



AND OF 



Experiments made on the milky Juice which it produces : 



With Hints rejpetling the ufeful Purpojes to which it 



may be applied. 



By JAMES HOWISON, Efq. 



Communicated by JOHN FLEMING, Efq. 



OUR firft knowledge of the plant being a native 

 of our IJland arofe from the following accident. 

 In our excurfions into the forefts, it was found necef- 

 fary to carry cutlafTes for the purpofe of clearing our 

 way through the underwood. In one of thole an 

 elaftic gum vine had been divided, the milk of which 

 drying upon the blade, we were much furprized in 

 finding it pofTefs all the properties of the American 

 Caout-chouc. The vine which produces this milk is 

 generally about the thicknefs of the arm, and almofl 

 round, with a ftrong afh-coloured bark, much cracked, 

 and divided longitudinally; has joints at a fmall dif- 

 tance from each other, which often fend out roots, but 

 feldom branches; runs upon the ground to a great 

 length; at laft rifes upon the higheft trees into the 

 open air. It is found in the greateft plenty at the foot 

 of the mountains, upon a red clay mixed with fand, 

 in fituations completely fhaded, and where the mer- 

 cury in the thermometer will feldom exceed fummer 

 heat. 



In my numerous attempts to trace this vine to its 

 top, I never fucceeded; for, after following it in its 

 different windings, fometimes to a diftance of two 



hundred 



