Rubber 35 
lactiferous system similar to //. brasiliensis, yet there does not exist this wound- 
response ” phenomenon, which Para rubber alone appears to possess in any 
marked degree. It is, of course, quite intelligible how trees which have a 
, system of ducts different from that of H. brasiliensis, do not show any indications 
of this power. 
It is somewhat remarkable that, in spite of Mr. Jenman’s pioneer efforts in 
connection with our local india-rubbers, in the ‘early eighties, interest in this 
subject does not appear to have been excited to any extent, his efforts appear to 
have passed away with little comment. With the exception of the efforts of the 
late Sir Henry Katz Davson, Mr. Edward R, Davson, Dr. E. D. Rowland, the 
Rev. Jas. Aiken and a few others, there seems to have been little attempted to 
arouse activity in the possibility of planting rubber and the exploiting of our in- 
digenous rubber trees and vines. The notorious rubber boom has, however, 
altered the complexion of affairs. The local history in connection with our own 
indigenous rubber trees, is of no little interest if only for the fact that it shows 
clearly how very often a subject can be opened up with every prospect of sus- 
tained interest, only to be closed again for a number of years until some further 
interest is awakened. 
To Mr. Jenman is due the credit of calling attention to the Sapiwms of this 
colony, one species of which still keeps his memory green in a world which too 
often is apt to illustrate Marcus Antonius’ famous words on men’s deeds : 
“The good is oft interred with their bones.” 
Writing on the Balata industry for Timehri in 1885, Mr. Jenman thus referred 
to the now well-known Sapium Jenmani tree, the Touck-pong of the Caribs :— 
“Two varieties of the Touck-pong I find generally and rather plentifully 
distributed throughout the region which I traversed (7.e., the Canje river district). 
From one side of the colony to the other these seem to be very uniformly spread. 
They extend quite down to the estuaries of the rivers, and even along the coast 
region small trees and saplings springing up are found, In Georgetown and its 
neighbourhood this form is spontaneous, but all the specimens I have seen there 
are comparatively young trees as yet small. The trees on the coastlands and 
about Georgetown I have been able to identify as a form of touck-pong both by 
specimens obtained for me by Mr. im Thurn on the Pomeroon, where I originally 
became acquainted with the typical tree, and by the specimens I gathered on the 
Canje. Though very plentiful and generally and widely diffused, ‘the typical tree 
is no where gregarious but grows dispersed... .. . It yields true india-rubber 
as distinct from balata and gutta percha. —‘_ had not the satisfaction to see a tree 
tapped in my presence, (italics are mine), but the collectors informed me 
that its production of milk isabout the same as that of the bullet tree. 
-. o . oS aaa The growth is exceedingly rapid, so that it would be one 
of the best of the caoutchouc trees to cultivate forrubber. Both varieties 
flower in March and produce a plentiful crop of seed in April and May.” 
At that time the identification of Sapiwm Jenmani apparently had not been 
accomplished, for we find Mr. Jenman referring to this tree as S. biglandulosum ; 
he continues; “ Yet judging from the leaf and fruit alone, Professor Oliver is 
