38 Timehri. 
rubber such as is yielded by S. Jenmani, and which I was told were obtained from 
these trees. Probably they are varieties of S. Jenmani which also yield commer- 
cial rubber. 
Sapiums are moneecious, the leaves have either smooth, dentate or serrated 
margins, sometimes also marginal glands, while at the top of the petiole there are 
two glands, which, in some instances, can just be detected without the aid of a 
pocket lens whilst in other cases they occur long and most conspicuous. 
The flowers are borne on a long spike and consist of both the sexes, the male 
flowers being on the upper part of the axis and “‘ are in groups of three or more 
in the axils of the bracts, the female flowers occupying the lower part and are 
detached.” The ovary is three-celled and the andreecium consists of two or 
three stamens which are free. The fruit consists of a non-drupaceous capsule 
and is, unlike the Hevea, very small indeed—hence many Indians insist that the 
trees bear no fruit at all. 
What one has to bear in mind is the fact that the Sapzwm does not appear to 
possess ““ wound-response ” in any degree to make it of commercial interest, 
if it possesses this power at all. At any rate it has not yet been proved as 
occurring with any of these trees. 
With regard to our own native Heveas considerable work was accomplished 
by the late Mr. Jenman; through his efforts H. confusa, H. spruceana and other 
species were identified. Up to the present not one of our indigenous Heveas 
has proved to be capable of yielding rubber on any commercial scale. In 
addition to this it would appear that they are considerably less hardy than 
H. brasiliensis, ““ large areas in the colony,” to quote the Journal of the Board 
of Agriculture, being “ eminently suited ” to the cultivation of this tree. 
At present large trees of H. brasiliensis (I have never examined 
the flowers from these trees but there is every reason to believe they are H. 
brasiliensis), are to be found in the colony on Pln. Canefield on the Canje river, 
which were planted by Mr. Johnson Gill, and on Pln. Noitgedacht, Canal No. 1, 
planted some twelve years ago by the late Mr. T. Garnett. 
The trees at Noitgedacht have shown ‘“ wound-response ” and yielded “a 
high-grade product.’ This fact should convince any sceptics that there 7s a 
future for Hevea brasiliensis in this colony. 
Since so much interest has been taken in the cultivation of rubber in this 
colony, our own Department of Agriculture has under its control experiments 
with rubber at the Botanic Gardens, the Issororo Station on the Aruka river, 
at Christianburg, at Onderneeming School Farm, and at Bonasika on the 
Essequibo river. Valuable information has already been forthcoming from 
these young experiments, and their importance will increase as the years go by. 
It has been proved conclusively that Hevea brasiliensis will adapt itself to 
many conditions, but that it must be sheltered from the boisterous breezes that 
prevail on our coastal lands. 
Good and efficient drainage is absolutely necessary and for satisfactory 
returns a regular dispersal of rain is a factor of the utmost importance. It is 
not a question of the total rainfall per annum, so much as the total number 
of wet days throughout tho year, 
