152 Timehri. 
Quite recently the writer was told of a case where the latex of Hevea brasiliensis 
was mixed with the thick yellowish latex of one of our indigenous H veas possi- 
bly H. confusa), with he result that the product was very favourably reported 
on in England. 
In the Aruka valley of the North Western District the conditions are exception- 
ally suited to Sapium growing. There the tree makes most amazing growth on 
the soft pegassy lands of the district. On the other hand this peat soil does not 
suppor | Hevea brasiliensis satisfactorily, though where it is mixed with the clay 
sub-soils the growth of this tree is fair, such as on the dams that have been thrown 
up when trench digging operations have been carried out. On the heavy clays 
of the coastlands rubber-yielding Sapiums are, apparently, a failure. They are 
attacked by scale (Lecanium chiefly) and make poor and stunted growth. 
A noticeable characteristic of some of our Sapiums, frequently even in the case 
of trees growing in the interior, is the dying back of the topmost branches. 
As to the product, it has been proved that some of our wild Sapium trees yield 
a rubber which can command a price, when cleanly prepared, very little below 
fine hard Para. 
In the North Western District considerable progress has been made with the 
planting of Sapium trees, this activity being due chiefly to the pioneer efforts 
of the late Mr. David Young. As the trees planted by Mr. Young must have , in 
many instances, attained some six years, possibly we shall be shortly in a 
position to know something definite concerning the yields and the quality of the 
product obtained from trees at an age when Para rubber is tappable. 
Until information as to the yield and quality cbtained from cultivated 
Sapiums is forthcoming, there does not appear to be much probability of many 
more estates undertaking any such cultivation extensively. 
a 
