R UB BER FORESTS OF NIC A RA G UA A ND SIERRA L EONE 85 

 UUBBER PUOSIM'XT.S IN NICAUACIA 



A later report iVoin Consul J. Crnwl'onls contains the following 

 infornuition. Ivecently, many persons in western Niearagua liave 

 declared tiieir intention to plant and cultivate elastic ruhher- 

 yielding (some varieties of the j«no are but slightly elastic) trees 

 and vines in the eastern part of the state. Such estati's are 

 locally named hacieiuhts dc hide. These persons are incpiiring 

 concerning the localities having the most suitable lands and 

 climate, the species and varieties of trees and vines that anmially 

 or biennial]}' yield the largest quantity of good rubber, the pro|)er 

 distance apart for planting the trees and vines, the best modes of 

 cultivation, and how^ many years must elapse before it is proper 

 to commence the annual or biennial collection of rubber, etc. 



jNlany of the valleys in central and northeastern Nicaragua 

 contain all the natural conditions for a full yield of an excellent 

 quality of elastic rubber. They are localities supporting numer- 

 ous groves of large-sized trees yielding rubl)er until about fifteen 

 years ago, when nearly all the trees bad Ijcen killed by too severe 

 scarifying by irresponsible collectors. Localities in Nicaragua 

 south of latitude lo° north, and in low valleys where the soil is 

 alluvial or vegetable humus and sand, cajiable of being raj)idly 

 drained, and in a climate that is uniformly warm and humid, 

 suit the largest rubber-yielding varieties of trees and vines. 

 Some varieties, giving an excellent quality of very elastic rub- 

 ber, are indigenous to a higher, drier climate and soil. 



There are several of the natural orders — Crtiaicene,S(ipo((trene, 

 Mumcene, Apoq/aaceae, and Euphorblaceac — indigenous in Nica- 

 ragua, which, when scarified deepl}^ exude a milk-like sap from 

 which rubl)er of various degrees of elasticity is se]>arated. The 

 annual ((uantity and the quality in elasticity ditler usually with 

 the species and with dififerent conditioned localities. Somejirefer 

 the low alluvial lands under a humid atmosi)here, while other 

 varieties flourish best in more elevated, sandy, and decomjHJsed 

 vegetable matter — lands rich in potash, as the volcanic valley (li.s- 

 tricts south of Lake Nicaragua. The most desirable varieties for 

 quantity per annum and quality of rubber are ihe-SV;)/j(m/ae/a«^"ca 

 and Caddloa el/isUca, hahitanii^ of well-drained, low, alluvial val- 

 leys, kept warm by a humid atmosphere. The second bi-st rub- 

 ber-producers are of the ficus ftimily, a variety locally known as 

 matapala.an epyphite having numerous l)odies from aerial roots 

 (like thebanyan tree). It is also an inhabitant of low, fertile, 



