RUBBER FORESTS F NIC A RAG I A A M) SI Eli IL 1 /. EOXE 87 



is passed, "plug up" the tubes of that season with wood that 

 has been dipped in some liquid insecticide and saw olVthe tu])e 

 and its wooden core even with the thin exterior l)ark of tlie tree. 



The coagulation of tlie milk-like exudation and the se|)a ration 

 from it of the elastic material can l»e effected by heating to Ki? 

 to 175 degrees F. and stirring in a hot decoction of some s|>ccies 

 ofconvolvulaceae, as morning glory, or stirring into the emulsion, 

 when fresh and hot, thesmoke from l)urningpalm or other oleag- 

 inous nuts, which are alnindant in rubber-yielding districts. 



Secondary crops, planted between the rows of rul)ber-produc- 

 ing trees, could be the Tjiberia colTee tree, bananas, or such fibrous 

 ])lants as hennequen, sisal, etc., of the agave family ; also, the 

 vanilla bean, one vine to each ru])ber tree, which would yii'ld an 

 annual crop equal in value to the rubl)er product, ^\'hile the 

 vanilla vine needs trees of this class for sustenance, yet it is 

 ])robable that the vanilla would not materially reduce the flow 

 of sap or the quantity of elastic material from the tree. 



A comparative estimate of the annual value per acre in Nica- 

 ragua of coffee trees and rubber trees at nine years of age and 

 thereafter, at present (1896) prices, gives $192 net profit from an 

 acre in rubber trees. 



RUBBKIl FORKSTS OF STEKUA LKONK 



The following information concerning the undeveloped rubber 

 forests of Sierra Leone is drawn from the address of His Excel- 

 lency Colonel Cardew to the legislative council of Sierra Lepne 

 on his journeys, aggregating l.oOO miles, in the hinterland and 

 protectorate of Sierra Leone in 1894-'95. 



There are large forests with abundance of rubber awaiting: ex- 

 ploitation by intelligent and systematic methods anil tliat will 

 yield wealth to the first enterprising cmner. An extensive rub- 

 ber forest lies between Makali and Kruto, covering the greater 

 part of the district l)etween the Scli and l^.ay;wee rivers. This 

 area com])rises portions of the Kuniki and Koranko districts, 

 and the extent of the rubber forests is estimated at ()00 .square 

 miles. The portion of the forests seen is composed of rubber 

 trees about ten years old, called "' Kewatia.r These trees grow 

 rapidly, and in ten years attain a girth of two or three feet, but 

 under present methods they are felled by the riibber-gatherer. 

 Two vines, the " note" and the " lilibue," yield rubber, the latter 

 of the choicest (piality. The "note" is invariably cut up and 

 destroved for its rul)l)er, and the "lilibue " generally so. 



