455 
ability for manufacturing (Bull. Imp. Inst. ix. 1911, p. 412). In 
comparison with ‘‘ Kapok” (Eriodendron orientale) and ** Akun” 
corer procera) c pp. 87 and 463 respectively it is of little 
alue. 
e seeds have been found to yield about 26 per cent. of oil 
suitable for technical purposes, but a bitterness in the residue— 
not yet understood, makes it uncertain for edible purposes (India 
Rubber World, xlvi. 1912, p. 475). 
The wood is used for purposes similar to those of F. africana. 
The tree has been cultivated on a large scale in most of the West 
African Colonies, in Togoland, the Cameroons (about 350,000 
trees in 1905—see Tropenpfl. July 1905, p. 385), the vege (about 
3,500,000 trees in 1911—see Cons. Rep. Ann. No. 5043, 1913, 
20), Uganda, etc., and distributed to Trinidad, Straits Settle- 
ments Re | other tropical countries out of Africa by seeds or plants 
from the Royal Gardens, Kew. In Nigeria special reserves have 
been made in various parts including Benin, where the oldest 
plantations are to be found having been started about 1902; some 
hundreds of plants in association with Liberian Coffee (see plan 
p- 29) and to form avenues were planted out during August and 
September of 1900 at Old Calabar; at Mamu, Oloke-Meji, Ilaro, 
Oban, Lokoja, Oshun River (see pp. 39-46 of this work). It is 
reported that by 1908 in the Denies Province alone there were 
2251 plantations containing 1,125,972 trees (Col. Rep. Ann. 
No. 630, 1909, p. 15). This would include the Benin District, 
t 
lative Council (1909) stated that the large village plantations of 
Funtumia elastica made at = instance of the Forest Officers were 
coming into bearing and some of them would be tapped in 1910 
(S. Nig. Gov. Gaz. 6th Oct. 1909, p. 1380), trees in the Ibadan 
and Mamu Reserves were being tapped in 1912 (Col. Rep. Ann. 
No. 782, 1914 (for 1912), p. 13). a the present time it is not 
uncommon for the Forestry Department ite "ne 3000 Ib. and 
upwards of rubber from these cultivated 1 
The discovery of the tree and the adie ef the industry in 
iege is fully discussed in Kew Bulletin, 1895, pp. 241-247. 
ropagation is readily effected by means of seeds. Cuttings 
are not usually recommended, though they have been found to 
grow, rooting in about a month or six weeks. e tree in S. 
igeria flowers about June and ud seeds are ready for 
collecting about January Febru A Here ee 
meine about 60 seeds, ware detachable from the 
t 800 seeds go the the ounce. They should $e sown 
as pcs as possible after collection in shallow well- drained 
boxes or in nursery beds in light rich soil from an inch to 
two inches apart, and when about 3 or 4 inches high trans- 
planted into prepared beds and given a foot or so between each 
plant or put singly into bamboo pots. It is important to kap 
the plants growing without a check and they will be strong enoug 
about 6 months after sowing for putting out in permanent places, 
FF 
