599 



p. 27) ; 1913— in a plantation at Aakpa 2|- acres of Ceara 

 seedUngs were thriving well (Nicol, Ann. Rep. Dept. Agric. 

 N. Nig. p. 15) and in 1914 Ceara Rubber was reported as doing 

 remarkably well at Bassa, Northern Pro\ances (Lamb, I.e. 1914, 

 p. 3). 



from 



germinates quickly— if carefully filed near the radicle end or' 

 soaked well in water before sowing — and groAvs freely to a height 

 of 30-50 ft., with the trunk 1-1 J ft. in diam. ; when planting 



from 



the 



best plan is to sow the seeds in the prepared ground where it is 

 intended they should remain permanently, 2 seeds at each 

 distance given— the strongest plant can be selected and the 



other transnlanted in fill nr> 



some 



As the ground is soon covered interplanting or catch-crops are 

 not advisable except for the first year or two. A hot dry cUmate 

 and soil is required for rubber production though the tree to 

 all appearances is successful in a hot moist climate. The yield 

 of rubber is estimated at about 25 grams per tree in the third 

 and fourth years and 125 grams per tree afterwards on an 



some 



siderably more. The " Lewa-method " which seems to have 

 been fomid very successful is by cleaning portions of the cortex 



with 



with 



and then making almost point-hke incisions from which the 

 latex flows and coagulates as thin tears of rubber on the tree ; 

 these tears are collected and worked up into round balls (Kew 

 Bull. 1911, p. 98). The tree may also be tapped on the herring- 

 bone system or as recommended for Hevea (q.v.) after peeHng 

 off the outer bark. To admit of collecting the latex in vessels 

 at the foot of the vertical incisions, the usually rapid coagula- 

 tion is delayed by trickhng water or \A'ater containing ammonia 

 on to the cut surfaces. It is recommended that every tree in 

 a plantation should be tested before it is two \^ears old and if 



yield 



from 



and more profitable latex (Smith & Bradford, Hawaii Bull 

 No. 16, seq. p. 13). 



The flowers are suggested as a source of honey but more 

 especially for the bees-wax, B, E. Africa (Ann. Rep. Dept 

 Agnc. B. E. Africa, 1911-12, p. 88) and in Dahomey (L'Agric 

 Col. Italy, Sept. 1910, p. 323). The value of the honey, however 



as coming from a plant belonging to Eupkorbiaceae is open tJ 

 question. 



A^?^'^'~'^^^^^ Rubber," Kew BuU. 1898, pp. 1-15 and in 



T, J ri ' ' XT'- 117-131. "Good and 



Bad Cearas : How to Distinguish Them," Trop. Agriculturist 



XXIV., July 1st, 1904, p. 8. " Le Manigoba," Moulav, in. 



LAgnc. prat, pays chauds, v. 2, 1905, pp. 298-310; pp. 368- 



