10 
erude caoutchouc. Several mouthfuls are Saks oe together and 
squeezed into a round mass or ball. This method of collecting 
the juice, with the ruthless manner of ireiline the trees, some- 
what surprised me when I first saw it done. Since then repeated 
trials in all parts of Fiji have convinced me that the sap or juice 
does not flow freely by NEA the bark on the trunk of the 
tree in any way whatever. This is the reason for breaking the 
to the air, and the wound has t o be giae to cause the sap 
io flow anew. Ted the branches a are broken into pieces of 
ex The coagulated juice would seem to have some attraction for 
the juice in a semi-liquid condition. If a portion of the 
not be Separated, and a slight ES es the semi-coagulated 
juice clean out of the many fissures or pns in the ends of the 
broken tai orüde- caoutchouc from this tree 
ess (more or less) as may be required. 
Samples of it have ean sent to England, em the quality was 
highly valued." 
Nothing dried was done in a popan to Fiji des until last 
year, when response to an inquiry from efforts were 
made to obtain botanical eiea. of all the aita yielding a 
ona jui 
e 
first Mun les proved e ricis Accel The second, received i in 
March, 1898, were more promising. 
Alstonia plumosa is known in Viti Levu as “Sarua.” It 
is described as abounding in the forests and if carefully 
€ might prove a useful rubber-producing plant. Mr. Joske, 
e Commissioner for Colo North, states *the leaves are la 
g 
It is then detached with a bit of bamboo or knife and the 
different particles are pressed ee bogs balls. That is the 
way it is produced when required as an article of commerce 
It is also chewed by children as a pestiue e and made into plastic 
balls with which to play." 
^ 
4 
