60 
bserved to exist (but not in a very large quántity) i is in the Isoya 
forests. We advised them to search for this particular species, 
which is commonly known under the sieh: name of Ibo Akitipa, 
and to collect rubber of it, which, ured them, will be 
readily sold at as good a price, ‘if not Pin unn that offered for the 
Ire rubber. The tapping of this species of Landolphia will not 
take so much time as the Ire. ‘The operation is simple enough, 
and can be successfully done by intelligent and careful natives. 
The stem of the vine (which is as thick as a man's arm) is 
6 to 8 ft. apart, under these incisions vessels are placed to receive 
the milk, which easily and readily coagulates, and is then balled 
or wound up. This kind of rubber has no water whatever in it. 
The species of Ficus noticed are several, but owing to the 
insignificance and inferiority of Ju rubber (specimens have 
sent to England and valued at a very low price) we did not 
recommend these to them. 
On the whole we are compelled to say that the Government 
was rather too late in taking up this matter, and that unless our 
suggestions and recommendations are followed by the people we 
very much fear for the permanency of the rubber industry. 
Rubber collectors have now to go 15 or 16 days off Ibadan for 
rubber beyond the working i of this Colony. 'The countries 
he Ow 
only three days off Benin) which, we understood, is the limit of 
our Protectorate on that side. 
EI * E EI 
We have, &c., 
(Signed) F. GR. —€— 
T. B. Daw 
preje Curators. 
ExTRACT from LAGOS ANNUAL REPORT for 1897. 
* As was anticipated, the falling off in the production of et 
due to the reckless way in which it was collected, has com 
pass, the amount shipped in 1897 in. 4,458,327 lbs. as fine 
6,434,365 lbs. in 1896. It is early to talk pessimistically of the 
ac 
At the same time the greed and guile of the small minority that 
collects and adulterates rubber, coupled with the apathy of the 
large majority that only looks on, must inevitably deal a severe 
blow to the trade. Steps are, however, being taken to encourage 
the native chiefs to have the rubber oólleotod in a thrifty and 
systematic manner, which, it is hoped, will show good faults i in 
the near future " (pp. 6, 7). 
