136 
ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to INDIA OFFICE. 
Royal Gardens, Kew, 
SIR, July 8, 1889. 
I HAVE had before me for some time your letter (R. S. & C. 
1784) of January 26, 1889, forwarding a copy of correspondence 
with Mr. Robert Thomson, of Bogota, relative to the proposed 
introduction into India of a species of Hevea which produces the 
r nown as Colombia Virgen. 
2. Having regard to the very large expenditure which the 
Government of India has already incurred in the introduction of 
South American rubber trees into India, I confess I am not 
disposed to support any further outlay upon it. The plants 
yielding Para, Ceara, and Nicaragua (or Guatemala) rubber have 
all been successfully introduced into India. It now only remains 
‘ í 3 
emphatically a matter to be entrusted to the Forest Department. 
And I have deliberately waited before dealing with Mr. Thomson’s 
application till the Secretary of State in Council had had the 
opportunity of considering the interesting results which I 
communicated to you in June 4th last, and the receipt of which 
you acknowledge on the 29th following (R. S. & C. 922), of the 
examination of samples of rubber from Para-rubber trees (Hevea 
brasiliensis), near Mergui in Tenasserim 
its cultivation is suitable for high levels. It appears to me more 
than doubtful whether land adapted to the tree would not in 
India and Ceylon be generally devoted to other cultures likely to 
yield more profitable results than india-rubber. 
5. As far as I am aware nothing is known to botanical science 
of the tree recommended by Mr. Thomson. I propose therefore 
write to him to ask him to send botanical Specimens for its 
identification, and also a few hundred seeds, for which I shall be 
prepared to pay a small gratuity from the annual sum placed at 
our disposal by the India Office for inquiries relative to economico- 
botanical subjects. 
6. I entirely concur in the wise hesitation shown by the 
Government of India in entertaining Mr. Thomson's proposa 
without the precise and definite information on the subject which 
we do not at present possess. 
I am, etc., 
(Signed) W. T. THISELTON-DYER. 
J. A. Godley, Esq., C.B., ; 
India Office. 
