137 
ROYAL GARDENS, KEW, to MR. R. THOMSON. 
Royal zy 15 1 Kew, 
SIR, July z 
I AM desired by Mr. Thiselton-Dyer to Rees a u t yo 
correspondence with the India Office on the subject of “ Colombia 
irgen ” rubber trees has been referred to him with the decision 
of the Goilidh of India on the subjec 
2. As no doubt you are aware it has aiis resolved, in the 
absence of accurate information respecting the nature and value 
of these rubber trees, that this establishment place itself in 
communication with you and obtain botanical specimens for the 
exact determination of the Ppedien and also some plants or seed 
for experimental trial at Kew 
u are disposed to dads to the wishes of the Govern- 
ment of India, Mr. Thiselton-Dyer is prepared to authorise you to 
incur expenses in first instance to the br of five pounds 
in procuring botanical specimens, and in sending some seeds or 
plants of this ptio: kind of rubber to this country. 
I have, etc., 
(Signed) D. MORRIS. 
Mr. R. Thoms 
Bogota, Republie of Colombia. 
Mr. R. B. WHITE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW. 
Agrado, January 12th, 1890. 
My DEAR SIR, 
I HAVE been trying to get the flowers and seeds of the cold 
region india-rubber tree, but it is pretty clear that hereabouts it is 
not the "UE season. I ere there 1 is little doubt of its being 
a species of Siphonia. T is not 
At elevations of 3,000 to 4,000 pus a Ficus has produced much ` 
india-rubber, but dicho best white Virgen—comes from 
to 7,000 feet elevations, and is another thing entirely. Ils mean 
temperature is about 50° to 60° Fah. 
I know the tree giving the whi 2 et of Choco in years gone 
by, growing in the hot climate. sa Siphonia and its habit is 
very similar to the cold country sd $6. 
Ficus are my t nidos branched and are not so straight. 
The milk of this tree coagulates directly it is taken from the tree. 
Most india-rubbers o not, and many have to be coagulated by 
alkalis. Some of the milks can be kept for LE and eal ti 
may be painted with them, when the rubber will dry and make 
good pad oating. I ihave mended my EF pillows, &c., in 
this wa 
But this cold region rubber will not keep, and it wir ol 
contains much more caoutchoue (caucho is better) than t 
other sorts. 
I expect that it will turn out that the tree flowers in May, and 
has seed in June or July, and then I will try again to get you 
