159 
difficulty will no doubt disappear; in the pe mener it might be 
found poetis either by placing a reserve price on the monopoly 
when next put up to auction, or by abolishing the monopoly and 
UE the India -rubber as it is brought down, or by effecting 
ome arra 
fon sts yield something more than the nominal revenue heretofore 
derived from them. 
XXXIL—ASSAM RUBBER FOR WEST AFRICA. 
(Ficus elastica, Bl.) 
[ K.B., 1891, pp. 97-102.] 
COLONIAL OFFICE to ROYAL GARDENS, KEW. 
z Downing Street, 20th November, 1890. 
IR, 
I AM directed by Lord Knutsford to transmit to you, for your 
information, a copy of a despatch from the Governor of Lagos on 
the subject of the Ficus elastica of Asia. 
, &c. 
(Signed) JOUN BRAMSTON. 
The Director, 
Royal Gardens, Kew. 
[ Enelosure.] 
Sir ALFRED MOLONEY to LORD KNUTSFORD. 
Government House, Lagos, 
13th October, 1890. 
My Lorp, 
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt, direct from 
In cud T three packets of seed of the Ficus elastica, as also of an 
account by Mr. Gustav Mann, Conservator of Forests, of the mode 
of rci pursued in Assam. 
2. For their ready and practical co-operation, may I invite your 
Colney to convey to the Government of India the thanks of this 
Colon 
e information supplied is of such general interest and 
value I have ve dien to issue it in extenso as a circular, of which 
I would ask your Lordship to allow the Director of the Royal 
Gardens, Kes, sé have some copies. 
. The seed received has been treated in accordance with vk 
method employed in Assam in the eultivation of this rubber tr 
I trust the —_— will prove a success and justify the trouble 
I have give 
I have, &c. 
(Signed) ALFRED MOLONEY, 
The pev Hon. 
Lord rv cm G. aih 
