160 
CIRCULAR. 
Colonial ur death s Office, Lagos, 
30th September, 1890. 
The following correspondence on the subject of the Ficus 
elastica of Asia has passed between his Excellency the Governor 
and the Right Honourable Secretary of State for the Colonies. 
The Ficus elastica is distributed over Assam, Java, and probably 
other Malayan countries; it is cultivated in Malabar, and is the 
chief, if not the only, source of Assam and Java caoutchouc. 
The caoutchouc supplied by this tree is only second in import- 
ance as an article of export to that of the prymiboss ien 
brasiliensis of the Amazon Valley. 
e tree is of similar growth in almost every respect to the 
s Abba " tree (Ficus Vogelii) of Yoruba, and would doubtless 
thrive excellently in the moist climate of the West Coast of 
ica. 
The preparation of the caoutchouc is similar to that of the 
“rubber” of the Landolphia owariensis of West Africa. Such of 
the milk as flows ely is ene by boiling, but the greater 
part is allowed to dry on the tree, Na which it is stripped when 
sufficiently erapoiittelii io bear handling. 
The value of good and fine Assam caoutchouc was quoted i 
1887 at from 2s. to 2s. 7d. per pound, and in the quantity intiüblly 
shipped to ien United vorm it would appear to compare 
favourably with the Para Rubber 
ote seed of this valuable tree, which has, been supplied through 
ind offices of the Indian Government, is now being cultivated 
d the Bot — Station of this che and young plants will be 
e pu 
requi 8 cultivation it is to de hoped that it will soon 
establish itoclt | in this Colony and the neighbouring States 
By Command : 
ALVAN MILLSON, 
Assistant Colonial Secretary, 
pro Acting Colonial Secretary. 
The UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES. 
8.8. * Sherbro," at Sea. 
29th January, 1890. 
SIR, 
l HAVE the honour to request that the Secretary of State for 
the Colonies may be pleased to invite the co-operation of the 
I have, &c., | 
(Signed) eas MOLONEY, 
