175 
XXXVIL—CENTRAL AMERICAN RUBBER. 
(Castilloa elastica, Cerv.) 
[K.B., 1899., pp. 159-164, ] 
Some account of Castilloa rnbber, and of the porn ein 
it, was given in the Kew Bulletin for December, 1887 13-16 
[p. 0]. Since then its cultivation as a source of rule ahaply 
has attracted some attention in Mexico and the West Indies. It 
has not, however, been easy to obtain any trustworthy data as to 
to the cos 
the practical methods to pursue or as t and return to be 
expected. The following account is erapr reprinted from the 
United States Consular Reports (May, 1 1-1 It 
been drawn up by a man conversant with the 
ap 
Sables and with a good deal of care :— 
* Consul-General Beaupré sends from Guatemala, under date of 
January 28, 1899, a translation of an article on rubber prepared by 
Mr. José Horta, of the city of Guatemala. Mr. Horta, adds the 
Consul-General, is an experienced agriculturist, and has handled 
the subject ably. Extracts from his report are given below. 
* In — Castilloa elastica, Cerv., is bip in the wild 
state, and ers an immense zone in tral Ameriea; the 
rubber whi ks pes aar pipen is one of. rm best and most 
valuable for the indus 
“The Castilloa elastica is a tall, well-shaped tree, with smooth, 
greenish-white bark. At a height of from 15 to 20 yards from 
the ground there start from the trunk (of spongy and porous 
NOUS large and almost horizontal branches, from which hang 
two rows t leaves, long, oval in shape, and smooth edged (not 
ed). 
“The milk of the rubber tree, or its mercantile product, is 
contained Eon in the fibres between the woody portion of 
the tree and the bark. ee fibrous part is a vital Eus n of the 
iree. For this reason, in making incisions in the bark to obtain 
the milk, it is nece to proceed with great caution and 
aecording to the AA described further on. 
“The milk contains more or less water, according to the time 
of its extraction ; on an average it can be calculated to hold about 
60 per cent. water and other substances, and 40 per cent. saleable 
grund of this, faxsbepe ees 33 per cent. is rubber of superior 
ali 
«The climate most appropriate for rubber is the hot or coastal, 
with a temperature of from 25° to 35" Celsius (93° to 103° F.) and 
the altitude above sea level up to 1,500 feet. The ground should 
be moist, deep, and loose ; s dias clay nor stone. Rubber sh -— 
not be planted in the sun. We found our opinion upon 
following reasons :— 
*(1.) The nature of the rubber tree. 
“(2.) The trials made in Guatemala since 1872. 
*(3.) The consideration that, planting in the shade, there is 
absolute certainty of a m result. — 
