FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 



shell, and an agreeable, sweetish acid pulp ; I am 

 informed monkeys are partial to it. 



" The rubber is extracted by tapping the stem and 

 branches. This operation is simple. Slices of the 

 rough bark are cut off the surface of the trunk and 

 branches, and also just enough of the true bark 

 until the juice starts out in drops. Great care should 

 be taken not to injure the bark by removing it too 

 deeply. 



" The incisions should be from 3 to 10 inches in length 

 and from 1 to i inch in breadth. The cuttings ought to 

 be made on only one side of the tree. The method of 

 making the balls of rubber, which may average two 

 inches in diameter, is as follows : — 



" A quantity of milk is dabbed upon the fore-arm 

 of the operator, and being peeled off, forms a nucleus. 

 This is applied to one after another of the fresh cuts, 

 and being turned with a rotary motion, the coagulated 

 milk is wound off like silk from a cocoon; for the 

 coagulation is so great, that not only is every particle 

 cleanly removed from the cuttings, but also a large 

 quantity of semi-coagulated milk is drawn out from 

 beneath the uncut bark, and during the process a 

 break in the thread rarely occurs. 



" By working hard, a person can collect 5 lbs. of 

 rubber per diem ; although the average is only half 

 that amount. 



" This one process of collection was described by 

 Mr. F. Holmwood, the Vice-Consul at Zanzibar, who 



