jFORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 87 



has resulted in the destruction of enormous tracts of 

 india-rubber forest near the Coast.' 



" Sir John Kirk of that Coast has stated : ' The 

 plants are certainly not easily killed by the process 

 of collection, as I have seen hundreds in full life 

 so thickly scarred with the cuts, that nearly two- 

 thirds of the bark must have been stripped from the 

 trees.' 



" Under a proper system of cultivation it is evi- 

 dent, therefore, that the plant may be more easily 

 preserved than other rubber-yielding trees that 

 are being introduced, and, there is reason to think, 

 will prove of rapid growth. We know, moreover, 

 that it will endure a considerable drought, and 

 that one of the species will flourish in a light sandy 

 soil. 



"Mr. ThisseltonDyer, C.M.G., Assistant-Director of 

 the Royal Gardens, Kew, in reporting on the Speci- 

 mens of Rubber sent to England by me, has been 

 good enough to convey: ' Landolpkia owariensis. — 

 White-rubber. This is the best rubber vine of 

 Western Africa. The rubber, if properly collected, 

 might be sold to almost any extent in the London 

 market' 



"In the prices current for African produce for 

 August, 1882, rubber is quoted at 2s. gd. per lb. 



" I trust the foregoing may be deemed sufficiently 

 interesting and important to induce you and your 

 readers to do what you can towards the adoption of 



