22 



They were not unpalatable, and the plant would no doubt 

 improve by cultivation. The whole of the tubers that we have 

 will be re-planted, and further trials will be made. Very few 

 flowers, and no seed vessels were produced, so that f canuot be 

 quite sure of the genus, but. hope to examine it more care- 

 fully during the summer. Auother species of, I think, the 

 same genus is cultivated by the natives in Zululand. I obtained 

 flowers and leaves of it some years ago, but we have never had 

 it in cultivation; the flowers are blue, while the one we now 

 have bears white flowers ; the leaves also are different. 



As I have frequent inquiries about rubber-yielding plants I 

 venture to repeat, with a slight addition, an article which I wrote 

 for the "Farmers' Magazine" some years ago and which may, 

 perhaps, be found useful. 



Some Notes on Plants Yielding Inhia Rubber. 



A correspondent clown South writes to me as follows about 

 India Rubber : — 



" Is it a sort of cultivation to be risked on our Natal Coast 

 Lands ? The extraordinary demand for Rubber in connection 

 with Bicycles, tyres of Motors, carriages generally, and otherwise 

 is creating a bit of bustle over the tropical world, and specula- 

 tors will eagerly work upon this to float schemes and Joint Stock 

 companies. Witness the Prospectus sent me from London last 

 mail, which I enclose to you for information, and return if you 

 would not mind the trouble. But will not Rubber do on the 

 coast ? " 



The Prospectus enclosed to me is one issued by a company 

 with a proposed capital of £406,000, with the object of acquiring 

 certain estates on the Pacific coast of Mexico, on which it is 

 estimated that there are 350,000 rubber trees, and as the Mexican 

 Government grant a subsidy of 3 cents for every Rubber tree 

 planted, it is proposed to extend the cultivation of this tree, in view 

 of the greatly increased demand for rubber for tyres for cycles 

 and motor cars. The botanical name of the tree which it is 

 intended to plant is not given in the prospectus, but it is almost 

 certainly either " Castilloa elastica " or "Hevea braziliensis." In 

 addition to this it is proposed to cultivate trees yielding the 

 " Chicle " gum, for which there is a large demand in the United 

 States of America. As I have had several other enquiries about 

 this matter, I propose to notice shortly the trees from which the 

 rubber of commerce is chiefly obtained, and add a few observa- 

 tions on their suitability or otherwise to the climate and conditions 

 obtaining in Natal. 



