31 
t we regret to say that all the rubber forests through which 
we have passed and visited during the whole tour have all been 
spoilt by over FARM consequently, we thought it our best plan 
to make it understood to the kings and chiefs of the different 
towns we visited, that it is the wish of His Excellency the 
- Governor to improve the quality of the rubber, and to make the 
industry a permanent one: that His Excellency desires this, not 
only in the interest of trade, but also for the lasting benefit ot 
themselves and children ; and that for this purpose we had been 
sent out by the Government. In order to effect the wish of His 
ie etra four important things were impressed on their 
minds 
Consi idering the present state of the forests, we strongly 
advised ihem to leave off tapping for two years, when all the trees 
in their forests which have been almost stripped of their barks 
shall have DIM up, and be in a fit state for extracting fresh 
supply of j 
2. 'That guna the trees shall have healed up the process of 
tapping should only have one season in a year, and this should be 
during the rainy season. We explained that by so doing the trees 
would be allowed ample time to heal up and thus be in a good 
state for the next year’s tapping. 
. That in tapping the trees the rubber collector should be very 
particular in making his lateral incisions ; these should be 2 feet 
apart. This we S HDD is very important as on it depends the 
life of the pe 
. In plac uice is available we have seized the 
opportunity of et Ei who are interested in this industry 
the proper mode of preparing rubber. 
ur present plan is to go round to the ata: forests to teach 
these facts as has been done in the other distric 
We are, &e., 
(Signed) F. G. R. LEIGH and 
T. B. DAWODU. 
The Acting Resident, 
Ibadan. 
ACTING GOVERNOR CAPTAIN G. C. DENTON TO 
R. CHAMBERLAIN. 
Government Hou 
SIR, Lagos, 28th June, 1898. 
IH the honour to forward a report by Messrs. Leigh 
and Divai. Assistant Curators of the Botanic Station, giving the 
results of their mission to the interior upon which they were sent 
by me in February, 1897. 
2. I im hold to the view I expressed in my despatch of the 
9th February, 1897, on the subject of a Forestry Department, and 
I think that, though i may not be possible to en in force a 
drastic Forestry Ordinance, much may yet be done to preserv 
the rubber and other weed dr the Goverment, icing dE the 
authorities of the country, will take upon themselves the super- 
vision of all the forests. 
