152 
Efforts are being made in India to cultivate the Ficus elastica on a 
large — ndi according to Mr. Clement R. Markham, * may be 
* tapped in 25 years"—a ‘lo ug time to wait for a crop, a fact which 
must dissuade planters. The Colombian species, besides being siapio? 
to a salubrious mountain climate,, yields early returns and a 
valuable product 
I would undertake to convey to India a supply of plants and sceds, 
the pein n the latter to be ensured on the spot, and to deliver the 
1 Sikkim, the Nilgiris, or Ceylon. The supply of plants thus to 
son idi from 10,000 t o 50,000, which I would deliver for the sum of 
1,0007 
* * * E * 
I have, &c. 
(Signed) ^ RosERnT THOMSON. 
The Right Hon. Viscount Cross, 
Seeretary of State for India, 
London. 
InptA Orrick to the GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA. 
India pig London, 
Oth September 1888. 
WARD idees a copy of a letter, of the 23rd of July last, 
from Mr. koien Thomson, of Bogota, in the Republic of Colo mbia, 
drawing attention to a new ‘species of Hevea (N.O. Euphorbiacee) as 
a valuable source of rubber, and recommending its experimental culti- 
usas in India. 
. Mr. Thomson offers to personally deliver * from 10,000 to 50,000” 
sida eee in India for the sum of 1,0007. After you have 
the officers of the Forest and Botanical Departments I shall be 
Eni huie the opinion of your Excellency's Government on this 
Mr ae 
e, &c. 
-His Excelleney the Right Hon. (Bigned) - "aoa 
the Gov m M of India, 
n Council. 
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA to InpIA OFFICE. 
Revenue and —— Department, Calcutta, 
Mx Lon». 4th December 1888. 
Wk have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Lordship's 
wem the 20th September last, forwarding 
f6 rt Thomson, of Bogota, in the Republie 
of Colombia, South presi in wiki he dra ws attention to à new 
species of Hevea (N. 0. E horbiacee) as a valuable source of rubber, 
and degere its experimental cultivation in India. Mr. Thomson 
has off to personally deliver from 10,000 to 50,000 established 
ion. 
.. 2. In reply, we beg to suy that in the kbestet of any safe information 
as to gether the plant would yield rubber in sufficient quantities to 
LN 
ed 
TERT 
Te RP 
