151 
8. It is gratifying to find that the Ceara rubber plants (Aot 
Glaziovii) sent from Kew in 18£4 have found a congenial home at the 
Gambia. The climate of their natural habitat is described ^ d 
* arid for a considerable part of the year." Hence they would appear 
to be well suited to the circumstances depeche by Mr. Carter. 1t is 
well, however, to remember that the Ceara rubber trees will not repay 
such regular cultural attention as may be given to cocoa-uut palms, It 
would be prudent in the first instance to establish the trees as economi- 
cally as possible by *dibbliug " germinated seeds over a large extent 
of country and tr eat the plants on the principles of forestry rather than 
pe e 
upon the prosperity of the Gambia it is necessary to take up other 
cultures than cocoa-nuts and Ceara rubber. Amongst the plants yielding 
n immediate return it might be desirable x revive on a large scale the 
cultivation of maize or Indian corn. At one time it is understood this 
was mets at the Gambia, before ‘the cultivation of the ground-nut 
became the dominant culture, and it was said to be exported to the 
rox y and Cape Verde Islands. 
The suggestion is thrown out for what it is worth, but Mr. 
ss might make inquiries pun the Consuls and ot thers Pes 
there is still a market in these islands for Indian corn. If there is, it 
would require little effort on his part to persuade the people to take up 
the cultivation. Maize, it must be remembered, is an article in general 
demand in most temperate countries, and, depending upon the cost of 
production, it might be found advantageous to export it also to this 
em! or the continent. 
11. It has been found necessary in small and comparatively isolated 
communities like the Gambia to prepare the way and procure infor- 
mation respecting suitable markets before recommending the general 
cultivation of Ple lants. The soil that suits the ground-nut is likely 
also to suit Indian corn, and the treatment of the plants is oy similar. 
So that, if the pr paints of suitable markets are encouraging, the Govern- 
ment might introduce good strains seed from me: erode and 
distribute such seed in localities suitable d its cultur 
ood specimens of cotto e been S fr om W est 
varieties of the cotton plant. Where labour is cheap the cultivation of 
the cotton plant ssesses numerous advantages, and especially where 
the industry is already more or less familiar to the people. Coffee is 
also grown to some extent inland, and this again might be encouraged 
by friendly intercourse with the chiefs and. the ig of a consistent 
ford of encouragement to all agricultural purs 
Mr. Carter might be glad to peruse the movi correspondence 
which has recently taken place respecting the cultivation of fibre plants 
at the Bahamas. Some portion of this appears in the Kew Bulletin for 
— required by species of Agave and Furcrea may | 
uitable to some parts of West Africa, and for the produce there is a 
isy and almost unlimited demand both here and in the United States. 
