13 
^ Being anxious to obtain a small specimen of Ceara rubber the 
trees at Castleton were tapped early in September. Although the 
trees are strong and healthy the flow of milk was eura very 
mall. When the trees were tapped they were bearing a heavy 
crop of both flowers and fruit. It is intended to try them again 
later. 
The Report for 1886 states further :—““ The trees of Cea 
rubber in the several gardens continue to grow well, but iid 
rubber has yet been prepared froin them 
DOMINICA. 
The early account of Ceara rubber trees in this island was 
communicated to Kew by Dr. H. A. Alford Nicholls, in 1884, as 
follows :— 
“ This is now establishel in the island, and the tree has taken 
very kindly to the soil. From small experiments I have made, 
the juiee appears to be abundant and very rich in rubber in the 
dry months. The seeds have been borne abundantly, and I have 
distributed them to planters here and in Grenada.’ 
LATER INFORMATION. 
The most recent account of Ceara rubber in South America has 
been oo e the result of a visit made to the north-east 
coast of Brazil by Mr. T Howard and Mr. R. H. Biffen, 
Deor DE: in Botany at the University of Cambridge. 
The following letter, dro t o the Governor of Jamaica, by 
Mr. Sowar, was published in the Jamaica Bulletin (Vol. w 
. 242 
"I hate been travelling in Mexico and Brazil for some months 
to examine the habits of the different ruEber-producing plants of 
i i i the most 
suitable for plantations. In Ceara, Brazil, I bought several 
thousand seeds of Manihot Glaziovii, which I think will grow 
well in many parts of the West Indies, meaning to distribute them 
in various islands for the purpose of experiment. seems to me 
that parts of Jamaica sini be well suited for the cultivation of 
this tree, which produces a good rubber, fetching at present where 
well collected and rE the cee ne price of any rubber 
on the market, viz., about 3s. 3d. per lb. Manihot Glaziovii will 
grow well on hill sides in a rocky ed de poor soil. We found 
ta 
It is a rapid grower and can be tapped in five Ler after uml 
provided it has grown well. I believe rainfall of about 
100 inches or more is most suitable for it, Dat it will de with 
much less, say 65 or 70 inches." 
The occurrence of the plant at an elevation of 3,600 feet, and 
the wide range of conditions under which it appears to thrive are 
facts that have not hitherto been fully recognised. It is quite RA 
possible that we may yet see suecessful plantations of Ceara 
rubber trees established in districts that have been regarded as - : pu 
unsuitable, and under conditions that may afford a sufficient - S ur 
yield ne rubber to render the ep ] — pd 2 d 
