a 
245 
iicubel last Kew received from Captain Denton, CM acf 
e. of the trunk of the Lagos rubber tree, each about 10 inches toa 
foot in diameter, scored with the marks of the rubber gatherers. These 
will be placed in the Kew museums. They were sent as the ** female ” 
rubber tree, à name we learn that is locally applied to the Kickxia 
africana, Benth. It is thus rum bre from Holarrhena africana, 
quite a different plant, which is fancifully called the “male” rubber 
tree. The latter is a Biblia ése insi not known to yield any rubber. 
As showing the remarkable development which has taken place in the 
rubber industry at Lagos during the last six months, the Acting 
Governor has furnished Kew with the foliowing particulars :— 
RETURN of bs ier s from Laos uin the half year ended 
Jun 1895 
e 30, 
; | 
Month. à Weight. | Value. 
Ib | £ 
nua - - - 91,131 1,218.10 3 
February - - - - 15,388 777 
arch - B - - 26,316 419 |7-:8 
Aprl - : . n 39,763 2,978 16 6 
May  - ‘ . s 2 216,916 11,700 0 7 
June - - - - 268,619 19,5771 9 '*$ 
Total —- š s 588,633 | 99,765 18 5 
dei E. A. Lovett, Collector of Customs. 
July 12, 1895. 
EXTRACTING THE RUBBER. 
The following information respecting the mode of tapping the Tre 
trees an nd preparing the rubber is taken from the Rep ort o the Botanie 
was prepared. during the absence of Mr. Millen on leave by ) Mr. 
I. G. R. Leigh, the acting-curato 
In tapping the trees the bark is (Bs eut in à AP direction from 
the bottom to the top. This single line is about } to $ of an inc ch broad 
and deep enough to reach the inner bark. This ins the main groove. 
On each side of this two series of oblique grooves, about two feet apart, 
are cut, each vine into the main groove. The side grooves are made, 
beginning at the top, and gradually reaching the base of the tree, All 
the milk ‘exuding from the later -i grooves ue find d way into the main 
groove and so ultimately reach the bottom, where a vessel is placed t 
receive it. When sufficient milk has paanid it is then collated 
bbe E 
The methods adopted for coagulating the milk are then described. 
ese are at — of two kinds, viz. : “the cold process” and “ the 
heat process.” The cold PM is chiefly practised by the Fanti men 
introduced from the Gold ast. cavity is excavated in the trunk of 
a fallen tree so as to forma akih of the capacity necessary for holding 
the milk collected during several days. Into this the rubber gatherers 
