98 
.2. For their ready and practical co-operation, may I invite your 
я to convey to the Government of India the thanks of this 
olon 
. Tho information — is of vk general interest and value I 
an ventured to issue nso as a circular, of which I would ask 
р Lordship 1 to xus the Director! of the Royal Gardens, Kew, to 
Ts some copies 
. The seed received has been treated in accordance with the method 
аврһуа i їп те in the cultivation of this rubber tree. I trust the 
experiment will prove a success and m" rui trouble I have given. 
e, &c. 
The Right Hon. Signed) ALFRED MOLONEY. 
Lord Knutsford, G.C.M.G. 
&e. &e. &c. 
CIRCULAR. 
Colonial Secretary's Office, Lagos, 
30th September 189 
e following correspondence on the subject of the Ficus elastica of 
Asia has passed between his Excellency ma ЭМСЕ and the Right 
Honourable Secretary of State for the Coloni 
The Ficus elastica is distributed over гән, Java, and probably 
other Malayan countries; it is cultivated in Malabar, and is the chief, 
if not the only, source of Assam and Java caoutchouc. 
The caoutchouc supplied by this tree is only second in importance as 
_ an article of export to that of the celebrated Hevea braziliensis of the 
Amazon Valley. 
The tree is of similar growth in almost every respect to the ‘ Abba” 
tree (Ficus Vogelii) of Yoruba, and would doubtless thrive excellently 
in the moist climate of the West Coast of Africa 
The preparation of the caoutchouc is similar to that of ре * rubber” 
of the Landolphia owariensis of West Africa. Such of the milk as 
flows freely is coagulated by boiling, but the greater part W allowed to 
dry on the tree, from which it is stripped when sufliciently evaporated 
to bear handling. 
The value of good and fine Assam caoutchouc was quoted in 1887 at 
from 2s. to 2s. 7d. per po nid, and in the quantity annually shipped to 
the United Kingdom it would appear to compare favourably with the 
Para gei pa 
eed of this valuable tree, which has been supplied ttm the 
kind ifie of the Indian Government, is now being cultivated at the 
Botanie Station of this Colony, and young plants will be miniis for 
the public in a short time. As little or no skill is required in its cultiva- 
it is to be hoped that it will soon establish itself in this Colony and the 
neighbouring States 
By Comma 
ALVAN ge 
Assistant Colonial Secretary, 
pro Acting Colonial Secretary. 
