5 



RUBBER CULTIVATION IN GERMAN COLONIES. 



M. Cayla publishes in the Journal d'Agriculture Tropicale an 

 account taken from different numbers of the Gumnie-Zeitung of the 

 progress of rubber cultivation in German Colonies. The Germans 

 have developed enormous activity in extending the cultivation of 

 rubber in their Colonies in Africa and the Pacific. In 1908 there was 

 a fall off in production of wild rubber from Africa due to the low- 

 price which did not pay the native collectors, and a spell of excessive 

 dryness reduced the flow of latex. The total export for 1908 was in 

 round numbers 1,577.70 kilos worth 6,400,000 marks against 1,900,000 

 kilos worth 10,800,000 marks in 1907. This came all from Africa 

 except 6,000 kilos from New Guinea. Most of it was exported from 

 the Cameroons, and the diminution in amount of rubber brought in 

 in certain localities suggests that the Funtumias are dying out. 



In the matter of cultivation Hevea is tried everywhere but the 

 greatest area is in Samoa, where it is cultivated with cocoa, in equal 

 proportions. There are about 400,000 Heveas, of from one to five 

 years old in Samoa. It is also planted in New Guinea, but apparently 

 Ficus elastica is preferred there. 



Castilloa cultivation is not being extended in New Guinea, 240 

 hectares being lost by tapping. In Africa it is being continued but 

 it appears that the strain at Amani is a bad kind. 



The cultivation of Funtumia is largely developed in the 

 Cameroons with varying success according to local circumstances. 

 Ficus elastica grows well but slowly at Amani. F. Schlechteri grows 

 better but does badly in the Cameroons. Experiments in F. Vogelii 

 at Togo confirm the inferiority of the latex. F. Rigo of New Guinea 

 gives hopes of success in Samoa. 



Matiihot Glaziovii is the only rubber cultivated in East Africa. A 

 new method of tapping of two year old plants was tried and what is 

 hardly astonishing gave very poor rubber. It is freely condensed for 

 the Cameroons, as giving no prospectus of returns. 



Manihot of Bahia and M. piauhyensis tried everywhere in Africa 

 have shown no advantages over M. Glaziovii, M. dichotoma seems to 

 be a little better at Togo. There are some cultivations (95 hectares) 

 of Landolphias in East Africa, and Eupharbia fulva " Palo Amarillo " 

 at Amani grows very slowly. 



The Guayule is being cultivated in the South West. The plants 

 are a year old and doing well. Gutta percha Palaqiiium oNongifolium 

 has been tried everywhere but 110 results are given. Payexa Leerii 

 failed in the Cameroons. « 



