231 



flows into it through the opening in the iron. It" the latex should 

 occasionally run over the margin of the instrument, this does not 

 matter, as it finds its way into the vessel. About 5 to 8 centime- 

 tres above the incision, one makes a few more incisions into the 

 tree with a sharp knife. The latex runs then along the bark into 

 the canal-like instrument and through the opening into the vessel. 

 If several of these instruments are affixed on the tree, the collect- 

 ing of the latex is a very quick process and one workman can tap 

 several trees. After the latex has ceased to run, the instrument 

 can easily be pulled out of the tree. By this process nothing gets 

 lost when collecting the latex, and the latex itself is free from 

 foreign matter. A few days later the latex coagulates in the shape 

 of flat cakes, which can be easily taken out of the vessel. The 

 wounds caused to the tree by this instrument close at the end of 

 the second week after, and those made by the knife after a few 

 days. The capability of the tree is in no way affected by this 

 method. 



ECONOMIC PRODUCTS. 



The Rubber Market, 1901. 



The correspondent of the Times of Ceylon, writing from London 

 10th January, says : Although there have been fewer fluctuations 

 in price in 1901 than in previous years, at the close all rubber is 

 cheaper than a year ago, Para showing a fall of $d. The supply of 

 medium rubber has fallen off greatly, and nearly the whole of the 

 old stock has been disposed of at very low prices. Stocks of these 

 kinds are now greatly reduced, and an improvement in values is 

 looked for shortly. The year has shown a continued increase in 

 demand for the finer rubbers at relatively high prices, and the 

 European consumption of finer Para considerably exceeds any pre- 

 vious year. English manufacturers have been very busy ; Continent- 

 al fairly so. American were less occupied till the last three months, 

 but on the whole the year has been a very active one. In supplies 

 there has been a further increase from Brazil. From central America 

 the supply has very considerably declined, and again owing to war 

 there have been only small lots from Columbia. From Honduras, 

 Mexico, and Panama very little has come. African shows a serious 

 falling off, probably 1,500 tons, though the Congo has sent slightly 

 more. As regards Ceylon, Messrs. S. FlGGIS & Co., to whom I am 

 indebted for most of these particulars, have the following : — Of 

 Ceylon small lots sold at high prices. We again urge planters to 

 give attention to this valuable product. Ceylon is much liked and 

 sells readily. We obtained 3.9. g\d. recently for fine and 2s. \\d, 

 for negrohead grown from Para seed. 



Indian gardening and Planting, February 6th, 1902. 



PRODUCE NOTES. 



" Indian Senna. " 



A large consignment of leaves was recently placed on the London 

 drug-market under the same of " Indian Senna." Very few of the 



