483 



that the milk of the jak tree is of no value in the rubber industry. 

 Raw Rubber for Australia. 

 Seeing that a successful pioneer India Rubber works has been 

 established in Melbourne on a large scale by a Limited Company, 

 it is quite evident that a good market for raw Rubber should be 

 found among our Australian neighbours. No doubt, Colombo mer- 

 chants, as well as local producers of Rubber will take note of this, 

 and test the Melbourne market. It will be interesting to learn the 

 result. Everything that tends to increase the trade between Aus- 

 tralia and Ceylon is a matter of local interest, if not of importance. 



Rubber Exports. 



We are indebted to Mr. H. K. RUTHERFORD for the following 

 figures which show the wonderful development (albeit in value) of 

 the India-rubber export trade from the Congo State, the return for 

 last year being equal to about one-and-three quarter million £ 

 sterling: — 



Congo State Rubber Exports. 



1898 ... Francs ... 15,850,987 



1899 ... 1 ... 28,100,917 



1900 ... „ ... 39,874,005 



1901 „ .. 43-965)95° 



Ceylon Observer. 



A DISCLAIMER. 



On p. 408 of the August Bulletin No 10, under the Negri Sembi- 

 lan Planters' Association report, there is a remark to the effect that 

 we trust that the Government will see that the Forest Officer has 

 the Ordinance (Coconut trees Inspection) efficiently carried out." 

 Mr. R. D. Hudson writes to say that he, as Forest Officer is not 

 responsible for the carrying out of the Ordinance, as the Inspectors 

 of Coconut trees are under the control of the Land Office. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



Forest Office, 

 Taiping, 16 th July, 1902. 



To the Editor 



Agricultural Bulletin, 



Sir, — In reply to your correspondent A. Irving, in your issue 

 for June asking if it is advisable to cut off the young shoots of Ficus 

 Elastica " Rambong", I would advise him not to do any thing of 

 the kind, no doubt such treatment would tend to make it more 

 bushy, but it also allows rot to enter into the wood and I have 

 always found anything of the kind gives the tree an adverse shock 

 as it were. 



