i;5 



This naturally deteriorates the value of the rubber, and need 

 not be. 



PICUS ELASTICA. 



The Rambong, Ficus elastica, has been rapidly falling into dis- 

 favour of late years. In early days it was interplanted with Para 

 rubber, but that system v>^as soon abandoned. Naturally, wherever 

 Para rubber grows at all well, Rambong, with its smaller and some- 

 what irregular return of an inferior rubber, is out of the industry. 

 But there are many parts of the world where Para rubber is a failure, 

 while Rambong might succeed. M. Georges Vernet, who has made 

 a study of this rubber from all points of view has reprinted his 

 articles on it, formerly published ia the Journal Le Caoutchouc et 

 la Gutta percha under the title of Etude General sur Ficus 

 elastica, with a number of photographs and diagrams. The work is 

 well worth study by any who intend to plant Rambong. M. Vernet 

 has no high opinion of the cultivation. He writes that in investigating 

 the returns one hypothesis which has not been however exactly verified 

 by experiment is that the average annual returns which decrease as 

 tapping is continued, depend on the amount obtained by the first 

 tapping. It is hoped to discover eventually a variety giving big 

 returns with an insignificant ' annual diminution and to propagate 

 this rapidly by marcottage or later by seeds. 



The trouble in Ficus elastica i% the gradual falling off of the 

 amount of rubber on bleeding every year. After a rest of some years 

 it seems to recover. 



Till an improved race which gives more rubber and more 

 regular supplies is obtained by selection he recommends the Tonkin 

 planters to suspend the formation of new plantations. The plant is 

 one of enormous demands, and very moderate returns, and its 

 cultivation can only be remunerative if the expenses of the planta- 

 tion are practically nil. He expresses a hope however, that those 

 whose plantations are established may, by the aid of his researches, 

 gain the best possible profit on the expenses already incurred. As 

 to the rubber itself he affirms that when well prepared it will be 

 almost equal to the best kinds in value. 



PASCIATION IN RUBBER TREES. 



From Mr. G. N. Stevens, of the Tong-Landor Estates, Chander- 

 iang, we receive an excellent photograph of the fasciated top of a 

 young Para rubber plant. The top of the shoot is broad and 

 flattened, widening a little upwards and ending in two flat curved 

 branches looking from a side view something like ram's horns. 

 Fasciation of this nature is not uncommon in Para rubber seedlings 

 and specimens have several times been sent to the Gardens. The 

 same monstrosity is common in very many other plants. In fact it 

 is one of the commonest and most conspicuous monstrosities we 

 have. The Cock's comb so common in the Gardens, is a fasciation 

 of a plant which originally had its small flowers in comparatively 

 inconspicuous spikes. — Ed. 



