364 



The Supplement to the Tropical Agriculturist 



nearly doubled during the last 10 years in the 

 Central Provinces/' also that "the crop is a 

 well recognised feature of the agriculture of 

 the United Provinces and the trade in fibre 

 is an organised one." With reference to 

 the merits of green manures it was found 

 that scsbania aculeata increased the yield 

 of leaf in tea, and that coganus indicus pro- 

 duced a large amount of organic matter 

 and improved the texture of the soil ; the condi- 

 tion of the bushes and the growth of new wood. 

 Both these green manure plants are well known 

 locally. 



The average out-turn of Cassava tubers on the 

 Manjri Farm was 16,248 lb., and the percentage 

 of starch to the whole tubers varied from 16 to 

 25. The chemistry of the tubers has been 

 studied and reported on by the Imperial Agricul- 

 tural Chemist. There is much more of interest 

 in this report which we would commend to the 

 notice of those who are following the laudable 

 attempts being made to improve agricultural 

 methods in the East. 



THE JEQUIE MAN1COBA 

 RUBBER TREE. 



[Special Article : By R. Thomson.] 

 This new species of rubber is iudigenous to 

 the State of Bahia, Brazil. It is a small tree, 

 attaining a height of some 25 feet, with stems 

 from 18 to 20 inches in circumference. It is 

 a closely-allied species of the Ceara rubber, 

 the native habitat of which is separated from 

 this Manitoba region by some five or six 

 degrees of latitude. Until a few years ago 

 this rubber was unknown to commerce. It 

 grows under peculiar conditions as a product 

 of the forest. In the region I traversed, there 

 are millions of trees, including saplings. The 

 soil in which the Manitoba grows is peculiar (I 

 have samples of it in London). It is a porous 

 kind of clay, more porous than sticky, the 

 texture of which is eminently conducive to 

 the well-being of the tree during prolonged 

 periods of drought to which it is exposed. 

 Apart from the peculiar character of the soil, 

 its great depth powerfully contributes to 

 the conversion of the moisture which it freely 

 absorbs during the short rainy seasons. In 

 other words, the absorbent power of this great 

 body of earth, not only relieves the surface 

 of any excess of moisture, but retains the 

 moisture during severe droughts, so that the 

 soil is never water-logged, and never excessively 

 dry. This soil, therefore, occupied with the 

 aridity of the climate, is the secret of the exis- 

 tence and diffusion of this rubber tree. 



A few years ago I was deputed by Messrs, 

 Elder, Dempster and Co., to investigate the 

 resources of the Pineapple region of Florida. 

 I mention this by way of pointing out the 

 disparity between that soil and the Mani- 

 toba soil. I quote from my published 

 report: — "If the soils of Florida were 

 anything like the soils of Jamaica, it is 

 safe to say that Pineapples would not be 

 cultivated there at all. The soil in which they 

 »re planted consists of from 9b to 98 per cent of 



silica. The growers furnish all the food by ferti- 

 lizers, which bring forth luxuriant crops . . . On 

 examining a large Pine-apple field that had been 

 some months before uprooted in order to prepare 

 the land for re-planting, I saw many hundreds 

 of rejected suckers that had been cast away over 

 the land actually bearing fruit! In other words, 

 these suckers yielding fruit had no connection 

 with the soil, other than lying on the surface. 

 I was puzzled. But, on reflection, 1 arrived at 

 the conclusion, that this phenomenal productive- 

 ness was due to the great depth of the bed of 

 sand, probably 50 feet, which issued moisture 

 from its huge mass on the principle of capillary 

 attraction." 



The supreme importance of soil is further 

 exemplified by the following extract from the 



India-rubber World: — 



" After having travelled through all the de- 

 sirable rubber regions in Central America and 

 Northern South America, I am satisfied that 

 suitable tropical forests which can be had now 

 at a low price — often for a few cents an acre — 

 present an opportunity for the profitable em- 

 ployment of capital such as has seldom been 

 offered in the world's history, but the ser- 

 ious point is to secure the proper land. Those 

 who acquire it will have more than they expect, 

 and natural rubber lands are not to be had by 

 simply making a chance location. Though the 

 trees will grow almost anywhere, it is only the 

 most favoured spots that will yield those spon- 

 taneous returns that are so very profitable. 

 It is fair to state that if people go to taking up 

 tropical forests promiscuously, ten will be dis- 

 appointed to every one who secures a prize." 



In the remote district in which this tree 

 grows, the vegetation may be described as a 

 scrub forest. The Manigoba tree throughout 

 certain areas intermingles with the stunted 

 trees and forms a prominent part of the forest 

 at an elevation of 1,000 to 2,000 feet above 

 sea-level In the forest there are comparatively 

 few species of trees that exceed a medium size. 

 The country is gently undulating, with low 

 intervening hills. The whole region presents 

 the aspects of a semi-desert, consequent on the 

 character of the soil, which is non-productive of 

 luxuriant tropical vegetation. 



Throughout this dreary tract of country, em- 

 bracing many thousands of square miles, miles 

 at a time are destitute of inhabitants. Running 

 streams of water, so impressive and emblematic 

 of fertile regions, are few and far between 

 throughout the district. At distances, usually 

 many miles asunder, the configuration of the 

 land admits of natural reservoirs which, aided 

 by simplo devices, supply the wants of man and 

 beast. Thus, the water is collected at the bases 

 of hills and sloping lands where cavities are 

 formed. Wild animals, including insects, are 

 also rarely encountered. In this connection it 

 is worthy of note that cultivated Manigoba trees 

 appeared to be practically immune from insect 

 depredations. Ants sometimes overhaul the 

 young leafage, and a young tree is sometimes 

 snapped off at the top by a stray deer. 



Another noteworthy feature of this scrub 

 forest may be indicated. The foliage is scant 

 and lacks profuse development in conformity 



