Gums, Resins, 



98 



[February, 1912. 



journals the reader must wade through 

 a mass of pseudo-scientific assertions and 

 speculations in the search tor the few 

 grains of valuable information concealed 

 amongst the chaff. Mr. Ridley's name 

 upon the title page of any journal is 

 sufficient guarantee that the serious 

 searcher after scientific information will 

 find within matter worthy of his careful 

 consideration. 



The first Bulletin of the Department of 

 Agriculture of the Federated Malay 

 States was not published until July, 

 1909, and prior to this date Mr. Ridley's 

 Bulletin was the only agricultural 

 journal published within the limits of 

 the great rubber»growing peninsula. 



Recent numbers of the Straits Bulletin 

 have contained numerous articles by 

 members of the F. M, S- Department of 

 Agriculture, but prior to the establish- 

 ment of that Department under the 

 late Mr. J. B. Carruthers in 1905, Mr. 

 Ridley represented the sole agricultural 

 authority in the Malay Peninsula. 

 Although still better known in scientific 

 circles for his researches into the flora 

 and geography of Malaya, the ten com- 

 pleted volumes of Agricultural Bulletin 

 remain an enduring monument to Mr. 

 Ridley's agricultural work. In the in- 

 terests of science we trust that he may 

 long be spared to enjoy his well-earned 

 retirement. 



GUMS, RESINS, SAPS AND EXUDATIONS. 



CULTIVATION OF "HEVEA" IN 

 BRAZIL. 



(From the India Rubber World, Vol. 

 XL V., No. 3, December 1, 1911.) 



One of the most interesting chapters 

 of the report issued by the Turin Exposi- 

 tion on the State of Para (reviewed in 

 anothei column), is that dealing with 

 the measures which have been taken for 

 the development of Hevea culture in 

 that State. 



While excellent lands were available, 

 of a character appropriate to the pro- 

 posed cultivation, it was necessary to 

 obtain the co-operation of the Govern- 

 ment in the form of such concessions as 

 would attract capital. Other points 

 calling for like attention were the scar- 

 city of labour as well as the high cost of 

 transportation. 



By the State enactments of November 

 5 and 6, 1909, guarantees were conceded 

 of interest premiums and other favours 

 to national and foreign companies, or 

 even to individual agriculturists, having 

 in view the cultivation of He t ea Brasili- 

 ensis or Cacao within the teiritory of 

 the State. 



In consequence of this legislation some 

 grave obstacles were partly removed. 

 Among the steps taken by the State 

 Government was the establishment of 

 experimental fields intended for pro- 

 moting the cultivation of Hevea and 

 cacao at its agronomical stations of 

 Igarape, Assu (a short distance from the 

 Braganza railroad) and of Belern, with 

 a view to giving practical instruction to 

 new planters. The results of these 

 official plantations are said to have been 

 worthy of commendation. At the 

 Orphan Institute of Santo Antonio de 



Prata there is a plantation of Heveas in 

 blossom and of cacao, in a lofty and 

 sandy location. This plantation the 

 Government intends to bring up to 

 100,000 trees of one or other species. 



Subsequent to the promulgation of 

 the laws of November, 1909, and up to 

 December 26, 19l0, applications had been 

 received from forty-two agriculturists 

 desirous of being inscribed as competi- 

 tors for premiums, and intending to plant 

 about seven million Heveas as well as 

 two million cacao plants. The proportion 

 of the above, representing foreign capi- 

 tal, was about two million Heveas and a 

 nearly equal number of cacao plants. 



Two companies, desirous of availing 

 themselves of the privileges granted by 

 the enactments referred to, proposed to 

 cultivate a total area of 50,000 acres, 

 granted free on the terms of the statute ; 

 each company agreeing to plant 200,000 

 trees annually. The plantations were to 

 be situated : the first in the Lower 

 Amazon territory, and the second on 

 lands between the River Guama and the 

 Prata Institute (already referred to). 



The co-operation of the National 

 Government has been the subject of a 

 project submitted to the Federal 

 Chamber of Deputies by the represent- 

 atives of the State of Para, for promot- 

 ing the cultivation of Hevea Brasili- 

 ensis and cereals in Amazonia, their 

 natural habitat- 



In conclusion, the report states : 

 " Amazonia is the best region in the 

 world for the extensive and profitable 

 cultivation of Hevea and cacao. No 

 other country is in a position to com- 

 pete with it as to fertility of soil, favour- 

 able conditions of climate for this des- 

 cription of culture, potentiality of pro- 



