Jan. 1908.] 3 Saps and Exudations. 



tricts watered by the Rivers Caura and Paragua, lying at a distance of some two 

 hundred miles to the South and West of Ciudad Bolivar. The region is reported to 

 possess large resources of rubber, but, so far, small quantities only have been 

 exported as samples. 



Experimental Cultivation.— Some important experimental rubber cultiva- 

 tion is now being carried out by a Senor Raimundo Ponseca on his cocoa plantations, 

 situated upon the North Coast between La Guayra and Puerto Cabello. The work 

 was commenced in the expectation of favourable results, and his initial efforts were 

 carried out upon a somewhat large scale, about 100,000 trees of the description known 

 as CastiUoa Ribrens being planted. Senor Ponseca's idea appears to have been to 

 combine the two products of cocoa and rubber upon his property ; he accordingly 

 substituted the usual shade-trees- the two varieties are known here as ' guamo' 

 (Inga) and 'Bucare' or ' bois immortel ' (Erythrina umbrosa)— and planted the 

 castilloa trees in their place, hoping to secure shade for the cocoa and a profitable 

 crop of rubber into the bargain. The ' guamo ' and ' bucare,' however, draw 

 apparently little substance from the soil, whereas the rubber trees possess unusually 

 exhaustive properties ; and this is also a well-known attribute of the cocoa plant. 

 The result was shown in the fact that the natural development of both plants was 

 retarded, for whilst the cocoa crop was seriously diminished, the rubber plantation 

 has been reduced to no more than some 4,000 bearing castilloa trees, and I am not 

 aware that any exportations have been made, save as samples of the rubber 

 produced. 



With the above exceptions, rubber cannot be said to be cultivated in 

 Venezuela. 



1 may conclude these remarks by mentioning that the experience gained in 

 the various cases mentioned has led to the opinion, which is one shared by the large 

 majority of persons interested in the subject here, that the rubber-tree,— as also 

 similar plants, such as that producing the 'Tonga Bean' andBalataGum is only 

 seen at its highest yield under entirely natural, and therefore wild, conditions. All 

 attempts to transplant, cultivate, improve, or otherwise modify the circumstances 

 under which it is originally found would appear to be attended with disappointing 

 results. This fact, should experience elsewhere confirm it, would apparently have 

 to be reckoned with, by the Government of Ceylon, — and I may add that the hopes 

 at one time entertained of producing rubber in the Island of Trinidad have also been 

 disappointed, it is thought owing to similar causes. 



Summary. — To sum up, I would ask that the industry in Venezuela, being 

 still scarcely beyond the experimental stages, and labouring, as it does, under 

 unfavourable conditions, can have no appreciable effect on the volume of the world's 

 supply ; on the other hand, the unbounded resources latent in the interior constitute 

 a store of hidden wealth which, in the progress of time and enterprise, may one day 

 raise Venezuela to a leading position amongst the countries exporting rubber to the 

 European market. 



Balata.— I have omitted any reference to the important staple trade in 

 Balata, which is, I believe, not strictly rubber. Some thousand tons are annually 

 shipped through Ciudad Bolivar, and a small supply comes from Maturin in the East 

 of the Republic. 



I am indebted mainly to Senor J. P. Padron, Secretary of the Chamber of 

 Commerce, for the foregoing information. 



Caracas, June 20, 1906. 



