and Magazine of the Ceylon Af/rievlfnral Society. 



"Funtumia Rubber.— The four samples of Funtumia 

 rubber submitted are all of good quality and it will be sean 

 from the valuations obtained that consignments of similar 

 character would realise satisfactory prices. The two speci- 

 mens coagulated by means of an infusion of the leaves of 

 " Bauhinia reticulata " were notquito equal in appearance 

 to the other two samples and the price quoted lor them is 

 consequently a little lower. They are, however, superior in 

 chemical composition as they contain a much lower per- 

 centage of proteid and the amounts of re-iin are only very 

 slightly higher. The diminution in the amount of proteid 

 is probably due to I he fact that when coagulation is brought 

 about by the use of an infusion of Bauhinia leaves the rub- 

 ber snparates from a much larger volume of liquid than in 

 the vi lie cases with the result that the bulk of the proteid 

 remains in solution." 



" Experiments conducted at the Imperial Institute 

 with the Bauhinia leaves which accompanied the rubber 

 specimens, show that a hot infusion of the leaves rapidly 

 and completely coagulates the latex of Funtumia elastica. 

 The infusion is acid and contains tannin, of which 8 per 

 cent is present in the dry leaves. It seems probable that 

 the tannin is the active coagulating agent as it has been 

 found that solutions of gallo-tannic acid and of astringent 

 materials such as the pods of Acacia arabica exert a similar 

 action. In places where Bauhinia leaves are not readily 

 available it will therefore be possible to use some other 

 astringent product for the same purpose. 



" This method of preparing Funtumia rubber appears to 

 promise very satisfactory results as it entirely obviates the 

 necessity of applying heat directly to the latex. The 

 experiments in the Gold Coast should therefore be con- 

 tinued with a view to the general adoption of the process." 



The trees of this rubber producing plant have 

 grown remarkably well this year. A further 

 sample of rubber prepared from these trees 

 was submitted to the Director of the Imperial 

 Institute who reported on it as follows: — 



Commercial Value.— "Probably from 2s to 3s Cd per lb. 

 in London but value uncertain. 



Remarks.—" This sample of Ficus Vogelii rubber is of 

 rather better quality than two previous specimens from the 

 Gold Coast which have been examined at the Imperial Insti- 

 tute, (see reports dated 1st February and 28th August, 1906.) 

 The percentage of resin is lower and that of caoutchouc 

 correspondingly higher. 



" The rubber furnished by this tree is of inferior quality 

 on account of the large percentage of resin which is usually 

 present. If, however, it can be prepared in commercial 

 quantities in the Gold Coast it would be well to forward a 

 trial consignment ofabout561b. of the lubber for technical 

 trial, as was suggested in the report on rubbers from the 

 Gold Coast dated the 28th August. 1906."— (Sgd) Wvndhaji 

 R dunstan. Dec. 17th, 1907." [It had 60 per cent of Caout- 

 chouc— Ed. CO.] 



Landolphia Owaeiensis (White Rubber 

 Vine). — Specimens of leaves and fruit of this 

 plant were collected in the Northern Territories 

 by a native assistant of the Department and he 

 reported it to be a root rubber and species of 

 Clitandra. The specimens collected by him 

 were sent to Kew and the authorities there de- 

 scribed it as Landolphia owariensis. It appears 

 that this plant forms a sort of underground stem 

 or rhizome in the open country. Samples of 

 rubber obtained at the same time were sub- 

 mitted to the Director of the Imperial Institute 

 who reported on them as follows 



COMMERCIAL Value.—" The ' biscuits ' were valued by 

 brokers at 3s to 3s 3d per lb. in this country, with fine hard 

 Para from South America quoted at ;:• o|d [,er lb. on the 

 same date. 



Remarks.—" This rubber is of good quality and deserves 

 further attention. It would be an advantage both in 

 preparing and packing the rubber for export if the biscuits 

 were made larger and thicker, say from \ to 3-8 inch thick. 

 Consignments of similar quality would always be readily 

 saleable. Steps should be taken to procure complete 

 botanical specimens of the plant yielding this rubber for 

 determination." 



[Thi3 had 86-3 per cent, of caoutchouc— Ed., CO.] 

 Manihot Precosa.— These trees have made 

 satisfactory progress during the year, some of 

 the largest are now 14 feet in height with a 

 girth of 7 inches at 3 feet from the ground. 



Hbvea Brasiliensis (Para Rubber). — The 

 trees in this plot that were planted during 1901 

 fruited during the year. The seeds were sown 

 and 100 per cent germinated. 



Theobeoma Cacao var. Forastero. — These 

 trees have fruited well during the year and over 

 10,000 pods were sent out to planters in different 

 parts of the Colony for planting purposes. 



Theobroma Pentagona.— The plants of this 

 species that were planted out last year are 

 growing well and over 100 plants were again 

 successfully grafted on to the stocks of Theo- 

 broma cacao var. Forastero and are growing 

 satisfactorily. 



Theobroma Cacao var. Ocumare.— This 

 variety is growing remarkably well and experi- 

 ments are being carried out to see how this 

 variety behaves when grafted on the forastero 

 type. In last year's report mention was made 

 that 8 tons 14 cwt. of cacao prepared by nine 

 farmers shipped to England through the Gov- 

 ernment with a view of ascertaining what a 

 better prepared cacao would really fetch. 



Below is a report by Mr Crowther, Secretary 

 for Native Affairs, which was published in the 

 Government Gazette, in June, 1907 : — 



Representations as to the trade conditions of the cacao 

 industry having been made to the Government by several 

 of the more intelligent native planters. His Excellency the 

 Governor in September, 1906, gave instructions for an 

 experimental shipment to be made. The chief causes 

 of complaint were that the local merchant purchased 

 the raw product at a fixed price irrespective of the quality 

 or condition of the bean, and that the price paid to the 

 farmer was such as to allow an unduly high proportion of 

 profit to pass into the pockets of the local merchant. 



2. Correspondence passed between the Government and 

 the Director of Imperial Institute, and, as a result a con- 

 signment was made in the manner, and with the results 

 described below. The cacao grown and prepared by native 

 farmers was brought to the Botanic Station at Aburi, and 

 finally dried under the supervision of the Acting Director 

 of Agriculture. It was conveyed to the coast by means of 

 head loads and motor-lorries. The total quantity brought 

 in was 8 tons 14 cwt. and this was shipped in two consign- 

 ments to a firm of brokers in Liverpool who placed it on the 

 market. 



3. Between the time when the experimental sale was 

 suggested and the date of its completion, however, trade 

 had undergone a radical change. There had been a marked 

 increase in the demand for West African cocoa and also in 

 the supply ; the price paid for the raw product in the 

 English markets had risen from 40 per cent, to 50 per ce nt 

 and there was a rise of corresponding proportions, due to 

 the competition of buyers who refused to join the local 

 " combine " of merchants, in the sum paid to the local 

 farmer. These circumstances, gratifying as they are, had a 

 tendency to render less prominent that feature of the ex- 

 periment that it was most desired should be brought into 

 light ; namely, the superior quality that may be obtained 

 by the employment of greater care in the preparation of 

 the bean ; for it was quantity rather than quality that the 

 abnormal demand sought. But, nevertheless, the result 

 can be regarded only with satisfaction. 



4. The cacao which was exported in two shipments was 

 placed on the market on two different dates. The first con- 

 signment sold in one lot on the 22nd January, realised 68/- 

 per cwt. The second consignment was sold in six lots on 

 February the 8th, of these, two lots realised 65/-, one 67/-, 

 one 68/-, one 69-, and one 70/- per cwt. Taking into consi- 

 deration the actual quantities of these sales the average 

 price for the second shipment was 67/- per cwt.. and for 

 the whole consignment 67/8 per cwt., a sum which repre- 

 sents 2/8 above the quoted current price. 



5. When such charges as freight, transport, commission, 

 &c, are deducted the amount due to the grower is 66/3 

 per cwt., which, as the current price paid by the local 

 merchant at the time of this trial shipment was 50/-, is 

 equivalent to an increase of 12J per cent. That is to say, 

 the local merchant has a sum equal to 12£ per cent, "of the 



£rice he pays for the raw product— out of which must come 

 is office expenses, risk and profit. ' 



