Gums, Resins, 



202 



In January of the present year the Moro Government again made a purchase 

 of 6,000 seedlings, which had been raised from seed at the Lamao Forest Reserve, 

 Bataan Province, by the Bureau of Agriculture. One thousand of these seedlings 

 were distributed to farmers in the vicinity of Zamboanga, and the remainder placed 

 in seed-beds to await a favourable-season for planting. 



It is the intention of the Provincial Government to distribute a number 

 of these seedlings among the principal towns of the Island, in order to ascertain 

 which section of the country is best suited to rubber growing. A plantation 

 will also be established on the Government Farm at an elevation of 25 feet 

 above sea level, with sample plots in the surrounding mountains at different 

 altitudes up to 1,200 feet. 



ceara rubber (Mctnihot Glciziovii). 

 As far as is known to the writer, there are only two rubber plantations 

 of any size in the Philippine Islands, and these are located on the Island of 

 Basilan, Moro Province. These plantations are situated at 200 and 500 feet 

 elevation, and contain 2.500 and 1,000 trees respectively. The soil of both of these 

 areas is a well drained, rich, heavy loam, with a small amount of volcanic 

 gravel intermixed. 



The following figures on the annual rainfall of the Island were furnished 

 by the Weather Bureau sub-station at Port Isabela, Basilan :— 

 Year. Total rainfall. 



1903 ... ... ... 65-30 inches. 



1004 ... ... ... 74-25 



1905 ... ... ... 42-43 



The Ceara seed, after having been en route for eight months, were filed 

 and planted directly to stake. At the lower elevation 2,500 out of 3,000 seed ger- 

 minated, while at (500 feet something over 1,000 plants were obtained from 1,500 

 seed. 



The following measurements made by the writer will be of interest to 

 all rubber growers, and as far as is known compare favorably Avith the growth 

 of other trees of the same species and age, planted in the East : — 



Ceara Rubber. 



Elevation 500 feet. Planted 15 x 15 feet. 



Age. No. trees measured. Average height. 



7 mo. 5 days. 43. 12 ft. 5 in. 



Maximum height 17 feet. 

 Elevation 200 feet. Planted 15 x 15 feet. 



Age. No. trees measured. Average height. 



5 mo. 15 days. 65. 9 ft. 9 in. 



Maximum height 13 feet. 

 castilloa rubber (Castilloa Elastica). 

 A small Castilloa plantation, containing some 400 seedling trees irregularly 

 spaced, has recently been set out on the Island of Basilan at an elevation of 

 about 50 feet above sea level. The soil on this situation is a rich, heavy loam 

 which has been washed down from the surrounding mountains, and contains but 

 a small amount of gravel. 



The measurement of 45 plants in the seed-bed, which are slightly larger 

 than those set out in the plantation, gave the following results ;— 



Castilloa Rubber. 

 Age. No. seedlings measured. Average height- 



4 mo. 25 days 45. 17 inches, 



Maximum height 29 inches* 



