Jan. 1907.] 



13 



Saps and Exudations. 



Rubber in the Congo Free State. 



The following letters have lately been received at Peradeniya :— 



October 12th, 1906. 



Sir,— With reference to Circular No. 13423 of April 28th last, and my despatch 

 No. 2 of this series dated the 7th September last, I have now the honour to transmit 

 herewith a note of the replies obtained from the Vice-Governor-General of the 

 Uongo State in answer to certain questions I put to His Excellency respecting the 

 rubber industry in the Congo State, 



I have, etc., 

 (Sgd.) A. NIGHTINGALE. 

 His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, 

 Foreign Office, London. 



Particulars of the Rubber Industry in the Congo Free State. 

 Q. What is the extent of the rubber plantations at the present time, and 

 the number of trees planted on each plantation ? 



A. The rubber plantations in the Congo State now contain over 10 million 

 plants, of which nine-tenths are Vines and the remainder trees. It is impossible to 

 give the number of trees per hectare (2h acres) as the system of planting has varied 

 according to the district. Since 1904 the State has fixed the planting at 666 vines to 

 the hectare, or from 800 to 1,000 trees. Prior to that date the planting appears to 

 have been carried out indiscriminately, and no particular note was taken of the 

 number of trees or vines planted to the hectare. 



Q. What are the ages of the trees and vines already planted ? 



A. The planting goes on year after year, and consequently the ages vary. 

 The oldest plants are now ten years old. 



Q. Do any of the trees or vines already yield latex ? 



A. The experiments made have shewn the trees and vines to be still too 

 young to bleed. 



Q. What are the possiblities for extending the plantations ? 



A. Illimitable, The planting goes on each year in accordance with the 

 laws regulating the industry, and also according to the special instructions that are 

 issued from time to time. 



Q. What are the names of the different species of Vines or trees planted ? 



A. Trees: — Funtumia Elastica. (Indigenous). Vines: — "Landophia Klainii," 

 " Owariensis," Droogmansiana," " Gentillii," and " Clitandra Arnoldiana" (all in- 

 digenous plants). Some exotic plants have been imported, such as the"Hevea 

 Brasiliensis," "Manihot Glaziovii," and Ficus." 



Q. What is the annual mean temperature and the annual rainfall in each 

 district ? 



A. The climatic conditions vary very considerably. The temperature ranges 

 from 13 to 36 centigrade. The rainfall varies greatly in different regions. 



Q. What are the means adopted for collecting and coagulating the latex ? 



A. The collection of the latex is effected by making incisions in the bark of 

 the tree or vine. The coagulation is produced by :— 



1st. Direct boiling of the latex. 



2nd. By precipitating the latex in boiling water. 



