16 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [July i, 1889 
In the same package I pat a little seed of Eucalyptus 
Globulus from Tullochgorum, a part of the Colony 
where the wiuters are severe, and on that account 
the plants raised from the seed forwarded are likely 
to withstand aa amount of cold that would kill 
the ordinary form, at all events it is so here, as 
all attempts to introduce the plants into the district 
from the southern parts of the island failed, the 
cold proving too severe. Eventually a few isolated 
plants of E. Globulus were found growing in a shel- 
tered gully some 20 miles from Tullochgorum. These 
were the only plants of the species that have been 
found growing naturally in so cold a climate, and 
plants raised from these trees were planted about 
Tullochgorum. and grew into large trees, without ever 
suffering from the severe frosts so prevalent in the 
districts which has always ki:led plants brought from 
the warmer parts of the island. It would therefore 
be well worth while to give auy seedlings you may 
raise from the seed sent a fair trial, with a view 
of proving whether this particular variety is sufficient- 
ly hardy to withstand the cold of an Buglish winter. 
It will not be possible to obtain much seed, but any 
I may get I will forward to you, as you will have 
a better opportunity of testing it, I have a little 
more drying out which will be forwarded as soon 
as it is ready. I send with this a little seed of 
the hardy E. cocci/era which I have seen on the 
top of Mount 'VVeiliugton completely coated with ice, 
and shielded with icicles a foot or more long hang- 
ing from the branches. I have no seed of E. verrucosa 
at present, but will get some as soon as possible. 
This is a very dwarf species, usually under 4 feet, 
and at best is very sparing at producing seed. I have 
no doubt it will be hardy. 
West African Rubbers. 
Report of the India Rubber, Gutta Percha, and 
Telegraph Works Company, Limited. 
Silvertown, 21st July 1887. 
Description $c. — Four samples of India-rubber were 
received, marked respectively No. 2, No, 3, No. 3 
(dark), and No. 5. 
The samples marked No. 3 have been dealt with 
as duplicate samples of the same rubber. Sample 
No. 2 was black aud sticky on the outside due to 
oxidation, the freshly-cut surfaces were slate-grey 
colour. The rubber was firm and non-adhesive to 
the fingers. The samples marked No. 3 differed 
slightly in appearance, one was much darker than 
the other. The darker sample evidently would be 
more prone to decay than the lighter sample, but 
still both samples are remarkably g.iod for African 
rubber. Both these samples consisted of agglomer- 
ated tear-like masses, with red and pinkish particles 
strongly resembling rubber. Evidently, if these 
samples are from the same plant, the difference in 
colour of the tears must be due to the incision 
or puncture extending to different tissues. The light- 
coloured particles were very similar to good Oeara 
rubber. The freshly-cut surfaces of sample No. 5 
were whitish in colour. It was very similar to the 
better specimen of No. 3, and as a raw article is 
quite equal to the best kinds of Brazilian rubberj 
On so small a sample, it would be difficult to say 
how it would behave in general manufacture. The 
behaviour of a specimen under manipulation is of 
primary importance in fixing its commercial value. 
However, this specimen is far above the best kinds 
of African rubber. 
In Manufacturim/, fyc. — No. 2 lost 145 per cent, 
on washing and drying, becoming sticky and of 
course difficult to treat in the ordinary way. In 
quality it is very low, being inferior to flake African. 
Mixed with a suitable proportion of sulphur it vul- 
canized fairly well and free from sponginess. It would 
hardly be suitable for working by itself, but with 
firmer kinds of rubber it would mix well and yield 
a product suitable for many low class manufactures. 
The two samples marked No. 3 lost 5 - 6 per cent, 
on washing aud drying. The samples were mixed to- 
gether and behaved very well iu grinding and mixiug. 
It vulcanizes very well in being elastic, firm, and 
solid. In this stage it takes a dark colour, but is 
not offensive in smell. 
No. 5 samples give a loss of 8 per cent, on washing 
aud drying. It vulcanizes very well, although dark 
in colour. Its smell is not offensive but strong. 
Remarks. — As a rule the African rubbers give dark 
products on vulcanizing, aud many of them have 
an offensive odour, which arises no doubt from the 
action of sulphur, in vulcanizing, on some principle 
contained in the natural sap of the plant yielding 
the rubber. 
Messrs. Taylor, Laughland and Company, of Glas- 
gow, recently forwarded specimens of West Africanrub- 
ber with a letter of which the following is anextraet: — 
One of our agents in Old Calabar, West Africa, 
has collected and sent us a few samples which he 
is very anxious to get classified, aud thinking that 
you would help us in this, we have sent to-day to 
your address per Globe Parcel Express, carriage paid, 
a parcel containing these samples as per enclosed 
list. He is anxious to get the natives to cultivate 
the rubber vine and make rubber more freely. He 
says he has been up the country and finds the va- 
rious kinds of rubber vines in great abundance, but 
no rubber is taken from them, as until quite recently 
the natives did not know that there was any 
value in it, and even now they do not know how 
to make the rubber from the juice. In order to 
teach them and secure the best plants, he has sent 
home specimens of the leaves of four common kinds 
of vines with the native names, and if you can give 
us the scientific names we shall feel much obliged. 
He sends also the rubber from them, but, as you will 
see, it is very badly made. Can you say which is 
the most valuable of these four vines ? 
Three of the four specimens sent were wholly in- 
adequate for any determination. But one called 
Npok was identifiable as Landolphia owarieyisis which 
is found from Sierra Leone to Angola, and is no 
doubt the most important source of West African 
rubber. [See Kew Report for 1880, p. 38] 
An investigation into india-rubber milk received at 
Kew from the Niger dealta is described in the follow, 
ing correspondence : — 
38, Elthiron Road, Fulham, S. W., 
Dear Sir, 14th September 1888. 
Several gentlemen to whom I have applied for in- 
formation about india-rubber have recommended me 
to communicate with you. I therefore venture to 
ask if you can help me, and trust you will pardon 
me for intruding on your valuable time. To explain 
myself fully, let me say that I have for some years 
been trading on the West Coast of Africa, in the 
oil rivers (the deltas of the Niger). For some time 
past we have beeu endeavouring to introduce and 
foster the india-rubber trade, and have been partially 
successful. There are quantities of rubber trees and 
vines, but the natives of these districts, having hitherto 
never cultivated the article, are quite ignorant of 
the mode of preparing the milk obtained from these 
trees and vines to convert it into a commercial form. 
We are quite certain that this matter will open a 
wide field of commerce to the benefit of the native, 
the trader, and the consumer, if we could learn 
the mode of treatment. What I wish to ask you is 
if you can inform me of the best mode of congeal- 
ing the milk as it is obtained from the tree. Accom- 
panying this I send you a small sample of rubber 
milk in its natural state. Should you deem it 
worthy of your notice, I will most gladly furnish 
you with a large sample for experimental or other 
purposes. 
I am, &c, 
(Signed) James S. Cockburn. 
W- T. Thiselton Dyer, Esq., 
Royal Gardens, Kew. 
Royal Gardens, Kew, to Mr. James Cockburn. 
Sir, Royal Gardens, Kew, 2nd November 1888. 
I beg to forward herewith a copy of a report re- 
ceived from S. W. Silver., Esq., F. L. S., on the 
sample of rubber milk from the Delta of the Niger 
whioh you recently forwarded to this establishment. 
