'^^ o< MONTH Q. t>o -ir 
XXII. COLOMBO, SEPTEMBER 1st, 190-2. No. 3. 
PLANTING IN TRINIDAD. 
(Extracts from Animal lie/wi t of the Superinfendent 
Boyal Bolanic Gardens for the yertj- 1991-2.) 
BEE KEEPING. 
Y desire of His Excellency the 
Governor the Superintendent 
undertook to form an Apiary 
on the Stition, and with a view 
of securing for the Colony a 
gcod class of Bae, tested Itali*n 
Queens vpere introduced from 
Jj,maica ; the majority of which 
were distributed amongst local bee keepers, sufficient 
only being retained at St. Olaic for the formation of 
breeding Colonies. Theie have done well, and there are 
now several good strong Colouies of the introduced 
kinds, from which it ia hoped shortly to raise sufficient 
Queens for local distribution. The common or black 
bee was used as a nucleus for the young Colonies raised 
with the imported Queens. When strong enough the 
latter were removed to suitable protection at the old 
Garden to prevent hybridization. Some excellent 
"sections "of honey have been obtained ^during the 
flowering season of the logwood, and the honey pro- 
nounced of fiae quality, but the supply of honey is far 
from being abundant as the bees do not bring in large 
quantities. The young men in training at the Station 
assist the Superintendent in the management, and 
take great interest in the work. A short report on 
bee keeping was prepared by the Superintendent at 
the request of the Agricultural Society, 
ECONOUIC PLANTS (rubber). 
Castillo elastica, planted in 1898, is now over 25 feet 
in height, and some of the trees have stems 5 inches 
in diameter. It has been found on test that Eubber 
fluids or latex horn these young trees produce rubber, 
inferior in quality to older trees. Some few years ago, 
I published an informal account of an analysis of a 
year old tree, made by a gentleman who ha3 under- 
taken the study of the latex ot Castilloa, and he re- 
ported findings percent, of rubber; but it is now 
evident that although rubber material may have beea 
found, it was of inferior quality, and only the larger 
trees eight or ten years old, can be depended upon to 
furnish rubber ot good quality. It was anticipated 
that rubber material could have been extracted from 
one year old trees, but this has proved illusory, for 
although chemically, the rubber is there, yet it is not 
in such a condition as to make i'o of market value 
and up to the present no chemical process has been 
devised which will change the soft and sticky materia' 
obtained from young trees into the hard and elastio 
produce afforded by mature trees. 
Plantations of this rubber in Trinidad and Tobago 
are now yielding largo quantities of seed annually, 
and consequently the demand at the Experiment 
Station, has largely decreased. Good seed can be 
obtained according to season from March to June of 
each year. The seed has, however, a very fugitive 
vitality, and even with the best packing, it is very 
difficult to send it long distances in good order. 
Para Rubbeh. — Hevea brasiliensis. — Our plants, put 
out in 1898, at the same time as the Castilloa trees, 
fully equal the latter in height, but have not so large 
a stem circumference. They are, however, doing 
well, and will certainly thrive in our climate. Oar 
crop ot seed from original trees was very small during 
the official year 1901-2. From recent literature it ia 
gathered that this tree thrives in South America in 
interior districts, and not only on flooded river sides 
as has been formerly understood. The occurrence of 
these trees in the deltas of large rivers is said to be 
due to the wash of the seeds from higher grounds. If 
this is actual fact (and the authority appears reliable) 
it will give considerable encouragement for inland 
planting. Confirmation of this report is afforded by 
Dr. Bovallius who brought down seed of trees found 
on the upper reaches of the Orinoco, plants of which 
are now at St, Clair and growing freely. It may ba 
stated however that the seed, as received, was much 
smaller than that grown at lower altitudes and there • 
fore it is possible, that the high land Jlevca may 
prove to be a new variety. 
West African, " Ire," or Laoos, " S'lk rl'bbeb.'— 
" Funtumia elastica," Staph, These trees have 
made spleudid growt'a duriag the year. Some are 
