108 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Aug. 1, 1899. 
RUBBER IN TRINIDAD. 
The annual report of Mr. J H Hart, Superintendent 
of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Trinidad, for the 
year 1898, is as follows: — Rubber. — (Castilloa elaatioa, 
Cerv.) Rubber cultivation has been taken up with 
considerable energy during the year 1898. The princi- 
pal kind used for planting was Castilloa elastica, Oerv. 
Auction sales of seeds and plants of this rubber were 
well attended and good prices were realised, as there 
was considerable competition. 
At the experimental station a small area was 
planted in July. Among the Castilloa has been 
planted at wide intervals the larger and slower grow- 
ing Hevea brasiliensis with the view to their 
becoming the permanent occupants of the ground ; 
it being the intention to bleed the Castilloa trees 
very hard for certain experiments, under which many 
may succumb. Another area has been planted out under 
the shade of standing trees, in what is called the old 
cottage grounds. It has been found that where 
Castilloa is well shaded their growth is much more 
rapid and vigorous than in the open. To grow 
Castilloa without a certain amount of shade and 
shelter, would m my opinion be to invite a succession 
of slow and stunted growths. In its native countries 
it is always found in sheltered and protected lands and 
always become stunted in the open vega. Trees 
planted in Trinidad under standing shade have been 
found to thrive well, and soon become the picture of 
healthy growth. At the experimental station it was 
necessary to shade with Banana, Cassava, &c,, and 
under these conditions the plants have also grown 
well. In the nurseries at St. Clair are several 
thousands of Castilloa plants in bamboo pots ; a large 
proportion of which are already ordered for the next 
planting season. Castilloa under favourable condi- 
tions in Trinidad makes rapid growth, and is probably 
better suited to the climate than any other class of 
rubber, as it comes to maturity earlier and can be 
handled with a minimum of previous planting eKperi- 
eace. Specimens of the rubber sent to England for 
valuation prove that our Castilloa trees are the best 
hind in cultivation. The large crops of seed now obtain- 
able from Castilloa will make it possible at an early 
date to grow stems for the purpose of extracting 
rubber from them in their young state. Stems of a 
year old have been found to contain some 8 per cent, 
of their dry weight in rubber, and this amount has 
been extracted iu the laboratory. Whether the same 
percentage can be extracted in actual practice, re- 
mains to be seen. 
Hevea Bkasiliensis, " Para Rubber." — This tree 
produces rubber of the finest quality, for which the 
demand is very regular. As a tree it is of slower 
growth than Castilloa,, but grown for a permanent 
crop it will probably exceed that tree in value. The 
tree proves itself to be hardy, it can be handled with 
ease, and grows freely ; although it takes a number of 
years before the trunk becomes large enough to bleed 
regularly. Growing at the old Gardens, the 
tree is seen to make itself at home on the hard and 
barren soil which there obtains ; showing that al- 
though it is a tree fond of water, and delighting in 
frequently-flooded valleys, it will also grow in other 
situations. Specimens of rubber made from these 
trees have been examined in London and valued at 
high rates. 
1 have noted that seeds of this kind of rubber are 
being offered in Prance at a rate of over .£40 per 
thon^^and or lOd. each ; and in Ceylon rates of £3 per 
thousand on the spot— packing cases, and freight extra 
are being chai-ged. The vitality of Hevea seed 
like that of Csstilloa, is very fugitive, and great risk 
is run by planters in obtaining seeds from a distance. 
Our seed harvested in Nov. was of excellent quality 
and fully 99 per cent germinated. 
A tree of Hevea oonfvisa, Hemsly, formerly known 
as Hevea Spruoei, also bore fruit. The distinguish- 
ing characters of the .seed are its large size, its 
angular form, and the softness of its outer cover- 
ing, when compared with those of Hevea brasi- 
liensis. 
What is apparently another Hevea has been pre- 
sented to the Experiment Station by his Excellency 
the Governor, who obtained it from Dr. Carl Boval- 
lius, who was recently exploring the territory of the 
Amazon, S.A. 
These, when handed over, were in bad condition, as 
I proved by cuttiu^^ a sample lot before sowing. 
Out of 170 seeds only some five seeds germinated, and 
only two plants promise to survive. This Hevea has 
seed not more than half the size of those of Hevea 
brasiliensis, and of much darker colour. 
Kicksia africana, or Ire Rubber is obtained from a 
newly introduced African tree. A small section was 
planted out in November, and, so far as we can judge 
in so short a time, promises to do well. This rubber 
has been seen in the African forest by Mr. 
Millen, my acting assistant, who states that our 
plants are quite true to name. Mr. Millen 
has shown me samples of material collected by him- 
self from trees in the African interior which shows 
this rubber is little, if it all, inferior to the best 
" Para." A parcel of seed sent to us by Kew did not 
germinate so well as did the first lot received, and 
but few plants were obtained from it. Every 
endevour will be made to extend the culture of this 
species, as it appears to be of great promise and well 
suited for growth in Trinidad. 
A report reached us from German sources to the 
effect that Kicksia africana does not produce rubber 
at all. Mr. Millen's evidence, however, satisfies us 
upon this point. In addition, however, it may be 
recorded that we have trees sufficiently large to bleed 
on a small scale, and from these trees we have recent- 
ly procured atex, from which a small piece of excel- 
lent rubber was produced, which proves the report to 
have been a mere trade rumour. 
Manihot Glaziovii oe Ceara Rubbeb. — Some 
demand has set in for seeds of this rubber. These 
demands we have had to refer elsewhere, as we have 
no supply. There is one tree in the Garden which bi 
said to be some 23 years old which bears a few seeds 
annually, bat, although of this age, its stem is but 
barely six inches in diameler. Some of our corres- 
pondents, however, are quite sanguine as to its value 
for culture in Trinidad. Some few trees were planted 
a few years ago at the Chaguans Convict Depot, but 
their condition is far from convincing proof of its 
suitability for our climate. My own experience, the 
Ceylon records, and various other sources of informa- 
tion tend to convince that Castilloa, Hevea, and 
Kicksia are all preferable to Ceara for cultivation in 
this island. Ceara, when young, grows rapidly, and 
induce the coltivator in maoy cases to believe in 
a continuous run of growth, which often proves dis- 
appointing. It has been reported by some who have 
visited the Ceara districts that the trees never grow 
to a large size. It may possibly be grown with 
economy in some of our mountain lands, unsuited for 
other products, but as a rubber producer I cannot 
undertake to give it a higher recommendation. The 
rubber produce is, however, of good quality. 
Landolphia and Ceropegia- — African and Ceylon 
rubbers. These are both under cultivation, but at 
present there does not appear to be sufficient induce- 
ment to plant them extensively. 
Tabornamontana Chasse. — This tree is a reputed 
rubber producer, and was grown on trial iu these 
gardens for the past few years. Having a tree which 
had attained a large size, it was bled freely, and the latex 
was treated in different ways with a view of nroducing 
coagulation, but without success. Eventually a 
substance was produced which resembled in appear- 
ance a lump of chalk, or compacted starch, quite 
brittle in character, and certainly not rubber. — India- 
Euhber and Gutta-Percha Journal 
Para Rubber Trees.— We learn that the 
largest rubber tree on Culloden has a girth 
of about 8^ feet at 3 feet from the ground. 
This one is some 16 years old and others of 
the same or less age are, we are told, well 
over 7 feet. 
