128 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Aug. 1, 1901. 
Sydney, but; the epochs of maxima of the two 
latter hra iaonise with the epochs of the thirty- 
five-yearly period deduced for sunspots. 
There seems little doubt that, during the inter- 
val of time covered by the present suuspot dis- 
cussion, the meteorological phenomena, number 
of aurorse, and magnetic storms show secular 
variations of a period of about thirty five years, 
the epochs of which harmonise with those of the 
secular variations of sunspots. As we are now 
beginning; to approach another maximum of sun- 
spots which should correspond both in intensity 
and in time of occurrence after the epoch of the 
present minimum with that of 1870-8, it will he 
interesting to observe whether all the solar, me- 
teorological and magnetical phenomena of that 
period will be repeated. 
William J. S. Lockyer. 
— Nature, June 20. 
RAW RUBBER NOTES. 
LAGOS. 
The exports of rubber from Lagos show a marked 
falling off since 1896 ; the figures for the past five 
years are as follows 1895, i;269,892 ; 1896, £347,721; 
1897, £283,181; 1898, £235,409; 1899, £160,315. The 
decrease in the export of rubber, from £347,721 in 
1896 to £160,315 iu 1899, is clearly due to the reck- 
less aad unskilful manner in which rubber was 
collected, which resulted in killing the majority of 
the trees. The collecting of rubber has been pro- 
hibited for a period of two years, to give time to the 
trees that survived to recover themselves. Planting 
is also being encouraged. Concessions of timber 
lands are being granted to Europeans and natives, 
■with exclusive timber-cutting rights, on the condi- 
tion that certain payments are made to the native 
authorities, and young trees planted to take the 
place of those cut down. 
In places where the native authorities are un 
willing to protect the timber, trees continue to be 
felled recklessly, and no attempt is made at replanting. 
But it is hoped in time to overcome these diffi- 
culties and exteud the protected areas. Vigorous 
action is being taken to suppress the ruthless tapping 
of the rubber trees, and every assistance is being 
given with regard to planting. By these means there 
are possibilities in the future of reviving this industry 
PARAGUAY. 
Eubber is not found iu the wild state to any great 
extent in Paraguay, but attempts are being made to 
cultivate it, and it is thought thart the most suitable 
species for artificial cultivation will be the manicoba 
of Brazil, owing to its rapid growth and general 
hardiness. The maniooba is said to have given excel- 
lent results in Brazil and in Central America, and it 
is stated that the Paraguayan Government intends to 
offer special inducements to agriculturists in order to 
develop this industry. 
GUTTA-PERCHA FROM CENTRAL AMERICA. 
Dr. Paul Preuss has found plentifully in the west 
of Central America, especially in Nicaragua, Salvador, 
Guatemala, and Mexico, a plant with strange-shaped 
leaves, which the natives called " Cojon de pneroo." 
Its real name is TabernsBmontana DonuoU Smithii 
Hose, and it be!ongs.<to the family of the Apocynaose ; 
it grows mostly as bushes, but often attains the 
height of trees, and can therefore be used as a shade 
to coffee and cocoa trees in regions up to 700 metres 
above soa level. The leaves, bark, and especially the 
fruits, produce a great quantity of milk, which does 
not change in a solution of salt, acetic acid, or cold 
citric acid, but is coagulated by cooking in water 
into a yellow-white, and later on yellow-brown, mass, 
that gets hard in the open air slowly, and is soft 
and kneadable again in warm water. By order of 
the Colonial Committee of Berlin, the plant has been 
cultivated from the seeds in the botanic gardens at 
Berlin and Victoria (in the Cameroons), iind it is 
pretty sure that it will be introduced into the Came- 
roons on a large scale. About 6 gr. of the coagulated 
milk have been analysed in the Pharmaceutical Labo- 
ratory at Berlin by Professor Dr. Thorns and Dr. 
Mannich, and no Eubstantial distinction has been noted 
betv/een thi.s product and the real guttapercha. Fifty 
per cent, of the coagulated stuff is soluble in aeetJfae, 
but Dr. Mannich does not think this bad, as many 
descriptions of gutta-percha in the market do not 
contain less resin. As the power of re.'iistance against 
solutions of salt especially is all right, it may be well 
used as a substitute for gutta-percha. Dr. Preuss 
thinks that this discovery is of a great and practical im- 
portance, for in his opinion there is nothing iu the way 
of cultivating the plant. The first fruits are received 
after four to five years, whereas the growing of the 
SapotacesB, which furnishes us at present with 
gutta-percha, takes a much longer time. With regard 
to the high prices of gutta-percha, it may be recom- 
mended to ascertain the quantity of gutta-percha in 
the dried leaves, bark, and fruits of this plant in 
order to effect the most advantageous method of 
cultivation. 
BOLIVIA. 
The German Consul in Cochabamba, in his recent 
report, stites that the export of caoutchouc has much 
increased during recent years. According to the port 
of shipment, Bolivia is divided into different regions: 
(1) The region of the Acre River takes the first place 
on account of the quantity of caoutchouc exported. 
Villa Bella has been appointed by the Bolivian- 
Brazilian Government as the port of shipment for this 
district, a town about 4% miles from the Brazilian 
frontier. (2) The region of the rivers Madidi, Beni, 
Orton, Manurini, Tahuamann, and other small rivers, 
which are of great importance to the caoutchouc 
trade. (3) The region of the forests belonging to La 
Paz— namely, Challana, Songo, Mapiri, Huanay, 
Coroica, and the province of Oanpolican partly. The 
export of these districts goes chiefly z-ia Puerte Perez 
(Chililaya), on the Titicaca Sea, Puuo, and Mollendo, 
(4) The region in the north and east of the department 
Santa Cruz, with the Velasco and Magdalena pro- 
vinces. The regions round the Paragua and Verde 
rivers are the principal districts in this part, and 
they are not much explored on ac:onnt of the bad 
lines of communication. But these districts will doubt- 
less gain some importance later on. The export goes 
mostly via Puerto Suarez, on the Paraguay River, and 
only a small quantity comes via Cochabamba. Many 
caoutchouc trees have recently been discovered in 
Yuracares, Puerto, Santa Rosa, etc., in the Cocha- 
bamba departments, and the right to explore these 
forests has been granted. These districts will also be 
of great importance in later years. The export via 
Puerto Perez, Villa Bella, and Puerto Sn»rez amoun- 
ted io 1895 to 820,410 kilos , in 1896 to 1,140,712 kilos., 
in 1897 to 1,674,216 kilos., and in 1898 to 3,155,955 kilos. 
— India Rubber Trades Journal, June 10. 
The "Voandzou " is a bean from tropical 
Africa which, by the analysis of M Balland, com- 
municated to the Academie des Sciences, Paris, 
consists of 10 per cent water; 19 of nitrogenous 
matter, 6 of fatty matter. 5 of amylaceous matter, 
and 4 ol cellulose or sugar. A kilogram of voandzu 
contains the food required to support a man each 
day, namely, 120 to J.'iO grammes of nitrogenous 
matter, 56 grammes of fat, and 500 grammes of 
hydrate of carbon. The conclusion is that voandzu 
is a complete fo'od in itself, and would be 
serviceable for troops in the field. It could, no 
doubt, be cultivated in most of our tropical or 
even hot countries. — Globe, 
