Oct. 1, 1901. J THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
241 
Tea Association a report on tea seed oil and 
oil cake, which concludes as follows : — 
"While I think there would be a market for 
oil, if it could be obtained in quantity, and 
fairly cheaply, it must for the present be a 
local one, and the material could hardly 
compete wiuh oils already in general com- 
merce unless it be for the production of 
superior soaps. As a lamp oil it has distinct 
advantages, which should recommend it for 
local consumption. The pressed c:tke is use- 
less for feeding, and forms an inferior manure, 
though one quite good enough to apply 
to land and al«o to cart for some distance 
provided the cost on the garden does not 
exceed 8 to 12 annas per rnaund Tt would 
probably be useless as an insecticide, both 
as cake against certain caterpillars, and as 
a decoction which might replace that of 
wild fern now used in Dibrugarli against red 
spider." — Madras Mail, Aug. 22. 
TWO QUEENSLAND PLANTS (PESTS!) 
REFUSE TO APPLICANTS FOR INDIA. 
The Agricultural Adviser in Queensland 
(Mr. P M'Lean) has received two applications 
from India, which in view of the experiences 
in Queensland, appear peculiar. In one case 
some specimens of the water hyacinth are 
required for ornamental pt)nds near Madi'as, 
and the application points out that all pre- 
cautions will be taken to prevent it spread- 
ing. In another case some seed of the weed, 
sida ritusa, are ask'^d for. Mr. M Lean has de- 
clined to be the mediimi for probably affect- 
ing India with such pests, (says the Queens- 
lander). Those who saw the water hyacinth 
in the Brisbane River after the recent fresh, 
and who can realise what a pest it has be- 
come in the upper reaches of the stream, 
and those also who know the tenacious and 
prolific nature of the weed of which seed 
is asked, will commend Mr. M'Lean's decision. 
—Metbourne Leader, Aug. 3. 
_ ^ 
BOLIVIA AND AMERICA. 
(Special to the " India Rubber Journal") 
We are in reos-ipt of information of such an astonish- 
ing character that were the source of information not 
so good, we would be compelled to hold it back for 
farther investigation. We are assured, howeyer, from 
indisputable evidence, that this great deal is in pro- 
gress, if not already fiuished. 
The abundant resources of Bolivia are not likely 
long to remain unexplored. By a recent agreement 
between the Brazilian and Bdlivian Governments, an 
immense territory coveriuCT over 75,000 sqnaic miles in 
the northern province of Accra is now iu the undis- 
puted possession of the latter Governmeut. The 
bo uudaries of the territory are tViese : On the N.E. 
the frontier line between Bolivia and Brazil ; N.W., 
W., and S.W., the frontier line of Bolivia and Peru ; 
3.E., the river A.buna, and a line from its fountain 
head to the junction of the Inambary and the Wadre 
de Dios rivers. The are.i, cjveis oue of the richest 
rubber-producing countries of the world. 
This concession has been acquired by one of the 
most powerful financial groups in America, who will 
practically stand possessed of all rights with the 
Bol ivian Government as partners. Custom houses, , 
stores, steamers, etc.. will be established throughout 
the territory. 
The possibilities of the territory are best illustrated 
by the fact that in January and February, 3899, with 
one Custom House, something like £80,000 was col- 
lected in duties, and at present the practically un- 
developed teriitory is produciug rubber to the extent 
of 2,000 tons a year. 
Not only are the trees in this district very uumerou.f, 
but it is common knowledge among the rubber 
gatherers that the yield given i^ immensely greater 
th^ n on the Amazon. The rubber estates of Pava 
knew this to their cost v.heu the ditfionliy of obtain- 
ing Iti hour btgan, for the gatherers would far sooner 
travel up and obtain the rubber with less than 50 
per cent of the ex rtion. 
And now, having given the facts VThich time will 
subsiantittte, it maybe interesting to wander into the 
realms of conjecture and try to discover the leading 
motive in this agreement. Is this group of financiers, 
whose strength is ftbsolately beyond cavil, entering 
into th.8 agreement for philanthopy, or to creator 
free market in raw rubber for the benefit of the whole 
community of rubber manufacturers ? Or is there any 
connection between th»m and the Eubber Trust of 
America ? 
It is impossible for us at the moment to suhstantiato 
the statement that the Rubber Trust is the controlling 
power iu this group of financiers, but, like the Scots- 
man, we " hae oor doots," and we fancy that our view 
will be shared by many who know something of the 
insidf) woikingof the organisation. 
Sir Martin Conway, in his book which was published 
last week, " The Bolivian Andes," has a chapter upon 
the rubber industry. It may be worth meniiouing 
here that if we were told Sir Martin Conway had an 
interest in this enterprise, we should not feel greatly 
surprised, and should be rather glad of the fact that 
an Englishman had a finger in the pie. 
This is what Sir Martin Conway pays: "My po- 
sition in Bolivia as a scientific explorer commended 
to the consideration of the Government, placed me in 
an exceptionally good position for obtaining informa- 
tion about the undeveloped resources of the country, 
and the attitude of the leading men towards foreigners 
and foreign enterprise. I soon learned that it wai 
the d»siro of men of all political parties to attract 
foreign and particularly English and United States 
capital, in order to open up the great mineral and 
ot^er wealth of the country, which local capital does 
not avail to exploit." " Land or claims in old occu- 
pation, but now unworked or little worked, are liable 
to have doubtful titles, which, however, it is no one's 
interest to dispute till some wealthy individual or 
corporation buys them from the apparent owner and 
spends money on their development. But lands such 
as the rubber forests, to which 1 shall presently refer 
at length, which have never passed out of the public 
domain into piiiate ownership at all till quite recently, 
and under the provisions of Acts of the Legislature, 
are now owned by an indefeasible title which no 
one attempts to dispute. " Up to the present time, 
however, none of the titles have been contested and 
it does not appear to be the intereiit of any in- 
dividual to contest them ; while the chief interest 
of the Government is to induce men of capital 
to work the ferests, introduce immigrants, develop 
lines of communication, and so increase the general 
trade and prosperity of the country. It is not 
likely, therefore, that the Government will attempt 
to upset titles, even if they are not absolutely 
satisfactory, provided that the forests in question 
are properly worked. "It must be borne in mind 
that the area under discussion does not include 
the whole Bio Beni and the region of the ptuns 
about it, but only the upper pait of that re-. > n in 
and aboirt the foothills of the Cordillera. Tli.. i ; i. lier 
that comes from the lower Beni is carried awa^ to 
the eastward, and emeiges into the light of com- 
merce as Para rubber. Ir, is only the forests of the 
lowest eastward Cordillera slopes and the plains im- 
mediately at cheir foot that are comprised in the 
MoUendo district. The rubber trees there are Hevett 
