688 THE TEOPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [April 1, 1902. 
RUBBER PRODUCTION. 
We direct attention to an important article 
on this subject from the latest number of the 
Brazilian Review — quofcedon page 676. It raises 
an alarm against the short-sighted system of 
practically killing out rubber-yielding trees in 
the Amazon Valley ; and foretells the result. 
But we question if the natives employed 
to collect rubber can be got to alter a 
practice which gives them the grea.test pre- 
sent return. In Africa, on the other hand, 
there are some attempts at the cixlture of 
rubber-yielding trees, apart from the large 
field for collection from forest trees and 
vines ; while in Mexico, chiefly through 
American enterprise and capital, very ex- 
tensive planting has taken place. At the 
same time there seems no limit to the 
ilses to which rubber can be applied, and 
though the supply of the raw material 
should increase considerably — of which there 
is no immediate prospect— we doubt if there 
would be much fall in price. The moist 
districts of Ceylon and the Straits up to 
a certain elevation should grow rubber- 
yielding plants as profitably as any part of 
the world in our opinion. 
MR. K. V. WEBSTER AT THE FRONT. 
Mr. R V Webster writes as follows : — 
Heath's Hotel, Johannesburg, Feb. 16. 
At present I am so pressed with work that I 
hardly know which way to run, On the 17th 
December I landed at Cape Town as " Special War 
Correspondent for Black and White, and Daily 
Express." At first I could only'obtain a licence for 
Cape Colony, but later Lord Kitchener gave me a 
special licence for South Africa. 
Leaving Cape Town on the 30th December, I 
proceeded to Aliwal North, (North East Cape 
Colony), where I arrived on the 4th January. The 
following day I accompanied the District Mounted 
Troops and Connauglit Rangers with a convoy to 
Jamestown. From there we proceeded to Lady 
Grey, and joined Lord Lovat's Scouts. The com- 
bined forces then trekked out after Poucliee, 
Myburg and Wessels ; we had some hard work but 
tiiey were too quick for us, and we returned to 
Aliwal North with a number of horses and cattle 
that we captured. A.s the troops went into camp 
to rest 1 took train to Port Elizabeth and completed 
a little business I had on hand. I then proceeded 
to Johannesburg and Pretoria, when I got the offer 
of a commission in the Cape Colonial Force with 
instructions to report myself at Cape Town ; four 
days later my commission was approved of by His 
Excellency the Governor and Executive Counod. I 
was then attached as Staff Officer to the Comman- 
dant of No. 12 Ares, and with that Officer proceed- 
ed to Port Elizabeth, East London, Qneenstown, 
and on the 8th February arrived at Aliwal North. 
The following day I was given command of No. 2 
troops of the " District mounted Troops," and took 
up my quarters at Kraal Bridge ; we had an exciting 
time as Wessels with two hundred men took up a 
strong position live miles further up the liver and 
we were waiLint; for the Connauj^ht K uigers to cut 
off tlieir retreat further up still, but ilie Boer does 
not sit with his eyes closed, and before the Con- 
naughts could get into position tliey were off. 
Whea I was on the previous month as correspon- 
dent I left a card at a farm frequented by the Boers, 
and told the good lady of the house that I should 
be pleased to meet Wessels if be would send uie a 
message to the Balmoral Hotel, Aliwal Norih. 
with instructious where he would leave particulars 
as to where I could .■^ee him. The night before I 
left Aliwal North a native brought me a note on 
wliich was written, "Dear Mr. Webster, I would 
like to see you, but that is impossible just now. 
Yours, P W Wkssels." The Beers' on the 
fjirms say I am the exact double of Wessels ; 
when they first saw me in uniform, they thought 
that Wessels had joined us. 
On the lOtli February I received a letter asking 
me to proceed to Johannesburg as soon as 
possible, as Lord Milner has a most difficult job 
on hand, and they think I have the quaiiliua- 
tions for the post. That same evening I received 
a second letter enclosing a special i>erinit, and 
informing me that His Excellency Lord Milner 
wished to see me as soon as possible, as they 
had on hand a most difficult task, and thought 
I could be of great assistance. I obtained seven 
days' leave, and took train that night ; the 
second night out we ran into the engagement at 
Klip River Station, where some two hundred of 
the 28th -Mounted Infantry were killed and 
wounded ; this Battalion had only arrived from 
Aldershot about a mouth, and had not yet learnt 
that none but fools move without scouts in 
advance. I should like to relate some incidents 
that have taken place within the past month, but 
correspondents are not allowed to relate what 
they know, but must write that which will please 
the British public. 
At 9am the following morning we arrived at 
Johannesburg, and I lost no time in getting to 
the Hotel and a tub which was most refreshing, 
not having had my boots off for four nights. 
Taking a rickshaw I went to Castle Building, and 
reported myself to His Excellency's Private 
Secretary, most anxious to know what the 
" difficult job" was. Half an hour later and I was 
ushered into the presence of His Excellency 
Lord Milner, the one man who is feared through- 
out South Africa more than Lord Kitchener, 
I was agreeably surprised to find in the great 
ruler ot South Africa, the much dreaded Lord 
Milner, a man with whom you at once felt 
quite at ease, and with whom it was a pleasure 
to converse, even on important matters connected 
with the future settlement of South Africa. 
The " important job " which His Excellency 
has on hand is the settlement of settlers on the 
Government lands and farms in the Transvaal, 
and the purchase of certain farms from the Boers. 
After three hours' interview, I left with an invi- 
tation from His Excellency to return to lunch 
at 2 p.m. After lunch His Excellency asked if 
I would accept the appointment of Visiting Agent 
for the Transvaal Government, Land Secretary 
to the Land Settlement Board, at a salary of £160 
per month, and travelling expenses. My first 
duty is to engage a staff, after which 1 leave to 
inspect the Barberton district, which is northeast 
ol Johannesburg, close to the Portuguese territory. 
I have not yet decided if I shall accept the post 
as a pern)anent appointment. 
Should you know of any Ceylon men who are 
anxious to take up farms in South Africa, I shall 
be glad to hear from them, giving full particu- 
lers, as to age, married or single, past experience 
in farming if any, where and of what nature, and 
