io6 
RUBBER PLANTING ON THE 
and English gravitated together, and I heard many interesting facts 
concerning the country and much concerning rubber planting. 
The verdict of those who were not directly interested in the 
business seemed to be that there was nothing in it, and 
that rubber trees could never be grown. Indeed, one passenger said 
flatly that he had been in the country a number of years, but he had 
never seen a rubber tree, and didn't believe they could lie grown anyhow. 
This did not seem to disturb the serenity of the planters who didn’t 
argue the matter at all, but let the others talk. We passed a rather 
LA JUNTA CORNER OF RUBBER FIELD ONE YEAR OLD. 
wearisome day on the train, stopping occasionally for meals and getting 
them served more and more in pioneer fashion. I had intended to stop 
off at Tierra Blanca, in the vicinity of which are large plantations, 
but learning that the men whom I most wished to see were absent, I left 
that for a later visit. Finally, at one o’clock in the morning, we reached 
Achotal, the train returning at once and leaving us standing on the plat- 
form of the only frame building in the place, the depot, which was 
promptly locked. 
