A FLYING TRIP TO JAMAICA 
27 1 
Unfortunately when the first real experiments in rubber culture in 
Jamaica were undertaken, the Ceara tree was selected as the best fitted 
for that climate. As far as can be learned, the tree behaved exactly as 
it did in Ceylon, grew vigorously, but as a latex producer was a disap- 
pointment. 
There were several specimens of Ficus elastica and Landolphias 
as well as some fairly good Castilloas. The rubber trees that gave the 
most promise, however, were Hevea Spruceana and the Hevea Brasili- 
eusis. The Spruceana was particularly thrifty and gave out good latex 
abundantly. The rubber from it was of a light yellow color and very 
CASTLETON GARDENS. 
tough. The trees that we saw were only a remnant of a fine lot, most 
of which were destroyed by a hurricane that swept the island some 
little time before. Our guide, by the way, who was a negro foreman 
at the garden, knew the botanical names of all of the plants, and was 
indeed better posted than any white man that we saw out there. 
The elevation of the gardens is three hundred and seventy feet, 
and there seemed to be plenty of land thereabouts that could be utilized 
for Hevea growing. As labor (negro) is very plentiful, and the daily 
wage fifty cents, and as in addition the laws are as good as anywhere 
in the North — given no more hurricanes — it would look as if rubber 
