132 
RUBBER. 
Except in the case of Ramie, no cultivation has been so long 
practically neglected, and all at once sprung into notice as that 
of rubber within the past few years. Though rubber was first 
found in South America in the second voyage of Columbus, it 
was not recognized as of any value till Dr. Priestly, in 1770, 
pointed out that it was useful for erasing pencil-marks, and it 
was sold in cubes of half an inch for three shillings. The rubbei 
industry really commenced about the beginning of the present 
century, and in 1830, 464 cwts. were imported into Europe, since 
then there lias been a rapid rise to 048,404 lbs., valued at over 
£51,000. 
It has long been pointed out that rubber cultivation was well 
worthy of the notice of planters, but in no part of the world does 
any great interest seem to have been taken in it except in Ceylon, 
where, from 1873, when seeds were introduced from Kew till 1886. 
when the cultivation was abandoned, the planters were very 
enthusiastic about it. The plants then under cultivation were 
Ceara and Para rubber. In Assam also, the Indian Government 
protected and formed plantations of India rubber ( Ficus elas- 
tica). But the greater part at least of the rubber of commerce 
has always been derived from wild trees or vines, and as these 
were largely worked out from careless cutting, the supply de- 
creased in quantity and increased in price. Later the Africar 
rubbers came into notice, and the market became overstocked 
Following on that, however, came an enormously increase! 
demand for rubber, partly due to the great development of thu 
bicycle trade, and the increasing use of rubber tyres for carriages. 
To meet this demand now, we have Africa only as a large source 
of supply, for it is stated that the South American supplies, from 
want of a policy of consideration of the trees producing rubbei 
has fallen to such an extent that they can only meet a small par 
of the demand. 
The African supply, though without doubt very large, is a 
present derived from wild plants of Landolphia , a climber, anc 
Kickxia africana and Ficus Vogclii, trees, and the large amoun 
now produced must diminish as the forests are ransacked where 
ever accessible. Meanwhile there is but little doubt that th 
demand will increase yet more, and in the future the demam 
will have to be supplied from cultivated trees. 
Kinds of Rubber. 
% 
The number of rubber-producing trees and shrubs through on 
the world is very large, and they may be divided for economi 
purposes into trees and climbers. Of the latter, the chief are th 
Landolphias of Africa and Madagascar, and the Willughbeias 
Melodious, Leuconotis, and Urceolas known here as GctahGri 
