German Colonial Enterprise. 
Our Teutonic friends are shewing signs of great activity in in- 
troducing into iheir colonies plants and seeds of the chief trees which 
give produce of economic value. Dr. Stuhlmann has been making a 
tour of the various tropical countries, English and Dutch, to study 
the cultivation of the various products — such as Cinchona, Rubber, 
Gutta, Indigo, Gambler, etc., with a view to their introduction into 
German Africa, Mr. R. Scldechter has also under the auspices of 
the Kolonial-Wirtschaftlichen Komitees been specially deputed to 
the East to study the Gutta Percha and Rubber question, etc. After 
some six months enquiry, during which time he visited Java, Bor- 
neo, Sumatra, etc. He left Singapore at the end of September for 
German New Guinea, taking with him fifty-five cases of Gutta Taban. 
Thirty-four cases of Gutta Sundik, (Payenia Leerii), besides lesser 
quantities of Castilloas. Heveas, Rambong, Willughbeias, Ramie, 
Manila hemp, Patchouli, Nutmegs, etc. It remains to be seen how 
far the climate of New Guinea will suit these various plants ; in any 
case, however, it shews how earnestly they have entered the field 
of commercial activity. 
The Philippines and the Clltivation of Gutta Percha. 
The Americans too, are fully alive of the importance to the world 
of Gutta Percha and are endeavouring to find out, first, what species 
of indigenous guttas are found in the Philippines and whether they 
are worth cultivation, and secondly whether the introduction of D. 
Gutta, and others is likely to be a success. For this purpose Dr. 
Sherman of the Forest Bureau, Manila, spent some months in the 
Straits and Java studying the question. During his researches he 
has found out how necessary it is to have recourse to chemical 
analysis as the only means of determining the commercial value of 
any particular kind; as there are so many varieties of Gutta trees 
whose general appearance resemble each other but that give 
latex in various qualities. Roughly speaking D. Gutta, or oblongi- 
foliaand D. borneensis are practically the same in yield and are to be 
regarded as the best, whereas D. Treubii and several others are much 
inferior in the richness of their latex. The flow of latex may be as 
copious as in the best kinds but the high percentage of resin and 
correspondingly low percentage of Gutta renders them very in, 
ferior. There is yet, however, a great deal to be done both botani- 
cally and chemically in determining the different species and as- 
certaining their value as gutta producers, f note that the best 
quality of gut! a was sold last month at $600 per picul. 
Gutta Percha in French Indo-China. 
The Government in French Indo-China is patronising the culti- 
vation of the gutta percha tree, and planting is now being tried in 
various parts, chiefly in Laos, also in Annam and Tonkin. Exports 
for 1900 amounted to 339,000 kilos against 52,813 kilos in 1899. 
A picul of good quality is worth about 130 dollars. (£13.) 
