4*3 
that the milk of the jak tree is of no value in the rubber industry. 
Raw Rubber for Australia. 
Seeing that a successful pioneer India Rubber works has been 
established in Melbourne on a large scale by a Limited Company, 
it is quite evident that a good market for raw Rubber should be 
found among our Australian neighbours. No doubt, Colombo mer- 
chants, as well as local producers of Rubber will take note of this, 
and test the Melbourne market. It will be interesting to learn the 
result. Everything that tends to increase the trade between Aus- 
tralia and Ceylon is a matter of local interest, if not of importance. 
Rubber Exports. 
We are indebted to Mr. H. K. RUTHERFORD for the following 
figures which show the wonderful development (albeit in value) o 
the India-rubber export trade from the Congo State, the return for 
last year being equal to about one-and-three quarter million x, 
sterling: — 
Congo State Rubber Exports. 
1898 
Francs 
> 5)850.987 
1899 
... 
28,100,917 
i goo 
39,874,005 
1901 
)) ~ 
43 .- 05 . 95 ° 
Ceylon Observer. 
A DISCLAIMER. 
On p.408 of the August Bulletin No 10, under the Negri Sembi- 
lan Planters' Association report, there is a remark to the effect that 
“ we trust that the Government will see that the Forest Officer has 
the Ordinance (Coconut trees Inspection) efficiently carried out.” 
Mr. R. D. Hudson writes to say that he, as Forest Officer is not 
responsible for the carrying out of the Ordinance, as the Inspectors 
of Coconut trees are under the control of the Land Office. 
CORRESPONDENCE 
To the Editor 
Agricultural Bulletin, 
Forest Office, 
Taiping, 16th July, igo2. 
Sir, — In reply to your correspondent A. Irving, in your issue 
for June asking if it is advisable to cut off the young shoots of Ficus 
Elastica “Rambong", I would advise him not to do any thing of 
the kind, no doubt such treatment would tend to make it more 
bushy, but it also allows rot to enter into the wood and I have 
always found anything of the kind gives the tree an adverse shock 
as it were. 
l/i7£ 
