5 [ 3 
claimed, it will simplify a great problem in electricity, the insula- 
tion of ocean-cables. 
A scientist who discovered the method asserts that he is able to 
make an equally-good insulator out of ordinary peat. 
So far, gutta-percha is the only substance which has been found 
to furnish perfect protection for a wire against the chemical influ- 
ences of salt water, and the product is not only limited, but is 
practically controlled bv a few manufacturers, who own the forests 
in the East Indies from which gutta-percha is obtained. 
The price of gutta-percha has been gradually increasing for 
years owing to the enormous demand, and the supply is diminish- 
ing; so that if the scientist's discovery proves successful he will 
contribute grOitly to the world’s economy. 
In Ireland there are 3/'o0,ooo acres of bogland which are at 
present useless, while in Scotland 2,500,000 acres will be at the 
inventor's disposal . — Central African Times. 
RUBBER PLANTING IN COSTA RICA. 
To the Editor of the 
Tropical Agriculturist, Colombo, Ceylon. 
. Dear Sir, — 
As far back as January last f promised to write you an article 
on Rubber-p’anting in the San Carlos Valley, and intended at that 
time to have made a trip over there and to furnish some newer 
information and experiences acquired personally. This I have not 
been able to do ; when we got through with the handling of the 
past coffee-crop about the middle of March, I was taken with acute 
neuralgia in the head and from this I am still suffering. I had, 
therefore, to avoid myself of the kindness of Mr. ALFRED LONG, 
an American, who is settled in the San Carlos valley on quite a 
large scale, for most of the information that follows. Mr. Long 
returned a few days ago, after spending about two weeks, visiting 
the more settled parts ot the valley. 
Mr. Theodore Koschney, well-known to you and to the read- 
ers of the Tropical Agriculturist , is without doubt the oldest 
living of foreign settlers in the San Carlos Valley, as well as the 
most practical of Rubber planters, his experience running back 
over some 25 years in the district. Strange to say that, though at 
all times interested in Rubber for the purposes of trade, his own 
plantation should consist of Rubber trees not over two years old, 
which he has planted and kept up in a way dictated to him by his 
own observations, and a’l his plantation is so far of very good 
promise. 
Mr. KOSCHNEY’S method of planting calls for the preparation of 
a seed bed six or eight months previous to planting, and as handy 
as possible to the plantation, and the felling of the virgin forest to 
admit of a liberal amount of sunshine on the ground, leaving it 
under what his termed "light shade.” This felling is quite a mat- 
ter of judgment with the planter, and he varies it according to the 
i/i?y 
