IS 
where it is indigenous, are found in only favourable localities near 
the coast and cannot be relied on further inland. Hence clear felling 
with no reservation of standards is indicated. 
The rotation is very suitable or ideal localities is as low as io 
years for fuel production ; but considering the poorness of the soil in 
abandoned mining areas 15 or even 20 years may be fount nearer 
the mark. Probably another thinning may be suggested at the 10th 
year for a fifteen year rotation or T2th year for a 20th year cycle 
and this intermediate yield sold for fuel. 
As a financial first cost it would not be overstating it if from 35 t° 
40 cerfts per acre per annum may be expected as nett profit from 
regular plantation (*>., from the area actually planted and not in- 
cluding water holes and fire-traces for example) that is systematical- 
ly worked. 
Ik). Inspection by responsible Forest Officer. — Especially in the 
early stages of nursery operations and of stocking the area frequent 
inspections are necessary for the timely correction of mistakes, in- 
spection is imperative at the commencement and early progress ot a 
stage of work, eg., at sowing, pricking out, clearing a id burning o 
brushwood on area, pitting and transplanting, replacement of failures 
and pruning; and on the completion of any such works so as to 
check the efficiency of the work done and that no gaps in detail have 
been committed, 
R. D. HUDSON. 
Singapore , 12th January, 1905. 
Coagulation of the Latex of Ficus Elastica, 
by P. J. Burgess, 
Ficus elastica gives a latex which is unlike that from Heyea 
Braziliensis in being acid, and which cannot be converted into 
marketable rubber by the same fneans that are adopted in the case ot 
the latter. 
T r his latex has up to the present been difficult to manipulate and 
the method of treatment which I am about to describe is new, and 
from experiments made in the laboratory, promises to be quite 
successful on a large scale. Ficus elastica can be made to yield an 
abundant latex which, can be easily collected and which is quite liquid 
and which appears to remain liquid for an indefinite time. 
The best method of tapping this tree is yet do be described, but 
large yields of clean fluid latex can be obtained and I have recently 
had ocular proof of that fact and I understand that a description ot 
the method used is to be soon published. 
The latex when collected refuses to coagulate, and final resort to 
boiling the latex has in some cases been necessary. 1 his is trouble- 
some and inefficient, the rubber only separates slowly and very im- 
perfectly. 
