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besides laying the foundation to a systematized study of Castilla and 
M anihot rubbers. Considerable time was taken up in organizing the 
work, and in equipping and arranging the laboratories. These 
consist of a chemical laboratory, fully equipped with all necessary 
apparatus and re-agents for analytic and experimental work ; a 
plant physiological laboratory supplied with ordinary instruments 
and microscopes; a bacteriological department with all the para- 
phernalia pertaining thereto, incubators, sterilizers, microtomes 
and microscopes ; a rubber experiment department with various 
appliances; a shop for making models and repairing instruments; 
a library with reference books, literature on chemistry, tropical 
agriculture, entomology, botany, cojfee, and rubber, about forty 
periodicals, and some 4,000 pamphlets on agricultural and related 
subjects. 
Our first work was to take a survey of conditions on the 
rubber plantation. Detailed observations were made of the rubber 
over the entire estate. These data were copied on cards such as 
intimated above. Maps were made showing the condition of the 
rubber on different areas and from different points of view. 
Suggestions were made as to treatment of the rubber stand. 
A drainage system was partly worked out. 30,000 trees were 
measured to ascertain the average girth and height of trees of 
various ages. Observations on branching, leaf- formation, root- 
development and light requirements were made. A complete 
working plan for 30 years was formulated and submitted to the 
managing director. Insect and fungus diseases were studied and 
remedies tried. Means for preventing forest fires in the rubber 
were suggested. 
A number of well-developed young rubber trees were selected 
in the field and transplanted to the experimental grounds, which 
had been opened. Here seeds of different Castilla varieties have 
been sown. Cearaand other rubber producing trees and vines have 
been planted. It is intended to get a cqmplete collection of the 
world’s rubber and gutta percha plants. Castilla seeds have been 
sown under varying conditions of soil to ascertain the difference 
in development. Manuring experiments have been commenced. 
Influence of catch crops is being studied. Observations are made 
as to the best method of weeding, and the result of this as shown 
in the progress of the rubber trees. Pruning and transplanting 
experiments are going on, as well as experiments in grafting and 
hybridizing. 
In the course of the plant physiological work experiments on 
transpiration have been commenced ; the temperature of the tree 
and of the latex in the tree is ascertained under different weather 
conditions ; the effect of wounding is studied ; root and bark 
pressure is experimented upon ; relation of leaf-fail to latex is one 
subject of investigation ; several other lines of inquiry have been 
entered upon, and numerous new problems will be studied in the 
future. 
The bacteriology of latex and crude rubber is not entirely 
unknown, and we have ascertained some very interesting facts. 
Before these are published, however, the flora of the crude rubber 
