244 
15 by 15 feet among cocoa trees at an altitude of 1,100 feet above 
the sea. The aspect is favourable and the distribution of rain is 
more even than on the low lying lands which have the same aspect. 
Some of the trees are being tapped and the result of yield and qua- 
lity of the rubber will be looked forward to with interest. Other 
companies under able management have commenced operations here 
notably the Berlin Caoutchouc Company at Saluafata near Talefa 
with an area of 6,000 to 7,000 acres. Their first clearing of 500 
acres is now ready for planting out and they have about 1,000,000 
young Hevea plants growing in the nuseries. The situation of this 
estate is ideal. A gradual ascent from the sea with a maximum 
height of say, 600 feet above it. The rainfall is evenly distributed 
throughout the year. The soil is splendid containing sufficient clayey 
mixture to retain moisture in the event of prolonged dry weather. 
The whole is almost encircled by a high range of mountains 1,500 
to 2,000 feet in height. 
Further notes on the rubber cultivation here are printed in Tro- 
pical Life, June 1906. The cultivation started in 1900 with 1,000 
seed sent by post in slightly moistened charcoal packed in tins, of 
which about 40 per cent, germinated. Chinese coolies are being 
used. They contract for three years and a cash deposit of ioj. 
for each coolie ordered is required. The average amount paid to 
the labourer inclusive of fare each way is 50 marks a month. 
This seems a very high rate of wages. Samples of the rubber sent 
to Messrs. FiGGiS & Co. were reported by them to be sticky, soft 
and immature, probably due to the rubber being sent before it 
was properly dry. 
H. N. R. 
RUBBER IN UGANDA. 
In the report of the Forestry and Scientific Department of 
Uganda by Mr. Brown, it is stated that the Para rubber trees have 
made satisfactory growth during the year. The largest tree is 4! 
years’ old, and 27 feet 6 inches tall with a girth of 12^ inches at 
4 feet from the ground. Trees 2? years old are 17 feet tall and 
5 inches in girth at 4 feet from the ground. (Measurements are 
usually taken at 3 feet from the ground, and should be so as it is 
not easy to compare growths if the measurements are taken at 
different heights). There. are it seems about 5,000 Para plants in. 
the country. 
Castilloa has been killed by a boring longicorn beetle in the same 
way as it is killed out here, but by a different species from ours. 
Funtumia eiastica which is wild here was propagated and sam- 
ples of rubber sent to Hecht Levis and Kahn for report. The 
best were those coagulated with heat and citric or acetic acid and 
valued at 4 j6d. per lb., without acids the rubber proved to be imper- 
fectly coagulated and valued at 3/2*/. to 3/6d. per lb. 
This rubber does not seem a very inviting cultivation. 
