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RUBBER NOTES. 
Diplodia rapax, Masse?* A description of this, with a figure, is 
given in the Kew Bulletin, No. I 1910, by Mr. Massee, who writes 
“ This fungus appears to be a true parasite on Para rubber trees. A 
curious and unexplained point is that specimens were received at 
Kew for determination almost at the same date from Singapore and 
the Gold Coast. It is just possible that the fungus has been conveyed 
along with the seed as it is difficult to realise that the same species 
of fungus can have adapted itself to rubber trees in two distant 
countries within so short a time.” It is, I think, more likely to have 
been conve3 r ed by stumps. It does not seem to occur in Singapore 
itself, at least, I have never seen it here. It has only been seen in 
Perak and Selangor as yet. 
RUBBER IN DOMINICA. 
In the Annual Report of the Botanic Station of Dominica for 
1908 — 1909 is given an account of the attempts to grow Para and 
other rubbers in that island. At present the stock there is small, 
only fifty-two Para rubber trees planted out of which only three are 
big enough to tap. It is proposed to take the buds off so as to cause 
the trees to branch and make short bushy trees, apparency 011 
account of wind. Rubber was obtained from three of the oldest 
trees and sent to the Rubber Exhibition and Imperial Institute in the 
form of amber biscuits and valued at 4s. 3d. per lb., as compared 
with Plantation Para at 4s. 4d. to 4s. lid. 
Castillo n seems to do as well and biscuits valued at 3s. 6d. were 
sent home, the percentages of proteids and resin was rather high, 
caoutchouc 85.5, resin 9‘4 proteids 3*8 per cent. 
Funtumia elastica give its usual unsatisfactory result. 
Ceara rubber yields pooily and suffers from the wind as the 
branches are very brittle. 
Ficus elastica does well, but is rare in Dominica. Rubber 
was prepared as “ very clean light reddish biscuits, clear and trans- 
parent, extremely well cured.” The form and condition was 
recommended highly and it was valued at 3s. 9d. per lb. 
It appears likely that Dominica may turn out rubber of good 
quality from any of the three trees. 
RUBBER BOXES. 
In the Tropical Agriculturist, Dr. Willis notes that in a visit to 
the Rubber Works in Hanover, Dr. Prinzhorn pointed out the 
importance of having smooth clean boxes for rubber packing In 
many of the rough boxes, when opened, it was found that there were 
chips of wood, sawdust and other debris left in the boxes and 
adhering to the rubber requiring to be removed by the washing 
machine. 
