5 
RUBBER CULTIVATION IN GERMAN COLONIES. 
M. Cay la publishes in the Journal d’ Agriculture Tropicale an 
account taken from different numbers of the Gumnie-Zeitung of the 
progress of rubber cultivation in German Colonies. The Germans 
have developed enormous activity in extending the cultivation of 
rubber in their Colonies in Africa and the Pacific. In 1908 there was 
a fall off in production of wild rubber from Africa due to the low 
price which did not pay the native collectors, and a spell of excessive 
dryness reduced the flow of latex. The total export for 1908 was in 
round numbers 1,57770 kilos worth 6,400,000 marks against 1,900,000 
kilos worth 10,800,000 marks in 1907. This came all from Africa 
except 6,000 kilos from New Guinea. Most of it was exported from 
the Cameroons, and the diminution in amount of rubber brought m 
in certain localities suggests that the Funtumias are dying out. 
In the matter of cultivation Hevea is tried everywhere but the 
greatest area is in Samoa, where it is cultivated with cocoa, in equal 
proportions. There are about 400,000 Heveas, of from one to five 
years old in Samoa. It is also planted in New Guinea, but apparently 
Ficus elastica is preferred there. 
Castilloa cultivation is not being extended in New Guinea, 240 
hectares being lost by tapping. In Africa it is being continued but 
it appears that the strain at Amani is a bad kind. 
The cultivation of Funtumia is largely developed in the 
Cameroons with varying success according to local circumstances. 
Ficus elastica grows well but slowly at Amani. F. Schlechteri grows 
better but does badly in the Cameroons. Experiments in F. Vogelii 
at Togo confirm the inferiority of the latex. F. Rigo of New Guinea 
gives hopes of success in Samoa. 
Manihot Glaziovii is the only rubber cultivated in East Africa. A 
new method of tapping of two year old plants was tried and what is 
hardly astonishing gave very poor rubber. It is freely condensed tor 
the Cameroons, as giving no prospectus of returns. 
Manihot of Bahia and M. piauhyensis tried everywhere in Africa 
have shown no advantages over M. Glaziovii, M. dichotoma seems to 
be a little better at Togo. There are some cultivations (95 hectares^ 
of Landolphias in East Africa, and Eupharbia fulva “ Palo Amarillo 
at Amani grows very slowly. 
The Guayule is being cultivated in the South West. The plants 
are a year old and doing well. Gutta percha Palaqmum oblongtfohum 
has been tried everywhere but no results are given, ray ex a eern 
failed in the Cameroons. 
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