REPORT ON THE CAOUTCHOUC OP COMMERCE. 33 
e< tapping more convenient than it would have been had ft trees 
“ been left standing; and several hundred magnificent trees were 
e£ counted, in all directions, lying on the ground with cuts across 
“ their trunks and roots from six to 18 inches long, three inches 
“ broad, and a foot to 18 inches apart, and smaller cuts on the 
“ upper branches of them, by which all that they could yield was 
££ extracted immediately after they were felled, with an utter 
££ disregard for future wants. So that at present there is absolutely 
££ no rubber worth speaking of to be got from these forests, nor 
t£ for centuries to come, unless the tree is replanted.” 
The climate of Assam in the districts in .which the Ficus elastica 
luxuriates is as proved by their condition admirably suited. It is 
excessively moist in the rains, subjected during this period to 
partial inundation, and the mixed forests in which these trees grow 
best, remain moist all through the dry season. The following 
figures of rainfall are taken from Mr. Blanford’s paper on the 
normal rainfall of Bengal (Jour. As. Soc., 1870) : Goalpara, 94*4; 
Gowhatty, 70*7; Nowgong, 80; Tezpore, 76; Seebsaugor, 90; 
Cachar, 123 ; Silhet, 150 ; and Chittagong, 108. In the best districts 
the soil is all diluvial and alluvial, but in the hot steamy valleys of 
the mountains it occurs also on rocky ground. The heat is about 
98° in the shade in Upper Assam. Under these conditions, which 
are of excessive moisture, even partial inundation during a portion 
of the year, Caoutchouc trees of all countries thrive best. 
Cultivation of Ficus elastica. — This, Mr. Mann proposes, should 
be done by opening out lines 15 feet wide, and planting alternately 
on either side of the lines, at about 100 feet apart. This should be 
done in the districts where the trees grow best. 
The Ficus elastica is exceedingly easy of cultivation, branches 
planted in the ground will speedily establish themselves. Stock 
plants could also be kept in readiness to obtain the branches from. 
Mr. Mann mentions the Burning forest and the forests between 
the Deemajang and the liootah Nuddees on the west of the 
Bliorolee river, and on its east the immediate neighbourhood of 
the ££ Duphalaghur ” as being well adapted for the purpose of 
planting. I understand that since the publication of Mr. Mann’s 
Keport, more suitable localities have heen discovered in the 
Luekimpore district. If planting were resorted to a tree so planted 
would yield at half the age a naturally grown tree would, as in 
the latter ca§e several years elapse before an aerial root can reach 
C 
C8279.) 
