54 
•MEMORANDUM. 
3. As far as possible the milk to be collected in a fluid state in 
narrow mouthed rattan baskets, and to be brought to 
central manufactories. 
4. Endeavours to be made to convert the milk into a solid state 
by a process of slow drying similar to that practised in Para. 
5. In case this method should not succeed, then the process 
employed by Messrs. Martin and Richie to be followed. 
6. Those varieties of Caoutchouc which dry naturally on the tree, 
to be collected witlj. care, and to be picked so as to get rid 
of all impurities. 
So - much however is evident that unless the collection and 
preparation of the Caoutchouc produced in British territory is 
placed under the control of public officers who have an interest 
in the protection and improvement of the forests, no satisfactory 
result can be expected. If this is not practicable then we must 
for future improvements entirely rely on the Caoutchouc planta- 
tions to be established. 
11. Under all circumstances should plantations of the Eicus 
elastica be commenced at once in Assam on a large scale. - The 
tree strikes readily from cuttings, its cultivation therefore is easier 
than that of most other trees. In one of his first reports on 
the subject Mr. Mann suggests that lines be cleared* through the 
forest and that cuttings, as large as possible, be planted at con- 
venient distances on either side of these lines. Very likely this will 
be a good plan to commence with, and as the carnage of big 
cuttings over long distances would be expensive, nursery beds 
should be prepared and enclosed for the growth of such cuttings 
from small slips. 
If suitable soil and localities are selected, and if these planta- 
tions are at once placed under efficient supervision, there ought to 
be no difficulty in this undertaking, and operations should in my 
opinion be commenced as soon as possible on a large scale, and in 
accordance with a well considered plan. 
D. BRANDIS. 
