53 
is cut down, dried, then soaked, and subsequently the caout- 
chouc is beaten out. As however the whole plant is used, 
and a plant 2-3 feet high takes about 12 years to grow, it 
is not feasible that its cultivation could be made re- 
munerative. 
It has been suggested to grow the plants from cuttings 
or layers if this could be done (very doubtful) there would 
be a savmg of time, but even so, the cost of production 
would be very high for so low grade a rubber, and failing 
some means of quick and successful reproduction the 
present wild supply is reported to be approaching exhaus- 
tion. 
Actmella Bichardsonii (Colorado rubber) is also a 
Composite resembling the “Ghiayule” plant and rubber, but 
not so abundant. 
Euphoebiaceae. 
Of the genus Hevea (Para rubber) there are said to be 
14 lactiferous species, the most valuable being, II. brazil- 
lensis. This genus has its headquarters in Brazil but ex- 
tends to the adjoining territories of Bolivia, Peru, Vene- 
zuela and Guiana. It is the most abundant and best known 
ot all rubber yielding plants and its best prepared rubber 
(hne hard 1 a ra)is the standard rubber on the market to- 
day. 
With the development of manufactured rubber fears 
were expressed of the probable exhaustion of wild sources 
ol supply, and the desirability of introducing the Brazillian 
rara tree to British territory in the tropics — where the 
natural conditions of climate followed that which obtained 
S™ l -was first given effect in 1872 when Sir Clements- 
Markham obtained seeds for the Royal Gardens at Kew 
liiese were taken out m India, and in 1875 Mr. Wickham 
was commissioned to obtain more seeds for the British 
k ooo\?2y n T n C ™ lam brou F llt to Kew Gardens 
satisfactory ^ aS f * ^ e nr!?, mate Indla was n °t considered 
Cev on iw T 1,900 t ? eedl ng P lants were sent to 
^e\Jon. About the same time Mr. Cross was seat to S 
C! toss broCiift 1 ’k Pk r 1 “ f Se Wickham ’s seeds failed! 
, T ss brought to Kew living plants, and also seeds of Ceara 
rubber (Mamhot Glaziovii) and CastiUoa elastic! Cross’ 
Wes a t P i a d t Were TT !f tnbut6d t0 Cey,on ’ Si Wre, and the 
pit • n j' CJ ?'^ r ex Penmental cultivation— at the 
fd bulverv lfnf Ceylon and Singapore — the trees thriv- 
tbe t Pr ° greSS had been made Pouters until 
tne year 1899, when, owing to the collapse of coffee cul- 
W 
