46 CAOUTCHOUCS OR INDIARUBBERS (Geard). 
large supplies of their own. Some seeds were also imported 
privately direct from Brazil. In 1883 about 1,000 acres were 
said to be occupied by this product. Early results as to yield 
were, however, disappointing, and with the rush into tea 
rubber was soon neglected in favour of this more profitable 
cultivation. The export in 1892 was 7,280 lb., in 1895 
1,753 lb., and in 1896 17,591 lb., decreasing subsequently to 
2,792 lb. in 1898. After this date the export figures do not 
distinguish between this product and the newly commencing 
export of Para rubber, but there is no reason to suppose that 
any increase has occurred. At the present time probably not 
more than 500 acres are cultivated in Cearâ rubber, though 
it is everywhere common as a hedge in native compounds. 
The tree grows rapidly, often reaching a height of 30 feet 
and a girth of 20 inches within two years. It has a smooth 
silvery bark, not unlike that of the birch, which readily 
peels off. The leaves are palmately lobed, with 5-7 points. 
The flo wers are produced at the age of eighteen month s or later. 
They are of separate sexes, but both male and female occur 
on the same tree. The fruit is a capsule containing three 
seeds, and splits open explosively, scattering the seed to some 
little distance. The seed, like those of many other plants of 
this family, is not unlike a beetle in appearance, and has a 
little wart or caruncle at the end from which the root emerges 
in germination. The shell of the seed is extremely hard, and 
in consequence seeds may lie dormant in the soil for some 
time, springing up when the conditions are favourable* 
About 700 seeds weigh a pound. 
Cultivation .—The seeds have so hard a coat that if not 
filed they do not germinate in a reasonable time. The 
caruncle end is filed on either side with a rasp. The seeds 
may be sown in a nursery or at stake. They germinate in 
about twenty days. They are planted out at distances of about 
15 feet by 15 feet ; sometimes the tree has been employed as 
shade for cacao or other crops, but it has not proved very 
satisfactory for this purpose. The tree also grows readily 
from cuttings about a foot long. 
