‘Possessing a climate arid for a considerable part of the year. This tree is 
_ evidently of a comparatively hardy character, and adapts itself readily to the 
exigencies of culture (D. Morris). Thrives well as far south as Durban, in 
Natal (J. M. Wood). It produces the Ceara rubber. Its cultivation is not 
difficult, and its growth remarkably rapid. It could only be grown in tay 
regions free from frost. Mr. Holtze, at Port Darwin, had the first grand 
Success with this plant in Australia, seeds from Kew Gardens haying been 
Paes by the author (von Mueller) at his disposal; his plants attained a 
eight of 12 feet in little more than a year. Perhaps the plant must be 
regarded as strictly tropical. Still, near Port Curtis, at the verge of the 
tropics, it grows fast and matures seeds; the trees there already are over 20 
feet high (Edgar). In Ceylon it thrives up to 3,000 feet elevation, content: 
with poor dry soil (Dr. Trimen).  asily reared from seeds or pro- — 
pagated from cuttings; the germinating is expedited by filing the shells 
of the seeds and placing them in coir; when’ sprouting, they should 
be put into the soil with the germ downwards. In Ceylon the 
plant has grown as much as 20 to 30 feet in two years; the plants should be 
placed about 10 feet apart. It is best to delay tapping till the trees are five 
years old (Keir Leitch).” In the Ceylon Zropical Agriculturist of the 1st 
July, 1884, Mr. J. B. erguson says:—* I have lately been making experiments 
in the growth of Ceara rubber. It seemed to me that the tedious operation of 
filing each seed might be done away with. I am glad to be able to inform you 
that my experiments have been crowned with success; by my method the — 
attack of ants need not be guarded against. Put into a shaliow box (a brandy- 
ease will do) about two or three inches of fresh horse-dung, first removing any 
loose straws, &c.; spread it out smoothly, and lay the seeds rather thickly on it. 
Cover the seeds with the same number of inches of the same material. ‘The 
seeds germinate in a week or ten days; transplant into a nursery, and after- 
wards to the field,” &c., &c. 
The seeds of Manihot Glaziovii germinate very freely if allowed to remain 
as they fall from the tree, and from this spot may readily be removed to the 
site where they are intended to form a grove. Like most of this family, it 
strikes readily from cuttings; it is, however, of a brittle nature, and will not 
stand severe winds, and should therefore be planted in sheltered localities or — 
_ otherwise provided with breakwinds. The trees planted at Kamerunga State 
Nursery have done excellently well, and this year a considerable number of 
_ seedlings appear beneath the older trees. A number haye been planted out, 
and it is the intention of the overseer to form a grove of these trees, so as to 
be able to supply the general public with unlimited plants and cuttings. The 
tree possesses some points of beauty, and might be planted in school grounds 
together with Iicus elastica, and so form object lessons for the scholars. 
_ Mr. J. Midley Wood, in his “ Guide to Trees and Shrubs in the Natal Botanic 
Gardens, 1897,”” makes the following mention of Manihot Glaziovii, J. Muell: 
—‘Nat. Order Huphorbiacew. This is the tree that yields the ‘Ceara’ 
rubber of commerce, a tree of rapid growth, and fit for tapping in about five 
years. Our trees were reared from cuttings, and will therefore never make 
symmetrical trees; but they bear seed in abundance. This tree is extensively 
grown on the Hast Coast (Africa), and will not pay in Natal, as the labour is far 
too expensive. The plants were reared from cuttings of a tree imported in 
1870.” WY. 
Mr. Wood, in his remark that it (Manihot Glaziovii) will not pay in 
Natal, furnishes food for reflection to Queenslanders. If it will not pay in 
Natal, where labour is comparatively cheap (12s. to £1 per month with rations 
for Indian coolies), it will hardly pay here, where wages are so much higher. 
Ii may, however, be urged that the colony of Natal is outside the tropies, and 
_ that it does not possess large areas of waste land such as exist in Queensland. 
It is quite possible that Mr. Wood’s data has been founded on a few trials 
made upon the specimens in the Botanic Gardens at Durban, and he can hardly 
have intended his statement to be so sweepingly condemnatory as it reads. 
