1 Sepr., 1897.]  QUEENSEAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 241. 
introduced for its beauty and as an ornamental plant. In Europe it is 
cultivated by many for the same reason. In Great Britain it is, of course, 
grown only in green or hot houses. G. Nicholson, A.L.S., in his “ Dictionary 
of Gardening” says:—‘ Ficus elastica (elastic), India-rubber plant; leat 
coriaceous, 6 inches to 18 inches long and 3 inches to 6 inches broad; upper 
surface dark-bright shining green, yellowish-green below. ast Indies, 1815. 
This splendid plant is very largely grown both for indoor decoration and for 
sub-tropical gardening.” 
In Johnson’s Gardener’s Dictionary we are told: “ Ficus, fig-tree. The 
fig-tree has nearly the same name in all the European languages, and is supposed 
to be derived from the Hebrew name ‘fag.’ Besides the cultivated figs, there 
are a vast number of other species belonging to Ficus, all natives of the tropics, 
where they arrest the attention of the traveller either by their grateful shade, 
their enormous growth, or by their manner of sending down roots from their 
branches to support and extend their distorted arms, as in the Banyan-tree. 
Propagation by layers and cuttings. In either case dry the cut ends before 
inserting them in sandy soil, but not removing more of the leaves than those of 
the joint cut through.” 
Some cuttings of Ficus elastica, obtained in British New Guinea by the. 
writer, were successfully introduced and have become established at Kamerunga. 
Some of the plants have grown well, and a quantity of branches are available 
as cuttings. It is not known if Ficus elastica is indigenous to British New 
Guinea; presumably not, as these cuttings were obtained from a garden near, 
Port Moresby,and they had evidently been planted there. No record of the plants 
could at the time be obtained. The extreme beauty of the leaves of this tree 
in its early stages is very marked, and visitors do not fail to admire the peculiar 
soft covering of the early leaves. This covering is a peculiar protection for the 
unfolding leaf; it has a charming colour of cream to pink and red, and dis- 
engages itself as the leaf opens, and falls to the ground. ‘The leaves of Hicus 
elastica ave, as Mr. Nicholson says, coriaceous, so much so that they can be 
used for a surface on which to write a text or name: the leaves are of very 
considerable vitality—names written on their surface remain readable for two _ 
years, while the leaf itself remains green. The branches send down aerial roots, 
and so resemble the Banyan somewhat. Altogether, it is a most interesting 
tree, On account of its rapid growth and stability, it would, if planted from. 
20 to 30 feet apart, form an almost faultless breakwind for coffee estates ; and 
it is possible, even probable, that in future years a considerable income might 
be derived from its caoutchouc-yielding ability, and render a coffee farm still 
more valuable. It would seem that some slight shelter from the sun would be 
required when the cuttings of I. elastica are put into the ground, but once 
they haye a fair start the plant becomes very hardy, and is hardly likely to fail. 
Tt seems to flourish as far south, at least, as Rockhampton. Von Mueller says 
of F. elastica (Roxburgh): “ Upper India to the Chinese boundary, known as far 
as 28 degrees 30 minutes north latitude, extending to Burmah and the Malayan. 
Islands. A. large tree yielding its milk-sap copiously for the kind of caoutchoue, 
known as Assam rubber.” Koxburgh ascertained eighty years ago that India-. 
rubber could be dissolved in Cajaput oil (very similar to Eucalyptus oil), and that 
the sap yielded about one-third of its weight of caoutchouc. ‘This tree has grown 
in Assam to 112 feet, with 100 aerial roots, in thirty-two years (Markham). In. 
moist, warm climes, according to observations in Assam by Mr. Gustave Mann, 
branches lopped off and planted will soon establish themselves. Single branches 
attain a length of 50 feet; the root crown will attain a diameter of 200 feet 
exceptionally (Hwckel). The import of caoutchoue into the United Kingdom 
in 1884 amounted to 198,000 ewt., representing a value of £2,266,000, of which 
Ficus elastica must have furnished a considerable proportion; in 1888 the 
value of the unworked rubber then was estimated at £3,500,000 (J. G. Baker). . 
Markham and Collins pronounce the caoutchoue of Ficus elastica not quite so 
valuable as that of the Heveas and Castilloas of South America. Heat and _ 
