1 Noy., 1897.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 377 
Under the heading “Bchoes of Science,” the Tropical dgriculturist has 
the following :—The exploitation of the “‘ Kickxia Africana,” a rubber-bearing 
tree, promises to be important for the West African colonies. At Lagos, the 
milky juice evaporated gives a superior quality of rubber. All the colonies of 
the Gulf of Guinea possess this tree. 
The report of Mr. H. N. Thompson, assistant conservator of forests, on 
the Hukong Valley and Upper Nankong Basin, states :— 
Every tree in the basin of the Loglai and Taron is known, and. their 
positions are pointed out from father to son. It may be taken as correct 
that the rubber collected in the forests north of the Gedu goes to Assam. 
All the rubber that goes to Assam is carried by Naja coolies, who can always 
be had after the crops are gathered. 
The number of rubber-cutters who leave their villages forthe Turong (sc) 
forests is known. The rubber, when first collected, is fairly pure, but the 
Najas have learnt from the native Bennias the trick of adulterating it with 
earth and stones, and so Assam rubber is not looked on with favour by the 
Calcutta brokers. It may be added that the same applies to the rubber which 
finds its way into the Rangoon market, the Chinamen being adepts in 
skilfully concealing in the rubber earth and stones, principally the latter. 
(Rangoon Gazette.) 
In British North Borneo it is said India-rubber trees have been largely 
exterminated in many of the districts where they were abundant. The following 
is extracted from the Sketch, and appears in the Zropical Agriculturist for 
June, under the heading “ Planting in Sumatra” :— 
The cycle trade is making us very cosmopolitan inour tastes, for we musthave 
rubber to keep the great Dunlop Company earning dividends (as long as may be) 
on its famous five millions of capital, and the world’s supply of this very useful 
gum is certainly not on the increase. On the east coast of Sumatra, the rubber- 
tree flourishes, and there can be no doubt that before long an enormous trade 
will be developed. The natives tap the wild trees, and have been in the habit 
of exporting quantities of rubber gathered in this wasteful and unskilful 
manner, but of late years systematic planting and cultivation of the trees have 
been practised, aud in the Tanjong Kassan district already many fine estates 
have been formed. Some idea of the profitable nature of the trade may be 
obtained, when we say that 100,000 trees produce at a low estimate an annual 
revenue, after deducting expenses, of from £25,000 to £30,000.* 
There certainly ought to be some wealthy individuals in the East Indies 
Tt is statements like these that may possibly excite the imagination of some. 
Queenslanders, but it is doubtful if any great fortunes are at present made 
from the soil agriculturally, except under conditions where the cost of labour 
is merely nominal. , 
The following extract from the Zropical Agriculturist, 1st July, on 
Mexican India-rubber, will conclude this series of articles :—The popularity of 
the cycle and the introduction of electric motor cars have caused sucha “run 2 
upon India-rubber that those engaged in the manufacture of tyres have begun 
to realise the great risk there is of supplies becoming exhausted. The forma- 
tion of the India-rubber (Mexico) Company, Limited, will therefore be hailed 
with satisfaction by the “trade,” and we should fancy that the promoters 
will have no difficulty in disposing of all the available shares. The company 
has been formed to acquire plantations in Mexico, known as “ La Esmeralda i: 
and “Llano de Juarez,” of over 440 square miles of freehold land, with 
350,000 India-rubber trees already available for tapping. The estates also carry 
agreat deal of valuable timber, and certain portions of them appear to be 
* The Ceylon Tropical Agriculturist gives the profit in Nicaragua, which may arise at the end 
of the eighth year (on 100,000 trees) at £44,337 10s., and of the ninth year at £47,620, on an original . 
net capital outlay of £3,625. The Government premium is 3d. per tree.—EHd. Q.A.J. 
