A478 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 June, 1898. 
WHERE TO ESTABLISH A PLANTATION. 
Large areas of land suitable for the cultivation of this plant may be found 
north of Townsville and perhaps to the south. The localities should be chosen 
in sheltered positions. It has already been remarked that it is a tender plant. 
This has been demonstrated at Mourilyan, where the trees were blown down 
by wind and the plantation ruined. : 
WHEN TO ESTABLISH A PLANTATION, 
The seeds of Manihot Glaziovii ripen in June and July in Queensland, 
and those falling to the ground germinate soon after. 
The tree itself is a handsome small tree, but, up to the present, no authentic 
report can be given of its rubber-producing qualities in this colony. 
It.would appear, however, that there is an abundant supply of milk in the - 
three and four year old trees. I hope to be able to give more reliable informa- 
tion on this subject at an early date. 
If rubber-growing is to be established in Queensland, it may be considered 
this tree will yield the best results. 
GATHERING. 
After brushing away the loose earth and stones from the root of tho tree, 
the collector lays down large leaves for the milk to drop upon. 
He then slices off the outer layer of the bark to the height of 4 or 5 feet. 
The milk, which exudes in many tortuous courses, some of it ultimately falling 
to the ground, is allowed to remain on the trees until it becomes solid, when 
it is pulled off in strings, which are either rolled into balls or put into bags in 
loose masses. , 
PRICE. 
The value of rubber of all kinds has been steadily advancing in price for 
the last ten years, until at the present time “Para” is worth from 3s, 8d. to 
3s. 93d. per lb., and “Ceara,” properly collected, from 8s. per 1b. 
Ficus elastica does wellin North Queensland, but, as this tree takes suchalong 
time before it can be tapped for its produce, it is hardly wise to recommend it 
on economic grounds—perhaps more particularly on account of there being 
some disparity of opinion among Indian growers and elsewhere. 
The tree, however, as has been stated in some preceding articles, is not 
only beautiful in itself, but would form a breakwind for other more tender 
crops. It would seem that at least twenty years would elapse before this tree 
could be tapped for a rubber crop. 
People having large domains in North Queensland, and wishing to make 
their holdings beautiful, could hardly do better than plant Ficus elastica along 
their boundaries and carriage drives. The tree is supported by aerial roots, and 
is consequently able to withstand the strongest: winds. 
k The leaves are most beautiful, and altogether it forms one of the noblest 
of Nature’s efforts. ! 
THE RUBBER INDUSTRY IN THE STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. 
In the second volume of the Perak Museum notes, we find some very interest- 
ing notes on rubber-producing plants. In Perak the trees producing “gutta” 
are :— 
Getah Taban Merah ... bo Dichopsis gutta, Benth. 
- DUtraweeees ote, in sp. 
_ Puteh ... ie im polyantha. 
3 Chaier .,. $n i pustulata. 
Simpor ... ie 4» « maingayi. 
2° 
» sundeh ... oon ee Payena leerii. 
