mn nae 
1 Junx, 1898.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 483 
Isthmus of Tehuantepec some years ago, and was greatly interested in the 
manner of extracting the sap from the rubber-trees, and the use to which it is 
put by the natives. When the sap is running it is as white as milk, and very 
like thick cream. When they want to make a garment they spread the coth 
upon a board, and spread the sap smoothly upon the surface with a fine brush. 
They sometimes make overalls, but as a rule the only garment they make is 
the poncho, which is about five feet square, with an opening for the head in 
the centre. The sap turns black soon after exposure to the atmosphere, and 
coat after coat is spread upon the cloth until the rubber coating is of sufficient 
thickness. Usually from seven to ten coats are applied. 
The only objection to these ponchos made from the natural rubber is that 
when they are exposed to the sun the rubber becomes soft and sticky, but 
they are absolutely impervious to moisture. When I first went down there I 
wore a mockintosh such’ as are worn in this country, but it was not made to 
resist such rains as they have in that country, and I was very soon as wet as if 
Thad no protection. Then I bought one of the native ponchos for 10 dollars 
in silver and was kept dry, no matter how heavy the rain. One tree will yield 
enough rubber to make two of these ponchos in a single season. 
A RUBBER PECULIAR TO COLOMBIA. 
In a recent official report the British Consul at Tolima, Colombia, mekes the 
following reference to a tree which is little known as a producer of rubber. 
Tf the rubber is really of good quality, it may in time prove of importance, 
owing to its adaptability to high elevations, which, as a rule, is not true of 
rubber-trees. The report says :— 
_A very important species of rubber is indigenous, and, I am inclined to 
think, peculiar, to Tolima. Unlike other important kinds of rubber, it grows 
at high elevations—namely, at from 6,000 to 8,000 feet above high sea-level. 
Several thousand bales of it were exported a dozen years ago. But, as the tree 
was only locally distributed, the source of supply was soon exhausted. The 
authorities at Kew have named this plant Sapium biglandulosum, a species 
which is also said to be found in British Guiana, where, however, it seems to 
be of no value as a rubber-producer. In connection with the cinchona plan- 
WAIN 5 5 5 @ plantation of this rubber was made about ten years ago. 
The trees grew with remarkable rapidity, with trunks a foot in diameter in six 
years; but this plantation shared the same fate as the cinchonas—that is, it 
was abandoned years ago because the cinchona was abandoned. | With 
renewed attention, however, this plantation may still be made important. 
NEW GUINEA RUBBER INDUSTRY. 
We have received from Mr. E. Cowley, manager of the Kamerunga State 
Nursery at Cairns, in response to our request for reliable information on the 
rubber industry in British New Guinea, the following interesting and authentic 
notes addressed to him by the Hon. A. Musgrave, Government Secretary, 
and Mr. A. ©. English, Government Agent for the Rigo district. There appear 
to be no companies as yet engaged in the Dependency in procuring rubber, 
although vague rumours are afloat concerning rubber-producing companies to 
_ be established in New Guinea. The “ Maki” tree alluded to appears to be a 
hardy tree, which would seem to be quite indifferent as to the quality of the 
soil on which it is planted. It should therefore be suitable for certain parts 
of Queensland, especially as shade is apparently not requisite. 
We regret that photographs of the tree are not yet to hand, but as soon 
as they arrive we will reproduce them in the Journal, together with any 
further information which we can obtain concerning the gathering of rubber 
on the island. r 
