EEE EEE TO ee 
1 Jay., 1900.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 53 
“On the White Nile, in the Bongo and Rohl districts, the India-rubber 
Creeper (Landolphia florida) is found in great profusion. If the rubber 
yielded by this creeper be not of quite so good a quality as that obtained from 
the Assam India-rubber Tree (Ficus elastier), it is still of sufficient value to be 
counted as an important asset in the future trade of the Soudan. This plant, 
which has large laurel-shaped leaves, and a white flower resembling a jasmine, 
requires several years to mature before yielding rubber in any quantity. The | 
natives obtain what they require by tapping the stem, usually in such a reckless 
manner that the creeper dies under the operation. The Assam India-rubber 
Tree should certainly flourish well in most parts of the Soudan, more particularly 
south of Khartoum. Although this tree takes from 20 to 30 years to arrive at 
a girth sufficient to permit of regular tapping, its yield is so valuable (about £3 
per tree per annum) that its introduction into the country is well worth 
attempting. 
“Tt is very much to be hoped that a scientific examination of the Soudan 
forests may ere long be carried out under the superintendence of an expert. 
An Indian forest officer (from Burma for choice) might be deputed for this 
urpose. It is certain that much valuable information would be obtained from 
is report. Such an appointment needs no recommendation—its necessity is 
obvious A. trained forest officer could, moreover, render good service by 
advising the Government as to the best method of preserving the valuable fuel 
supply which at present exists on the banks of both rivers. This supply, 
although apparently inexhaustible, must speedily diminish, unless the cutting 
and felling of the areas is carried out upon some regular system which will 
permit of the young trees growing up and replacing those cut down. It is, of 
course, inevitable at present that the felling should be carried out. in a wasteful 
manner. Fatigue parties are landed from the boats, and are required to cut the 
argest amount of wood in the shortest possible time. The men have no idea 
of the value of the trees, and naturally select those which are nearest to the 
water and easiest cut. Should this practice be continued, it is certain that a 
few years must see a great diminution in the belt adjacent to the river On 
Ege Nile even the valuable gum-producing acacias are being felled for 
uel, 
THE PRODUCTION OF TALL TREES. 
By A. J. BOYD. 
Maxy years ago, whilst travelling in the Far North in the company of a 
detachment of native police, I had excellent opportunities for studying the 
forest and scrub-tree growth between Georgetown, Herberton, Cardiwell. 
iding along a forest ridge, overlooking a deep and rather precipitous gorge, 
T was struck by the difference in the height of the trees growing at the 
bottom of the gorge and those growing on the ridges. Looking across the 
Chasm, I saw the heads of a number of pine-trees which towered even over the 
heads of the trees on the ridges. These splendid trees sprang from the very 
bottom of the gorge, and a peculiarity about them was that the bole or trunk 
“ppeared to be perfectly cylindrical, or of the same diameter below the first 
ranches as it was near the ground. Other trees growing on the sides of the 
Sorge were drawn up in the same manner, but their tops did not reach to a ~ 
Sreater height than that of those which had sprung from the lower depth. I have 
Since observed the same drawn-up appearance in other localities where trees are 
rowing in deep gullies. It can be observed anywhere on the Main Range, and 
on the Blackall Range, and nearer Brisbane at One-tree Hill (Mount Coot-tha.) 
, oe from this cireumstance, a very good lesson in the art of forestry may be 
= aI . Consider the kauri and hoop pines. The former makes little wood 
ntil it has shot up so as to top the scrub. If the other timber in the scrub be 
