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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 6
India-rubber.—
India-rubber.—
According to Hecht, Levis, and Kahn's Report for 1879, Para rubber (Hevea) is still the largest source of supply. The total import into England during the year was 4,651 tons. Liverpool received 25 tons of Ceara Scrap rubber, and 900 tons of African (Landolphia), while London imported 350 tons from Assam (Ficus elastica), 250 tons from Borneo (Willughheia), and 550 from Mozambique (Landolphia). Considerable attention has been paid at Kew during the past year to the examination of the African Landolphias and Malayan rubber-yielding Willughbeias, and the results will be given in the next report. Owing to the unfailing interest in Kew of Dr. Kirk, H. B. M. Consul-General at Zanzibar, a considerable stock of Landolphias, of which in 1877 we had none in cultivation (Kew Report, 1877, p. 32), has been got together. Plants of one kind will be distributed to tropical colonial gardens in the course of the present year.
The following extracts from reports and other documents carry on the history of the introduction of the South American species into Old World cultivation (see Kew Report, 1878, pp. 14 and 15).
1. Castilloa.—
Singapore.—
Mr. Murton reports:—"The plants of Hevea and Castilloa in the gardens are now large plants, but hitherto propagation from the strong growths they are making
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seems rather difficult, whereas they used to propagate freely from the weak wood produced while in pots."
2. Ceara Scrap (Manihot Glaziovii).—
Burma.—
Major Seaton reports:—" A quantity of seed of this India-rubber tree was received during the latter part of the season from the Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya, Ceylon; and at the request of Dr. Thwaites, an intelligent lad was deputed to Ceylon to receive instructions in the cultivation of India-rubber plants."
Calcutta.—
Dr. King reports:—" The Ceará rubber promises to grow well in Calcutta. The seedlings received from Kew have thriven vigorously, and some of them are now 20 feet high. The Director of the Botanic Garden in Ceylon having, at the request of the Secretary of State for India, undertaken the propagation of this species, a quantity of seeds of it were distributed by him to Indian officers during the year. Supplies were, I understand, sent to the Conservators of Forests in Burmah and Assam, and to the Inspector-General of Forests for Madras. A large supply was received at this garden, and a thousand seeds were sent, at the request of the Conservator of Forests for Bengal, to the officer in charge of the forest plantation near Chittagong. The seeds received here have begun to germinate, and I expect before long to be in a position to issue supplies of seedlings for trial in different parts of the country. The plant appears to thrive very well in Upper India, and if the quality of rubber yielded by it in this country turns out to be good, its introduction may prove of much importance."
Singapore.—
Mr. Murton reports:—" Ceara Scrap rubber must be omitted from the list of rubbers adapted to the climate of the Malayan Peninsula, as it has invariably rotted off during continued wet weather."
Zanzibar.—
Dr. Kirk informs me that with him the Ceara rubber yields seed most abundantly, but the seeds are slow to germinate.
3. Hevea,.—
Burma.—
Major Seaton reports:—"At Mergui eight Para India-rubber trees, the survivors of the batch of seedlings received from Dr. King in 1877, continue to do well in the office compound, and vary in height from 8 feet to 25 feet. They are large enough to admit of a considerable number of cuttings being taken from them."
Calcutta.—
Dr. King reports:—" Pará rubber, of which fourteen plants were alive in the garden at the date of last report, continues be as disappointing as ever. Most of these 14 plants are still alive, but they have not grown much, and it is quite clear to me that it is vain to hope that this species can ever be cultivated to profit in this part of India. Plants may be coaxed into growing in conservatories, but the species is by far too thoroughly tropical to withstand without protection the vicissitudes of the climate of Northern India. As I have before reported, I believe it is useless to try it anywhere in India except in the south of Burma or the Andamans, and perhaps in Malabar. I learn from Dr. Thwaites that in the Botanic Garden at Peradeniya, in Ceylon, there are plants of Hevea of about 30 feet high, and that these are of the same age as the plants here, the highest of which is barely 6 feet in height."
Jamaica..—
Mr. Jenman reported:—"I regret to say that there are
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only two plants of the Pará rubber in the garden, one which I brought with me, and which is now a vigorous young tree 10 feet high, the other, the only one saved out of a case of 16 plants sent from Kew Gardens over two years ago, but which unfortunately on its arrival in Kingston was locked up in the Custom House for a fortnight, to the influence of which, after the voyage, all but the one succumbed. The atmospheric conditions of this district appear favourably adapted to the successful cultivation of the Para rubber."
Zanzibar.—
Dr. Kirk states:—"The Pará rubber is a less quick grower than the Ceara, and does not branch. It is 10 feet high."