The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1904-07-15
RUBBER TREES IN INDIA.
Information Of Interest Concerning
This Most Valuable OF Minor
Products.

hnd the Ficus elastica, the indig
enous rubber tree, generally cultivated
Is perhaps the only rubber plant ii
India which can be said to give indi-
cations of a future extended CONNER
cial value. 1t Is found in the damn
parts of the Sikkim Himalaya and east
ward to Assam and Burmah. In the rub
Der tracts of Upper Burmah 1t is scat
tered singly and In small groups in
dense evergreen forests, the average
number of trees being per 100 acres.
The seed Of the Ficus elastica, when the
tree grows naturally in the forest, ger
inmates almost invariably in the forks
Of trees 80 to 40 feet and more above
the surface Of the ground, and the young
trees grow in consequence for some six
ten years as epiphytes, after which
the aerial roots reach the ground and
increase in size, until some OF them
reach girth Of from four to six feet
These roots are very numerous, and II
is not uncommon at a later age that
they are thrown out also from the up
per branches 60 to so feet from the
ground, being first as thin as whipcords.
but very soon increasing in size after
they reach the ground 1t has fire.
quently happened that the tree on which
the rubber Seeding first terminates is
killed by the more vigorous growing
Ficus elastica which in this respect re-
sembles the well-known banyan tree.
and II is one Of the largest trees in
the mixed forest Of Assam. II requires
an exceedingly damp atmosphere to do
wen, and. therefore, thrives best at the
foot Of the mountains or on the noun
tains themselves. up to an elevation of
1000 feet. II is also met at a higher
elevation. but there 1t is not so vigor-
Gus, and at 5000 feet it is liable to be
injured or killed by frost.
At the present time india rubber is
the most valuable minor forest prod
uct Of Assam. In 1873 the commence
ment of the Chardnar rubber plantation,
which has been regularly extended, was
made with a view to provide for the
future supply of rubber, and from that
plantation many trees have been trans
planted.
The trade in india rubber in Upper
Burmah was first brought TO the no
tice Of the government in 1870, and its
export to the lower provinces COM
mcncedin 1879. when the monopoly was
ieased b The Burman king 10 Chinese
firms aster the occupation Of Upper
hhimaa ~ ne BRUSH the monopoly ~
ter continued Up 90 pclpper lsso me
= ensa -ns soid icr amos; pipte. PCT
annH lraee Mes ihsn lAroF
offa = satpocf ph1 ioos oHt 2 lilfrae
OF payment q att 20 cents F-s
ithi ae4 one-Aaii poHE~f) e1il
hA8H
lo Aerah There arc several I'M
diaeaeaa tFees carahe Of yielding rub
her commercial vriHe lrt 'hp fAcrf
cias'.a aas 50 fer teen taa mosi cu'
i.ya'ea a-a productive
Tire reports sent ue from Madras say
there 6 every Indication that rubber
Is now beginning TO receive
the earnest attention cf planters In that
prrs'fsnar. which It's sreat and con-
fiantiy Increasing importance entities
it % ln southwestern India the Gle
ma'ic conditions in the CHATS up 20 5000
ieai elevation and IN the low country
Tying close 10 them. having minimum
rainfall OF So inches year. are especially
favorable 70 the successful growth OF
rubber trees
Experiments are being made az the
government experiment farm AT Burli-
yer. in that presidency TO determine
what Is the best rubber producing tree.
hut { have been unable to find a COM