The Hawaiian gazette., 1905-08-29
(Conclusion).
ASIATIC RUBBER PLANTS.

Ihe ASlatic ruDDerS are derived from
both trees and vines.
Assam Rubber This comes from the
well known Rubber Plant" of the
horticulturist, Ficus elastica Roxb.
This enormous forest tree is a native
of the valleys and lower slopes OF the
whole southern Himalayas, also ex-
tending through the countries of
southern Asia to Java and the Mala-
yam archipelago If often grows to a
height of $50 TO $50 feet, with a clump
OF trunk-like aerial roots many yards
in diameter. The seeds OF this tree
usually terminate in the top of some
nearby tree of a different species, and
throw out long aerial roots which at
first hang pendant but on reaching the
ground themselves throw out feeding
roots and increase in diameter until
they reach trunk-like proportions. One
Of these air-roots IL destroyed at the
base will die below the point of in
jury but will throw out new aerial
roots above, these in turn frightening
until they reach the ground and again
throw out feeding roots. In this re-
gard Ficus elastica is similar to the
Ohia Lehua of the windward forests of
Hawaii with its much branched and
many bodied trunks which in the be-
ginning were really the aerial roots Of
the epiphytic ohia seeding.
In its native habitat this tree grows
best at an elevation of from 1000 to
5000 feet at from 20 to % degrees north
latitude, and, nearer the equator,
reaching to fully 5000 feet. The temper
allure ranges from a winter minimum
of rs degrees to a summer maximum
Of 92 degrees F., with a yearly mean
temperature of 70 degrees. The rain
fall of the forest zone where this tree
grows ranges from rs to 100 inches or
more. The soils are somewhat rocky
either volcanic or sedimentary. The
yield of rubber varies widely. In the
total yield from individual trees this
species excels all others p. van Rom
burgh secured the enormous yield OF
4O5 pounds of rubber from a very old
tree in western Java (near Buiten-
zorg). A 23-year-old tree on an equa-
torial plantation in Borneo yielded 80
pounds of rubber at its first tapping.
In Assam trees averaging 100 feet in
height which had not been tapped for
10 years previously, yielded an aver
age of 10 pounds of rubber, the next
year pounds and the third year only
Is pound. In New Guinea S-year-old
trees of Ficus elastica yielded 81
pounds of rubber within a week. The
growth of this tree is somewhat slow
in Hawaii nevertheless l believe that
it is one of the most promising rubber
trees for plantation culture, especially
in such districts as Hilo, Puma, Olaa
and Nahiku, where the rainfall is
high. Ficus elastica will stand low
| temperatures that are extremely detri-
mental to the Para and Central Amer
lean rubber trees.
Practically all the rest of the Asiatic
rubbers are derived from vines. 1t Is
doubtful whether any OF these could be
successfully and proftably transplant
ed to Hawaii.
THE BEST RUBBER TREES FOR
HAWAII.
Hawaii with its subtroplcal rather
than truly tropical climate, is limited
to a very few species of rubber-produc
ing plants The most suitable species
OF lnOSe uDoNt ellullleTdleu are ullupuul-
eddy in the order of their Importance
Manihot Glaziowii and Ficus elastica
The first of these, the Ceara rubber
tree, should comprise the larger pro-
portion of all new plantations, because
of it's extremely rapid growth and early
maturity. In laying out a rubber plan
tation comparatively early returns are
desirable. The Ceara trees will stand
a moderate tapping when three years
old, and may be counted on to yield
considerable return in five years.
The Assam rubber tree, Ficus elias
tica, while OF much slower growth,
yields much more abundantly when 1t
does finally reach bearing age. This
is also true of the Manicoba rubber,
Hancornia speciosa. The white rubbers,
Sapium Tolimense, S. verum and S. sty-
lare, native of high elevations where
the climatic conditions are similar to
those of our own mountain slopes,
wonld seem to be promising for ex
pertinent, provided seeds can be OBJ
tanned.
WILD AND CULTIVATED
RITRERRS