Belgian ] 75 AGRICULTURE ; PRODUCTS research as the Belgian Congo. Besides numerous botanical gardens and experimental farms the Colony possesses five agricultural laboratories, established in the general interest and for the use of the various districts. Two (Elisabethville and Zambi) are equipped specially for agricultural chemistry ; one, at Eala Botanical Gardens, specially for mycology (fungoid diseases of plants) and economic entomology. An extensive bac teriological laboratory for veterinary research exists near Zambi, and a well -known laboratory for medical and veterinary work at Léopoldville.

For experiments in cattle-breeding and acclimatiza tion similar to those being carried out at Katentania in Katanga 1 there are at present twenty special farms and stations .

(a) Products of Commercial Value Of vegetable products, copal, rubber, and the oil palm are commercially the most important. Copal. — This is a gum exuded from the roots and branches of a large forest tree, and used in the manu facture of varnish . Enormous supplies exist in the riverain forests of the Congo basin. Since the fall in the prices of wild rubber the natives have taken to collecting it in place'of that commodity. Although the industry is a recent one, the tonnage of shipments already exceeds that of rubber, in spite of the light weight of copal.

Rubber.- The Congo Free State ' may be said to have created the African rubber industry, as before the State was founded the natives hardly knew the rubber vine, and certainly were certainly were unaware of its value. Up to 1910, rubber accounted for 75 per cent. or more of the total exports. This was all col lected by the natives as wild rubber, chiefly from vines 1 See below , p. 114.