Vou. XII No. 299. 



THE AORICULTDRAL NEWS 



323 



at 2s. to 2s. 6d. per gallonf wholesale. The greater 

 portion of this vinegar, during the process of ferment- 

 ation, drains away and is wasted, and one must 

 express agreement with the editor of the book under 

 review, that growers should look into this matter more 

 carefully with the object of increasing their profits by 

 b_v checking what is, at present, both a waste and 

 a nuisance. 



Space will not permit the discussion of the many 

 other points of interest and importance with which 

 the book deals. Attention may be called to the close 

 parallelism between the curing of cacao and tea, 

 dealt with chiefly by Schulte, but also noted upon by 

 Sir George Watt. Schulte's remarks concerning the 

 tasting of cacao samples are likewise worthy of careful 

 consideration. 



AGRIUULTURE IN THE EAST. 



THE RUBBER POSITION. 



In continuation of the subject of the price of plan- 

 tation Para rubber, dealt with in a recent editorial in 

 the Agricultural New:<, attention may be given to an impor- 

 tant article concerning the possible Dver-production within 

 the next few years, published in a recent number of the 

 India Riihher Journal (August 30, 1913). 



Briefly summarizing the view.s put forward by the 

 writer of the article (Mr. C. C. Mallet), it may be stated 

 first, that it is believed that in the near future there is 

 considerable possibility of fine hard Para on the London 

 market falling to 2.s-. Qd. per tt). In considering how this 

 drop would affect the price of plantation Para, it is 

 pointed out that the present situation as regards prices 

 and demand is artificial. At the present time there is no 

 over-production, but there is great need for action to be 

 taken in the direction of the standardization of plantation 

 Para, in combination between the various Companies, and 

 in the direction of attaining modifications in regard to 

 Government .specifications. 



In 191(), estimates show that there will be over-produc- 

 tion to a certain extent, but Mr. Mallet suggests that this 

 could be stopped if the companies refrained from tapping 

 for another year the newly planted areas coming into 

 bearing. On the other hand, in VMl a considerable over- 

 production will have to be faced, for it is estimated that the 

 yield will be 200,000 tons against a consumption of about 

 160,000 tons. This clearly indicates the necessity for 

 re.'^triction of output during 1917, and for several years to 

 follow. 



Coming then to the main point of Mr. Mallet's argument, 

 it is seen that this restriction might be accompli.shed in two 

 ways: (1) either by tapping each tree, every other day; or, 

 (2) by throwing out of tapping and upkeep for a year 

 a large area and maintaining estates' staffs and labour 

 at a low level. In view of the possibility of the spread 



of disease through neglect, and general depreciation, (1) 

 commends itself as being the most suitable course to be 

 followed. The object of the restriction would be this: The 

 output of plantation Para would be limited to a certain 

 extent, so as to allow a reasonable quantity of fine hard Para 

 to remain on the market at 2.v. ijd. to 3s. per tt). Since the 

 Brazilian supply could not be increased, and since by 

 standardization and cooperation plantation Para had been 

 recognized as being on the .same commercial plane as the 

 Brazilian product, the manufactures would have to pay the 

 same price for plantation Para as for Brazilian Para. 



If the output of plantation Para be unlimited, 

 Brazilian rubber will be driven from the market, and prices 

 will fall 'with a horrible slump.' 



This important view Mr. Mallet supplements with lists 

 of interesting figures showing the difference between the 

 margin of profit for unrestricted and restricted production 

 under the circumstances already described. If, in 1917, the 

 market is allowed to lie swamped with plantation Para, the 

 price as already indicated, is bound to drop — possibly to 

 Is. &d. per lb.; and although unrestricted production would 

 mean greater output, it would leave a margin of profit of 

 only a few hundred pounds per annum from an area of 1,200 

 acres above the estimated profit on a restricted output. 

 This small increase would have against it the enormous risk 

 of not being able to dispose of half the rubber produced. 



A highly articulated system of seed farms has been 

 organized in the Central Provinces of India. This organiza- 

 tion is described in an article by G. Evans, M.A., Deputy 

 Director of Agriculture, Northern Circle, Central Provinces, 

 in the Agricultural Journal of India for July 1913. 

 Briefly stated, the Government undertakes to produce seed 

 at a central farm. In cooperation with this farm are the 

 leading land-owners who also raise seed supplied from the 

 central station. Under these come district Agricultural 

 Associations who are again divided into Agricultural Unions. 

 Incorporated with the Agricultural Unions is a central seed 

 store which registers orders for seed, and arranges the supply 

 from the incorporated seed farms. It also arranges for the 

 disposal of surplus produce in bulk. The seed is graded by 

 a specially trained man, and thus no seed not up to .standard 

 is sold for sowing from the .seed farms,. 



DEPARTMENT NEWS. 



The Imperial Coiumis.sioner of Agriculture returned 

 to Barbados on Monday, October 6, 1913, by the R.M.S. 

 'Tagus' after three months' duty leave spent in England. 



+These figures are quoted front page XXXIV of the 

 Preface; but they seem v;ithei- hitrli. - [Ki>. A.N.] 



It is stated in the Louisiana Planter (July 26, 1913) 

 that an asbestos roofing has been found to put a stop effect- 

 ively to conflagrations. The roofing is composed of a felt 

 made from asbestos rock reduced to fibres. Layers of this 

 stone felt are cemented together with Trinidad lake asphalt, 

 the whole forming a roofing that is literally a sheet of 

 flexible stone. It may be added that since asbestos, as well 

 as being incombustible, is a bad conductor of heat, its 

 employment for roofing purpo.ses in the Tropics should tend 

 to lessen the internal temperature of the buildings on which 

 it k pk.'-d. 



