534 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



October 20, 1906. 



CASTILLOA RUBBER CULTURE. 



The Tropical Agriculturist contains an article, 

 reprinted from the Mexican In restcir, hy Dr. P. (Jisson- 

 Sel^er, entitled 'The Truth about Kubber Culture.' 

 The editor of the former publication states that the 

 author has had much experience in rubber culture and 

 that his report may therefore be taken as authoritative. 



Dr. Olsson-Seffer deals with the whole subject 

 from the point of view of the investor. The following 

 extracts will serve to give a general idea of the position 

 of the Castilloa rubber industry: — 



Rubber planting is now done on a large scale in Southern 

 Mexico, and this is at present the principal rubber culture 

 country in the world. The cultivation is here confined 

 to the native tree Castilloa. 



It is by no means a mere assumption that the cultivation 

 of rubber may prove a success. It has lieen fully demon- 

 strated that the Castilloa tree can be grown profitably on 

 a commercial scale ; that it produce.s under cultivation 

 a sutKcient quantity of rubber more than amply to repay 

 expenses : and that plantatinn rubber can be produced 

 cheaper and better than the product from wild trees. Although 

 none of the Mexican plantations are, as yet, in full bearing, 

 we could enumerate several jdantations where tapping is 

 now regularly carried on, and where the returns show that 

 rubber planting is no more an experiment than the growing 

 of oranges. In each case we have to jiresuppose the 

 existence of right conditions. 



Lack of experience has, in most case.s, led to over-san- 

 guine expectations in regard to the yield of rubber from 

 a plantation. Usually, a few picked trees are tapped for the 

 benefit of the inspecting shareholder, and from the results 

 a total yield is estimated by means of a simple arithmetical 

 calculation. The experience of the results of tapping is j-et 

 limited : but from actual tests, we know the following 

 averages are certain : — 



A plantation of seven-year-old trees will give 2 oz. to the 

 tree ; eight-year-old trees, 4 oz.; nine-year-old trees, 6 oz.; 

 ten-year-old trees, 7 oz.; eleven-year-old trees, 8 oz.; and 

 twelve-year-old tree.s, 10 oz. It is possible that a larger 

 return will be obtained ; but, so far, we have no reliable 

 evidence to .show that such would be the case. 



It is satisfactory to those interested in rubber culture 

 to know that the planters have generally recognized the 

 importance of the immediate establishment of a rubber 

 exj)eriment station and laboratory" in Southern Mexico. 



The methods of gathering and handling the yield are 

 still practically on the same level as they have been 

 since the Indian ' ulero ' began to roam through the forests 

 in quest of rubber from the wild trees. 



Experiments conducted by the writer during a three- 

 Hionths' stay in Southern Mexico last summer have made it 

 evident that, bj' improvements in the methods of preparing 

 crude rubber, large sums can be saved. But it also became 

 clear that whatever experiments are commenced they must 

 be done on the spot where fre>h material is always at hand. 



JIatters that are now puzzling the rubber planters would 

 be taken up and studied by the scientific experts, and the 

 knowledge acquired would be of inestimable benefit to the 

 planters. Such problems as the quality of soil best adapted 

 to rubber culture, methods of planting, amount of shade 

 necessar)', care of the plants while growing, best mode of 

 tapping, preservation of the trees after the tajiping operation, 

 transportation of latex, coagulation methods, and a variety of 

 other questions, which are of the greatest practical importance, 

 would be taken up. 



These problems require immediate attention because th& 

 time is very near when wholesale tapping is to be commenced^ 

 and it means a considerable loss to the planters if these ques- 

 tions are not solved before that time. 



To handle the immense amount of latex which is produced, 

 say, from several million trees on a single jilantation, it is 

 necessary to introduce machinery, and for extracting and 

 preparing the rubber on a large scale many different devices 

 have to be worked out. 



It is evident that the better quality of rubber a planta- 

 tion can place on the market the higher will be the price 

 obtained. The more rubber extracted from the milk, the 

 greater the profit. At present a considerable percentage of 

 rubber is lost in the coagulation process, and, where simply 

 drying of the milk is employed, the product is of inferior 

 quality and commands only a low price. 



CASTILLOA RUBBER IN MONTSERRAT. 

 The Curator of the Botanic Station has addressed 

 the following letter to the editor of the Montserrat 

 Herald : — 



In a short time, I hope to have at least 2,000 Castilloa 

 rubber plants for distribution, and I am authorized to 

 supply, free of charge, 100 each to responsible persons 

 desirous of giving them a trial. Above that number, they 

 will be charged for at the rate of 3s. per 100. 



As you know, a few plants have been put out in recenfr 

 years, some of which are doing well, particularly those at 

 Harris' Station. I consider that there are many sheltered 

 spots in the island where the tree would thrive, especially 

 where the soil is stiff rather than of a .sandy nature, as it 

 would seem that the young trees cannot stand jirolonged 

 drought. At least as much care should be given, in the 

 prepaiation of the hole for [ilanting, as in the case of cacao 

 or other plants, and if any decaying vegetable matter is- 

 available, this should be put in with the soil at planting. 



In Dominica and other islands it is found that the trees 

 are benefited by having a little shade, e.g., iiigeon ]iea.s, for 

 a year or two, after which they grow best open to the sun. 



Suitable localities, I may mention, would be Harris' 

 district, Gage's, Waterwork's, Xine-turn Gut, White's, and 

 sheltered spots on St. George's Hill. 



A number of jilants will be ready to go out as soon as 

 the rains come, and an attempt should be made to have the 

 plant established before the dry sea.son. 



RICE GROWING IN BRITISH GUIANA. 



In his report on the Essequebo and Poineroon 

 Rivers district ot British Guiana for 1905-fJ, the 

 Commissioner makes the following reference to rice 

 growing : — 



Rice cultivation seems, in many instances, to be taking- 

 the place of plantains on the lower parts of the river. There 

 is an advantage which the cultivation of rice has over 

 that of plantain.-, and which, I think, is being recognized. 

 E.vcepting under abnormal conditions of weather, and 

 with ordinary precautions, there is every prospect that the 

 cultivator will reaj) the full crop of lice he may have planted. 

 This is not so with plantains ; for despite every care, he is 

 certain to lose a considerable percentage from theft. 



It may not be generally known that on the savannah of 

 the Wakapoa Creek, a tributary of the Pomeroon, a wild rice 

 is growing. 



