EAST INDIAN EXPERIMENTS. 15 



the plantations of Mexico seem to be outside the natural range of 

 Castilla, as they have found it necessary to import the seeds from 

 other. districts. Others are in localities where the rubber tree grows 

 wild but produces little or no rubber. For example, in Soconusco it 

 would be entirely possible to establish a rubber plantation on the 

 lower slopes of the mountainous and humid coffee district, where 

 wild Castilla is not uncommon. Fortunately, however, rubber plant- 

 ing has been confined to the warmer and drier coast plain and to 

 localities where both wild and planted trees have been found produc- 

 tive. That it will become possible by correct methods to produce 

 rubber in countries where the tree is not native, and even in localities 

 where the wild trees do not yield well, is to be expected, but it can 

 scarcely be repeated too often that the planting of more than experi- 

 mental quantities under untried conditions is a hazardous enterprise, to 

 say the least, and not to be indulged in except by those who can 

 afford to lose. 



In the British dependencies of the Malay peninsula, Para rubber 

 for several years past has enjoyed an era of rapidly increasing popu- 

 larity, heightened recently by the fact that some of the earlier plant- 

 ings have begun to produce and that good prices have been obtained 

 for the samples shipped to Europe. But even yet the prize of success 

 may escape, since it appears that the new East Indian Para rubber, 

 though received with high approval by the importers, has been found 

 seriously defective in quality. 



We have already expressed our opinion of samples of the cultivated rubber from 

 the Malay states, which, while attractive in appearance, do not really resemble the 

 fine Para rubber now in use. It is much softer than the Brazilian product, and of 

 much shorter "fiber." It could not be used, for example, in thread, elastic bands, 

 or any fine, pure gum goods. In solution, it quickly loses its tenacity, so that it 

 would not do for high-grade cements. And it readily softens with age. Perhaps 

 some of these defects might be removed by the introduction in the East of the 

 methods of coagulation employed in the Amazon rubber camps, but we are disposed 

 to believe that the Eastern planters have really produced a new grade of rubber, and 

 that the Para article can never wholly be duplicated by them. It is to be under- 

 stood, of course, that the rubber is valuable, and will find a ready market at a price 

 which is likely to yield a profit, but such samples as have reached us, valued from 

 the manufacturer's standpoints, would rank at least 25 per cent lower than fine Para. 



The good prices realized in London, doubtless, have been due to the cleanly 

 appearance of the new rubber. And they have been based on the judgment of 

 brokers*, rather than results of practical tests in the factory. * * * The manu- 

 facturer's test is the one by which the value of this rubber will be judged finally, 

 regardless of what may be the judgment of brokers to-day. We do not mean to 

 dampen the enthusiasm of the planters, but there is such a thing as basing their 

 plans upon estimates of profits that are impossible. a 



It is certainly to be hoped that this disappointing report can be 

 traced to some accident to the samples condemned, or that the quality 



« India Rubber World, 1902. 



