August i, 1905.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



XXXIX 



THE ZAPOTE TREE AND CHICLE GUM. 



1!Y A. J. LKSl'INASSK. 



AMONG the numerous natural products abounding in this 

 fertile region (The Mexican canton of Tuxpam] the Za- 

 pote tree stands prcuniinent, its gum and wood during many 

 decades having formed a source of wealth to a large number of 

 individuals and corporations, native and foreign, which have 

 obtained from the state government proprieiary rights or con- 

 cessions to extract Chicle gum. 



The wood of the Zapote tree I is dai k purplish red. and al- 

 though exceedingly hard when first cut it is easily worked un- 

 til thoroughly seasoned, when only the finest edged tools have 

 any elTect on its flint like surface. Sharp pointed nails can be 

 driven into the wood only about an inch. The fiber is so dense 

 that the wood sinks rapidly in water, and will remain immersed 

 for years without being affected in the least. Zapote door 

 frames iii the ruins of Uxmal are as perfect to day as when 

 first placed m position. The wood is susceptible of a beautiful 

 polish. The average Zapote will square 5 to S inches and oc- 

 casionally 2 feet. It IB claimed that the bark is employed to 

 great advantage in tanning processes, and that leather so treat- 

 ed is superior to other kinds. 



The magnificent trees are rapidly disappearing, as the opera- 

 tors are taking no precautions to protect them from the destruc- 

 tive methods of the chiclei os, who, in their greed to obtain all 

 the sap possible, cut the trees so deep that they do not recover 

 from the etlects of the incisions, but gradually decay. Before 

 the trees reach this stage, and while still easy to work, they are 

 cut down and shaped into building material. 



The Chicle industry extends from this section as far as the 

 extreme southern portion of Yucatan, which produces the larg 

 est yield, but in quality the gum is inferior to that obtained 

 from this section, especially in the Tuxpam district. The latter 

 gum commands a higher price in the United States, to which it 

 is almost exclusively shipped. 



Zapote trees thrive best on high, rolling land, and although 



* United States consul at Tuxpam, Mexico ; extract from a forthcoming olTicial 

 report. 



\ Ackras sapottiyOi the natural order Sapotacfir. The same natural order em- 

 braces the Renus Isonandrti, which yields Gutta-percha, and the genus Mitiiuso/'s, 

 [he source of Ilalata. [See an article on " The Basis of The Chewing Gum Trade," 

 in The India Rui'.r.KR World. November lo, 1895— papre 43.] 



iHIi interest is desired of an Up-to- 

 date Rubber Factory prepared to 

 engage on an important scale in 

 tKe production of a ne>v but tKor- 

 ougKly tested Flooring' Material 

 composed of Rubber and a 'Wear 

 Resisting Substance — tKe advertiser to furnisK 

 iHe latter ready for use. XKe floor produced is 

 HigHly ornate in Design and Color ScKeme; 

 it is Durable and Extremely Economical 

 in Cost. TKe Manufacture >vill be Fully 

 Protected by Patents. Not essential tKat tKe 

 rubber factory supply any capital. Address 

 ECONOMY, c/o "TKe India Rubber World." 



trees are found on the lowlands, they are inferior in both sap 

 and wood. Continuous tapping does not appear to have a se- 

 riously detrimental effect, provided the incisions are not tf)0 

 deep. Trees are known to have been tapped for 25 years, but 

 after that time produced only from '^i pound to 2 pounds of 

 sap. If allowed to rest five or six years they will produce from 

 3 to 5 pounds. The average height of the trees is about 30 feet. 

 Zapotes are exceedingly slow in growth, and require from 4010 

 50 years to attain full height. 



The Chicle season opens early in September, though the yield 

 at this period is limited, and, owing to still copious rains, the 

 chicUros (laborers) are retarded in their work ; but this is to a 

 great extent a benefit, as rains are favorable to an abundant 

 flow of the sap, provided the rainy season is not prolonged beyond 

 October, in which case sap would contain a larger proportion 

 of water, and the loss in condensation would be heavy and the 

 product inferior. New trees will produce from 15 to 25 pounds 

 of sap, according to size. In order to produce 25 pounds a 

 tree would have to square about 2 feet and be from 25 to 30 feet 

 high. 



The process of extracting the sap is extremely primitive. 

 Open V shaped incisions are made in the tree trunks, permit- 

 ting the sap to tljw in a continuous stream. At the foot of 

 each tree a palm or other appropriate leaf is fastened, which 

 acts as a leader or gutter from which the Chicle drips into the 

 receptacle placed to receive it. 



Prices in this market range from $8 to $15 Mexican currency 

 [$3.82 to $7.16] per 25 pounds; last season the average was 

 about $14 [$6.38] per 2.5 pounds. 



Bound Yearly Volumes of 



^e India Rubber World 



For Sale at TKis Ofifice 

 PRICi: $5 EACH, PREPAID. 



RUBBER MILL MACHINERY FOR SALE. PRACTICALLY 



NEW. 



THREE Stock and Friction Calenders, size of rolLs iS" X 4^ " ; condition 

 as good as new. They can be seen standing and working.==Two Friction 

 Calenders, 20" X 48' and 20" X 36" ; practically new ; can be seen work- 

 ing. =^Fifteen Mills, in the best of condition, as good as new, size of rolls 

 15" X 36".==Five Crackers and Washers, of different sizes. ^^ Four Mills, 

 12" X 36'''.=:^One lJe%'ulcanizer for reclaiming. =^'rhree large cars, stand 

 125 pounds steam pressure; size of Devulcanizer, 6 feet diameter by 25 feet 

 long. ^=Three large '• liuflalo Forge Company" Fans that have been in use 

 six months. Size of one Fan 10 feet diameter by 5 feet ; chain gear drive with 

 chain lielt. The other two Fans are 5 feet diameter by 3 feet with upright en. 

 gine drive. Those Fans are new.^^^t )ne Hydraulic Tress 30" X 30" platens, 

 tive openings, 9" ram, practically new.^=A large lot of all sizes of Pumps. 

 =^Two Upper and Soling Calenders, size of main rolls, 12" x 30" ; two 

 shifting front rolls, 10" X y^''^ liractically new. One Soling Calender, four 

 rolls sot upright, size of rolls lo" x 22'''.==Three Lp todate liurr.stone 

 Mills, iron frames on stands, complete with shafting and pulley, size of stone, 

 3j/2 feel in diameter. =One Centrifugal Woll Washer.^= New bedplate, 

 frames, clutch and boxes of a 60' Miil.^^=Three 20' X 22''', one opening, 

 Heel Presses. ==One new 27 iir. Hall Engine. One large Wright Engine 

 as good as new and ready to work. Size of Cylinder 24' X 46 '■ • *ne 6 Hr. 

 Harris Corliss Engine which can be seen setting up at the factory of the Na- 

 tional India Rubber Co., Bristol, R I. It has never been connected. == 

 A large lot of all kinds of Rubber Mill Machinery. ==Just bought about 500 

 tons of other rubber mill machinery that is not listed here. All of this ma- 

 chinery I want to disjiose of quickly for cash. PlIIUI' Mc Grory, Trenton, 

 New Jersey. 



LASTS 



FOR RUBBER SHOES ossionino 



MIDDLESEX LAST CO., Boston, Mass., U. S. A. 



SPECIALTY 



