156 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[December 1, 1912. 



Some Rubber Planting Notes. 



FEDERATED MALAY STATES HUBBER CO., LIMITED. 



ACCORDIXG to the annual report prepared for presenta- 

 tion to the shareholders at the annual meeting of Octo- 

 ber 30, at Antwerp, the phmted area increased during the 

 year from May 31, 1911, to May 31, 1912, from 3,824 acres to 

 4,594'/i acres, total area having increased in the same time from 

 7,264 acres to 8,2175^ acres. 



The total yield of rubber for the year was 720,853 pounds, 

 slightly over the estimate of 711,000 pounds, the average yield 

 per tree having increased from 2 pounds to 2.49 pounds, and 

 per acre from 211 pounds to 227 pounds. The cost of produc- 

 tion, including general expenses, equaled \s. 91/2(1. per pound, 

 against 2s. ^Y-d. for the previous year, the increased number of 

 trees tapped and the higher yield per tapped tree causing this 

 reduction. For the year 1912-1913 the estimate is 1,000,000 

 pounds of dry rubber. 



SAPUMALKANDE RUBBER COMPANY, LIMITED. 



The total harvested for the first three quarters of 1912 was 

 149,916 pounds (against about 90,000 for corresponding period 

 of 1911), of which 76,600 pounds were sold at an average gross 

 price of 4.J. %d., forward contracts for 13,440 pounds No. 1 having 

 been made at an average gross price of 4.f. 8^d. Forward con- 

 tracts for 1913 represent 36,000 pounds at a gross average 

 of As. 8.33rf. 



SEAPORT (SELANGOR) RUBBER ESTATE, FEDERATED MALAY STATES. 



Having produced in the year ended June 30, 1911, a yield of 

 17,717 pounds, the figures for the year ended June 30, 1912, of 

 130,291 pounds show more than a seven-fold increase in the 

 production of the Seaport Rubber Estate. 



The cost of production was 2s. 0.38d. per pound, or, includ- 

 ing all London charges, 2s. 6.S4d. per pound. 



MALAYAN GOVERNMENT WARNING INVESTORS. 



The government of the Federated Malay States has issued a 

 warning against participation in certain speculative companies. 

 During the boom of 1910 they started acquiring rubber estates, 

 but are now devoting their energies to cocoa nuts and copra. 

 In the cable which transmitted this warning it was likewise 

 stated that several retired English officials were mixed up with 

 these companies, the financial status of which is not thereby 

 strengthened. 



MALAYAN COMPANIES' RETURNS. 



The returns of six leading Malayan companies for the eight 

 months ended August 31 compare very favorably with those 

 fur tlie corresponding period of last year. Exact figures are: 



Eight months to August 31 

 1911 1912 



pounds pounds 



Anglo Malay 461,966 516,760 



Pataling 196,230 281,118 



London Asiatic 188,294 406,309 



Golden Hope 62,488 85,760 



Selaba 115,104 196,676 



Bikam 54,906 97,630 



Total ....• 1,078,9S8 1,584,253 



MR. WICKHAM'S IMPROVED SMOKING APPARATUS. 



In the October issue attention was called to the fact that the 

 new smoking apparatus designed by Mr. H. A. Wickham and 

 made by David Bridge & Co. was to be shortly demonstrated at 



the works of the Colombo Commercial Co. According to the 

 "Colombo Observer," the demonstration has now taken place, 

 with the result that a block has been produced resembling fine 

 hard Para in appearance, but on being cut was seeh to be finely 

 laminated, each Hake of rubber having been well smoked. The 

 block produced -vvas about nine inches or a foot square, and at 

 the time of writing was not quite hard. 



This condition would be attained in about a fortnight, and 

 then its appearance would closely approximate that of hard 

 Para. 



The process is interesting. Latex is poured into a revolving 

 drum, smoked and pressed. In the Amazon the smoking is done 

 with fuel obtained from the palms. The palms, however, are 

 different from those growing in Ceylon, but Mr. Wickham 

 thinks that the local palm tree will be quite suitable for his 

 process. The machine at present is foot powered, but it is 

 adaptable for belt drive. There is a possibility of a further 

 demonstration in Colombo. Those who have seen both the 

 rubber and the process are convinced that it is a good thing, and 

 may have an important bearing on the plantation industry. 



PROSPECTS OF SOUTHERN INDIA. 



The report of Harrisons & Crosfield (Limited), London, in, 

 speaking of the acquisition of the business of Cameron & Co., 

 of Quilon. Southern India, adds: 



"We decided to extend the interests the company had in 

 Southern India, which country, we feel, has a great future be- 

 fore it in connection with the tea and rubber industries, having 

 many natural and economic advantages for the production of 

 both." 



As this company acts as secretary for various large lubber 

 companies, it is in touch with the situation generally. 



FEDERATED MALAY STATES RUBBER EXPORTS. 



1910. 1911. 1912. 



lbs. lbs. lbs. 



January 768,743 1.329,170 2.730,576- 



Februarv 728,458 1,490.849 2,715,767 



March ." 899.383 1,916,219 3,089,583 



April 1.123.097 1,235.917 2.285.390 



Mav 877,435 1,147.488 2,255,034 



June 879,675 1.229,754 • 2,305,915 



Julv 971,469 1.581.993 2,695,861 



August 981,022 1,651,845 3,655.-^35 



September 1,110,476 1,677,062 2,968,121 



October 1.484,847 2,182,857 3,210,831 



Total 9,824,605 15,443,154 27,912,613 



By the above returns it will be seen that this year's rubber 

 exports from the Federated Malay States are so far nearly double 

 those for the corresponding period of last year, and almost three 

 times those for the first ten months of 1910. 



RUBBER EXPORTS FROM PANAMA. 



According to the report of the German commercial expert for 

 the West Coast of South America, the rubber exports of Panama 

 are still inconsiderable ; planting being only as yet in its com- 

 mencement. Good prospects, however, exist for the future. 

 Castiiha elastica is found in nearly all parts of the interior, and 

 a little rubber has been exported for many years. In former 

 years the Indians used to cut down the trees for the sake of 

 the latex; but more recently they have been re-planting. The 

 plantations are, however, still too young to produce a yield. The 

 rubber exported as "Panama Rubber" is quoted in Germany at 

 the same price as Peru rubber. 



