196 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[Januarv 1, 1913. 



soil is underlaid with a peculiar broken lava. Thus even the 

 heaviest falls do not produce running streams of water. 

 ALTITUDE. 

 The Hawaiian rubber plantations are situated from near sea 

 level to the height of about 1,400 feet. Rubber plantations are 

 mostly on the windward side of the islands, where the rainfall 

 is much higher than on the leeward side. Ceara rubber appears 

 to thrive well at the highest level at which it has been planted, 

 but Hevea seems to be more susceptible to the lower tempera- 

 tures of the higher altitudes. 



INTERPL.WTIXG. 

 On the Maunawili ranch, the cultivated area, of which is 

 largely devoted to coffee, several thousand Ceara trees have 

 been planted at regular intervals among the coffee. 



PESTS. 

 No serious pests have been encountered in Hawaii. Seea- 

 lings are sometimes attacked by cut-worms, but these pests can 

 be controlled by the use of poisoned bait or by sections of bam- 



the rubber interests in the island of Maui would be a decided 

 advantage, and a strenuous effort is being made to bring about 

 snch a combination. Three of the largest companies have com- 

 bined to the extent of employing the same manager for the 

 three concerns. Whether or not a combination is made, it is 

 certain that there will be one factory, and that the Hawaiian 

 rubber which comes on the market in the future, will be of uni- 

 form quality and standard. The methods thus far used in pre- 

 paring the rubber do not involve the use of any chemical, cither 

 in tapping, coagulating or washing. It has been found possible, 

 by observing care, and by washing in water and passmg through 

 simple rollers, to obtain a clear rubber of firm consistency and 

 good light color. 



The manager referred to as being in charge of three com- 

 panies is Mr. Wilbur A. Anderson, general manager of the 

 Nahiku Rubber Co., Limited; Hawaiian- American Rubber Co., 

 Limited, and Koolan Rubber Co., Limited. He is also super- 

 intendent of the Rubber Sub-station, United States Experimental 



The \\ ay It Is Collected fro.m 

 OF Tree. 



Ba = £ 



After Going Through Washing 

 Machine. 



Kl.\dv LuK Silir.ML.XI Tu 



boo stems being placed around each young plant. The ravages 

 of tree rats have been controlled, as a result of the thorough 

 cleaning up accomplished by spraying. There is a tendency for 

 a shot-hole fungus to become troublesome on Hevea leaves. 



CEAR.\ VS. HEVEA. 



The first plantings of rubber were almost exclusively Ceara, 

 this species having given satisfaction in Ceylon as to growth. 

 With the increased planting of Hevea in the Orient, a livelier 

 interest was manifested in Hawaii regarding that variety, and 

 all the plantations put out experimental plantings of that kind. 

 It was thought that its large yield would mkke up for its slow- 

 ness of growth. Hevea has, however, grown so slowly that the 

 tendency is at present again in favor of Ceara. In addition to 

 the ordinary Ceara {Manihot Glasiovii) experimental plantings 

 have been made of M. Dichotoma and other species of this 

 genus. 



CEARA RUBBER. 



Rubber experts who have examined the samples submitted of 

 Ceara rubber from young Hawaiian trees, have never made the 

 value more than 10 cents below that of the finest plantation 

 Para from Ceylon. The fact that Ceara has come largely from 

 wild trees and has been collected by careless methods, has placea 

 it in a position below its real value, on account of the unfavor- 

 able impression created by its appearance. Practical tests show 

 it is slightly inferior in tensile strength to the best plantation 

 Para, and that it is a little high in resin contents. These de- 

 fects may be partially due to the Hawaiian trees being young, 

 which would render them hkely to contain more resin than 

 should be found in the latex of older trees. Even prepared with- 

 out special care, Ceara rubber keeps in good condition for two 

 years or more, without losing its tensile strength or developing 

 especially disagreeable odors. 



For some time past it has been felt that a combination of all 



Station, Honolulu, and was commissioner to the recent expo- 

 sition. To his courtesy The Indi.\ Rubber World is indebted 

 for Mr. Wilcox's report, the leading points of which have been 

 reproduced above. 



The New York analysis of Ceara rubber grown in Hawaii, 

 referred to above was as follows : 



Messrs. Alexander & Baldwin, Limited, of 82 Wall street, are 

 the New York agents of the three companies under the man- 

 agement of Mr. Anderson. 



RUBBER vs. LTJXUErES, 



The value of crude rubber imported into the United States 

 during the year 1912 is estimated at $100,000,000— a very large 

 sum, but only slightly in excess of the value of the importations 

 of two classes of goods that are most distinctly luxuries. The 

 Bureau of Commerce and Labor estimates that for the year 

 just passed the importation of diamonds and other precious 

 stones will equal between $40,000,000 and $50,000,000. while the 

 value of the importation of laces and embroideries will equal the 

 same amount ; the two together will be close to $90,000,000, and 

 possibly $100,000,000, showing that crude rubber, which has long 

 since become one of the necessaries of life, holds a position of 

 about equal importance, in American consumption, with earrings, 

 brooches and millinery. 



