364 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[April 1, 1913. 



general depends on the size of the trunk, which it is naturally 

 endeavored to enlarge as rapidly as possible. Attempts have 

 been, however, wrongly made to tap trees from tliree to five 

 years old, without considering the medium quality of the rubber 

 they might furnish. 



Definite rules for tapping, it is remarked, can only be fixed 

 after long years of experience, but in most cases the half herring- 

 bone on one quarter of the circumference has been adopted. In 

 this way the bark is spared as much as possible. Each zone 

 tapped rests for three years; time being thus given for its wounds 

 to heal before fresh incisions are made. 



No positive indications are available with respect to the time 

 needed for the regeneration of the bark of old trees; nor as to 

 the age when they cease to be tappaljle. This, it is added, is all 

 a matter of experience and observation. 



COST OF UPKEEP. 

 Cost of up-keep varies according to the ages of the trees on 

 the plantations. As the shade becomes more dense, spontaneous 

 vegetation becomes more rare, and the cost of up-keep diminishes. 

 The following costs, given by leading companies, are quoted : 



Up-keep per 

 acre, 1910. 



Kapar Rubber Estate (SO per cent, in bearing) $7.12 



Harpenden (31 per cen;. in bearing) 4.32 



Highlands & Lowlands (85 per cent, in bearing) 7.61 



Pataling (60 per cent, in bearing) 7.80 



Kuala Lumpur (productive surface) 3.23 



Kuala Lumpur (unproductive surface) 7.75 



The figures of Kapar, Highlands & Lowlands, and Pataling 

 include not only the regular expenses of up-keep. but also those 

 caused by the removal of trunks and roots. Eliminating these 

 expenses, which really belong to the initial cost, it is estimated 

 that the yearly average per acre equals $5 for a plantation in 

 full yield. This figure, it is added, is inferior to the cost of up- 

 keep of tea and coffee plantations, which for the same surface 

 and period represent $15 to $20. 



YIELDS PER TREE AND ACRE. 

 The reports of different companies show various yields, being 

 based on an average of 150 trees to the acre, while accidental 

 destruction or loss through disease reduces the average after 

 the fourteenth year to 125. 



Yields per year 

 ."Xge of trees, per acre, per tree. 

 1I)S. lbs. 



Batu Tiga Estate 4 90 0.60 



Damansara 4 92 0.61 



Bikam 5 250 1.66 



Seafield 6 450 3.00 



Seremhan 6 572 3.S0 



Klanang 10 741 3.93 



Seremban 11 870 6.96 



Federated Malay 12 1 ,030 8.24 



Federated Malay 13 1.147 9.18 



Kuala Lumpur 14 1,302 10.42 



Experience has shown that the yield of trees regularly tapped 

 increases from the fourth year up ; these results in various cases 

 surpassing all expectations. At the same time, it is added, it is 

 better only to count on a regular production of 500 pounds to 

 the acre. One English rubber expert will not endorse a higher 

 estimate than a maximum production of 3(X) pounds per acre. 



The quality of rubber depends not only on the nature of the 

 soil and the climate, but also on the age of the trees producing 

 it. Young Heveas give a resinous product, inferior in value to 

 that of older trees. 



FIRST LATEX. 



It is further added that as long as no uniform method of 

 coagulation has been found, based on the principle of smoking. 



it will not be possible for the different plantations to deliver a 

 uniform product. However, a system of classification has been 

 elaborated in London, Antwerp and Hamburg, where the term 

 "First Latex" has been adopted as signifying a plantation rubber 

 made from the latex of Hevea Brasiliensis, collected immediately 

 after tapping, and not containing any traces of scrap or foreign 

 laticcs. To be classed as belonging to this type, the rujjber ought 

 to be nervy, without any admixture of eartli, and must not be 

 mouldy or sticky. 



"Prime Plantation" rubber formerly commanded in the Lon- 

 don market 4d. to Sd. more per pound than "Fine Para" ; the 

 reason of this difference being the smaller loss which plantation 

 rubbers suffer in washing. In Hamburg, in contracts for later 

 delivery, "First Late.x" is valued at the equivalent of about 3 

 pence per pound above "Fine Para." 



These facts show the strong position which plantation rubber 

 has attained on the market, and which is expected to become 

 more marked as the quality is improved. 



PRICE OF RUBBER LANDS. 



When planting companies first started in Southern Asia, land 

 was very dear, as much as £5 sterling ($25) per acre having 

 been paid. Today, however, matters are different. Not only can 

 good lands for rubber plantations be obtained, it is stated, at 10.f. 

 C$2.50) per acre, in Malaya and the Dutch Indies, but certain 

 companies which had acquired too extensive holdings are trying 

 to resell part of them at low prices. 



LABOR. 



The extension of Asiatic rubber cultivation depends to a great 

 extent upon the question of labor ; the scarcity of which has 

 been exaggerated. The cost of hiring coolies has, it is true, con- 

 siderably increased, but the immigration of Chinese and Tamils 

 has furnished the Dutch possessions with an abundance of work- 

 ers. The number of laborers arriving there amounted in 1909 

 to 24,568; in 1910 to 58,616; while for the first eight months of 

 1911 70,000 arrived, compared with 45,000 for the corresponding 

 period of the preceding year. India and China furnish the 

 greater proportion of the immigrants to the Malay States. 



Great efforts have been made by the Government of the Dutch 

 Indies to improve the condition of the coolies, particularly on the 

 east coast of Sumatra. Before granting permission for estates 

 to receive workers, the administration is thoroughly posted as 

 to their situation and their sanitary conditions, the mode of liv- 

 ing and the medical service available. The establishment of 

 workers' settlements under the most favorable hygienic condi- 

 tions forms an important step. The scarcity of coolies on cer- 

 tain estates is attributed to the insufficient measures there 

 adopted regarding their food and lodging. Complaints have 

 been heard from Java as to Chinese workers, who are more 

 expensive than Tamils, while their work is defective. On the 

 Malay Peninsula and in Sumatra tapping is effected by contract 

 workers, who remain a long time on the same plantation, reg- 

 ular and satisfactory work being thus ensured ; while in Java, 

 where the work is done by free workers, good results are not 

 easilv obtained. 



Such are a few of the points brought forward by Herr 

 Helfferich in his review of the subject covered. 



EAST INDIAN POTENTATES ADOPTING AMERICAN AUTOS. 



According to the "Manila Daily Bulletin," East Indian sover- 

 eign princes are fast abandoning their gorgeous formal equipages 

 of state for motor cars made in the United States. Five 

 Maharajahs have lately become owners of American automo- 

 biles. The upper classes in India generally are developing a 

 similar tendency, owing to the saving of time thus effected. 



