May 1, 1913.1 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



441 



PROPOSED TROPICAL COLLEGE FOR CEYLON. 



AT one time the more gathering of tropical produce brought 

 wealth to the discoverers, but now-a-days systematic and 

 scientific cultivation is imperatively needed. Special training is 

 moreover required, as the most efficient agriculturist of the West, 

 when called to reside in the East, has to start his agricultural 

 education afresh, building up his knovkdedgc by experience. 



The prominence given to the subject of a Tropical Agricultural 

 College through the article in the London "Times," referred to 

 editorially in the April issue of this journal, has attracted atten- 

 tion in the East. The Ceylon "Observer," in commenting on the 

 proposition of such a college in the West Indies, remarks : 



"The idea of such a university is one worthy of every support, 

 for its success would mean profitable employment for those in the 

 tropical zone and tliosc at home. The scheme is full of possibili- 

 ties, and it is to be hoped, will materialize. . . . Rubber is a case 

 in point." 



Meanwhile it is of interest to note, that an elTort is being made 

 in Ceylon to secure the Tropical College for that island. A strong 

 and representative committee has been formed, which has held 

 several meetings with that object in view. A memorandum had 

 been drawn up urging that Ceylon is the most centrally situated 

 tropical possession of the British Crown and therefore thj most 

 couvenient center in the East for the college, witli, moreover, its 

 tropical planting industries at hand. 



Peradeniya, it is remarked, is already a center of study, re- 

 search and instruction, and would be the most suitable location 

 for the college, vifhich would subsequently become one of the 

 colleges of the University of Ceylon, when the latter was estab- 

 lished in the course of time. A site of 40 acres had been reserved 

 for college buildings on this experimental station, which covers 

 500 acres. Rubber, tea, cocoa and cocoanuts are now grown on 

 plantations, while experiments are conducted with a variety of 

 other product. With this view, the raising of a fund to go 

 towards the endowment of such a college was proposed in the 

 memorandum. 



On the suggestion of Mr. E. Rosling, a cable was drafted to the 

 London "Times," drawing attention to the meetings and to Cey- 

 lon's reasons for asking for the college. The memorandum re- 

 ferred to was drawn up by Mr. R. N. Lyne, the Director of 

 Agriculture. 



OFFICIAL REPORT ON CEYLON EXHIBIT AT NEW 



YORK. 



TX the .April number of The Ixdia Rubber World reference was 

 * made to the report of Mr. Leonard Wray, the Malayan Com- 

 missioner, upon his section at the New York exposition. Since 

 then the report of Mr. F. Crosbie-Roles, the Ceylon commissioner, 

 dealing with the exhibit under his charge, has come to hand in the 

 "Times of Ceylon," of which he is editor. 



In his opinion, the New York International Rubber Exposition 

 was a decided success from the plantation-producers' point of 

 view. He adds, that as all plantation rubber is called Ceylon 

 rubber by the trade in America, it would have been lamentable 

 had the island not participated in the first exposition in the coun- 

 try of largest consumption. He refers to the rubber-testing 

 machines of the Bureau of Standards, Washington; suggesting 

 that it would be desirable to offer that department samples of first 

 grade Ceylon rubber, with a view to best plantation being men- 

 tioned in future specifications, for which hard fine Para continues 

 to be the sole standard. 



Reference is made to the commissioner's efforts to promote the 

 establishment of a fast line of steamers from Ceylon to the 

 Atlantic ports of America, in view of the largely increased ship- 

 ments of rubber and other produce. The British Consulate 

 General at New York had promised to do all in its power to 

 facilitate trade between Ceylon and America. 



With reference to the question of direct trading as compared 

 with purchases for America through London, Mr. Crosbie-Roles 

 remarks that the increased consumption of plantation rubber is 

 what all planters desire, and that it will soon be demonstrated 

 whether London can maintain its position as the chief medium 

 between the East and West. 



With regard to the American consumption of rubber, the com- 

 missioner expresses the opinion that America will want all Ceylon 

 can supply; adding that there would be a great improvement in 

 evenness of quality as the trees matured, and as the output of the 

 individual plants became larger manufacturers would also better 

 understand plantation rubber. 



Many other features of the exposition and conference are like- 

 wise dealt with in this interesting report. 



PLANTERS' ASSOCIATION OF CEYLON. 



D UUP.F.R occupied a leading position among the subjects dealt 

 ■'■ ^ with at the recent annual meeting of the Planters' Associa- 

 tion of Ceylon, when the fifty-ninth yearly report was presented. 

 During the past season new clearings had not been extensive; 

 operations of this character having been chiefly limited to clear- 

 ing and planting by the small native land owners. Owing to the 

 S. W. monsoon having been abnormally heavy, tapping was 

 carried on with difficulty in certain districts, with a consequent 

 loss of crop. 



While pricking is still in vogue in .some cases, tapping is prin- 

 ci[)ally restricted to paring. The importance is emphasized of 

 only cutting bark, which is completely renewed. Differences of 

 opinion have prevailed as to thinning out ; there being some ad- 

 vocates of a maximum number of a hundred trees per acre, while 

 others claim that 150 or even" 200 trees to the acre can be grown 

 if kept in a high state of cultivation. 



With regard to preparation, a tendency is recorded towards the 

 smoke cure ; the benelits of which consist in the action of the 

 constituents of the smoke, directly upon the proteid matter con- 

 tained in the rubber latex. It is considered necessary to retain 

 as much proteid matter as possible in the prepared rubber. The 

 report continues : 



"This question is an important one. if plantation rubber is to 

 compete, quality for quality, with the product of the Amazon 

 which is at present the acknowledged standard. There is 

 undoubtedly room for a large amount of research work in this 

 connection, together with the invention of machinery and appli- 

 ances to carry it out economically and on practical lines." 



Total shipments of Ceylon rubber had been: 1909 — 1,372,416 

 pounds; 1910—3.298,652 pounds; 1911—7,154,658 pounds; 1912— 

 15.001.075 pounds. 



Reference was made in the report to tlie benefits Ceylon might 

 anticipate from participation in the recent New York exposition. 



In addressing the meeting, Mr. G. G. Bliss, the retiring chair- 

 man, moved the adoption of the report and referred to the 

 services rendered planting interests by Sir Henry McCallum, the 

 retiring governor, particularly through the creation of an Agri- 

 cultural Department. He likewise alluded to the benefits the 

 planting community would receive from the appointment of 

 Mr. R. N. Lyne. as head of that department. 



Ainong other subjects, the question of motor transport was 

 discussed ; a committee being appointed to deal with the matter, 

 in its relation to Ceylon planting interests. 



INCREASED YIELD OF LUMUI ESTATES. 



At the recent annual general meeting of this company, it was 

 stated that the original estimate of 60,000 pounds of rubber for 

 the year 1912 had been more than doubled in the actual yield, 

 which amounted to 139.000 pounds. The estimate for the cur- 

 rent year is about 250,000 pounds. 



