August 1, 1913.J 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



575 



The Editor's Book Table. 



L'APPAREIL LATICIFERE DES CAOUTCHOUTIERS. BY DR. 

 Alphonse Meunier, Professor at the University of Louvain; 1912, Brus- 

 sels. I?nprimerie Industrielle & Financierc. [Paper; text, 52 pages; 

 plates, 8 pages.] 



This highly artistic treatise constitutt-s the first scctioti of a 

 series of "technical memorancla," published by the Agricultural 

 Service of the Belgian Colonial Ministry, and deals with the 

 latex-conveying system of the rubber tree. In his introductory 

 remarks, the author comments on the fact that the discernment 

 of suitable varieties, and the choice of the forms of cultivation 

 and exploitation most appropriate to each description, are ques- 

 tions of grave interest ; particularly when plants are removed 

 from their natural habitat, for the benefit of regions newly 

 opened to human activity. This subject, it is added, specially 

 affects the Belgian Colonial Ministry, with a view of avoiding 

 the recurrence of the difficulties experienced in the past, and 

 of assuring future success. 



In this connection, the anatomical structure of trees containing 

 rubber calls for attention, the scientific knowledge of the dis- 

 tribmion of the late.x-conveying system being the necessary 

 foundation of any judgment formed on the question. 



Dr. Meunier, in view of the importance of the subject to the 

 Belgian Colonial .'\dministration, has devoted hs initial researches 

 to the following varieties which have been adopted in the colo- 

 nies for systematic cultivation : 



I. Asclepiadacea2 — Periploca and Cryptostegia. 

 II. Apocynaceae — CUtandra, Landolphia and Funtumia. 



III. Euphorbiacex — Hevea and Manihot. 



IV. Urticaceae — Fictis and Caslilloa. 



As known, the structure of the latex conveying system, as 

 well as that of the other constituent systems, remains more or 

 less alike in the different representatives of the same natural 

 group; harmony being thus demonstrated between the internal 

 and external characteristics displayed by members of the one 

 family. This fact has enablc<l the author to dispense with the 

 multiplication of the subjects treated. 



In the text of this comprehensive summary, the four varieties 

 named are treated in detail, and conclusions drawn regarding 

 them. 



The eight graphically executed colored plates, each containing 

 some ten botanical representations, form a valuable addition to 

 the work and emphasize its salient features. Much credit is due 

 to the author and artists engaged in the production of this 

 compendium. 



TRADE MARK LAWS OF THE WORLD AND UNFAIR TRADE. 

 By B. Singer. Chicago, 1913. [Cloth. 686 pages. Price, $5.] 



While the American import commission merchant has plenty 

 of worries in his relations with foreign ■countries, the export 

 merchant is exposed to special troubles in the matter of trade 

 marks. Owing to the lack of uniformity in the laws of the vari- 

 ous commercial nations of the world, experience with one coun- 

 try is of little service when dealing with another. Hence the 

 value of such a detailed and comprehensive work as that of Mr. 

 .Singer.. 



It is not sufficient for a work to contain information, but it 

 must be in such form as to be easily accessible when wanted. 

 This object has been attained in the case of Mr. Singer's book, 

 by alphabetical division of the countries of the world, and a 

 classification of the regulations aflfecting each branch of the trade. 



A feature of practical utility consists in the introductions lead- 

 ing up to the details regarding the respective countries, in 

 which the principal geographical and statistical facts affecting 

 each nation are condensed. The work displays the result of 

 much painstaking and arduous labor, involving close study of in- 

 ternational trade-mark legislation. 



ZOLI^HANDBUCH FUR DIE GUMMI INDUSTRIE. BERLIN, 1910. 

 Union Deutsche VerlagsgescUschaft. [Cloth, 232 pages.] 



Duties form such an important factor in modern business 

 calculations that anything tending to their simplification is 

 necessarily of value. Hence the "Handbook of Duties for 

 the Rubber Branch" is a valuable help to those engaged in the 

 export trade. The duties levied on rubber goods in 71 coun- 

 tries of the world are shown in detail. As a work of refer- 

 ence this summary will be appreciated for its careful and ac- 

 curate compilation. 



DUNGUNGSVERSUCHE IN DEN DEUTSCHEN KOLONIEN. BER- 

 lin, 1912. Reichs-Kolonia! Amt. [Paper, 72 pages.] 



One of the principal characteristics of the last decade in 

 German agriculture has been the recognition of the necessity 

 existing for the systematic use of artificial fertilizers, to re- 

 place the nutriment drawn from the soil by the constantly 

 increasing volume of the crops harvested. Even in the least 

 progressive districts of Germany there is hardly an agricul- 

 turist who has not tried these substitutes, and in consequence in- 

 corporated them in his plans. 



In the above report on "Trials of Fertilization in the German 

 Colonies," the Imperial Colonial Office remarks that the practical 

 neglect of this subject in the German possessions may be ex- 

 plained by two facts. In the first place, the idea has been prev- 

 alent that the virgin soil of the hitherto uncultivated area is 

 sufficiently rich not to require, for a long time to come, the same 

 measures as have been found necessary in Germany as to fertili- 

 zation. Another reason has been that the principal forms of 

 cultivation in the German colonies are without a parallel in 

 agriculture at home, belonging there rather to the forest industry. 

 Hence it was concluded that fertilization was not required in 

 the German possessions. 



The Colonial Office expresses the opinion that, however 

 plausible these two views may seem as to the needlessness of 

 artificial (or of any) fertilization, they will not stand close in- 

 vestigation. 



In the year 1911-1912 there were made in the German 

 colonies 97 tests of fertilization, including 14 of rubber. The 

 number for 1912-1913 was estimated at 139. Full details of 

 the various tests are quoted in this valuable report. 



WOELD-WIDE ECONOMICS. 



In an issue of 376 pages, the new German quarterly, the "Welt- 

 wirthschaftliches Archiv" has taken its place in the economic 

 field, under the direction of Dr. Bernhard Harms. The first 

 number contains an editorial on "Universal Economics." Herr 

 Karl Thiess, of Dantzig, deals with "The Universal Railway 

 Gauge." while Herr Fitger handles the subject of "Marine In- 

 surance in the World's Commerce." Professor Liefmann de- 

 scribes the "International Organization of the Frankfurt Metal 

 Trade," and there are other interesting articles on economic 

 subjects. 



The current literature aflfecting international commerce is 

 fully noticed, and certain sections deal with the newest books 

 on the various subjects of special or general commercial inter- 

 est. Statistical returns of the international trading of the 

 leading nations form an interesting feature and enhance the 

 valiie of the publication as a work of reference. It is evidently 

 the result of much careful investigation and compilation. 



Should be on every rubber man's desk — Crude Rubber an<f 

 Compounding Ingredients ; Rubber Country of the .Amazon ; 

 Rubber Trade Directory of the World. 



