June 1, 1914.1 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



511 



Economical Questions and Comnu-rcc (1 paper witli 4 siili- 

 (livisions). 



While the full program of the Congress is to be published later, 

 the summary states that addresses will lie delivered by some 

 well-known authorities, a delinitc agreement having already been 

 made. 



Among the speakers wlio will deliver addresses are: Prof. h\ 

 Went, Utrecht; Henry C. Pearson, editor of The India 

 Rubber Wori.d, New York, and Prof. F.dwin Raur, Herlin. The 

 subject announced for Mr. Pearson's address is: "What Manu- 

 facturers Desire in Crude Rubber." 



EXCURSIONS. 



It is inlondcd during the week following the Congress, that is, 

 Septemlier 12 to 19, to organize several excursions to well-know'n 

 rubber estates in West Java, including a visit to the government 

 Botanical (jardens. Besides estates planted with Ilcvca, otiiers 

 where ficiis is growing will also lie visited. This matter is in 

 the hands of a local subcommittee. 



The program will be replete witli interesting features of much 

 importance to the rubber industry. 



PRELIMINARY PROGRAM OF THE 

 RUBBER CONGRESS. 



BATAVIA 



THE preliminary i)rugram of tlie International Rubber Con- 

 gress to be held at Batavia. Java, from September 7 to 12 

 of the present year is a notable one. This program, copies of 

 which may be obtained on api)lication to Dr. A. A. L. Rutgers, 

 second secretary of the Congress Committee, Buitenzorg, Java, 

 and mention of which was made on page 385 of our April num- 

 ber, is given below : 



Monday, September 7 : Address by Prof. F. A. F. C. Went, of 

 Utrecht University, on "Science and Tropical Cultivation." 



Address by Henry C. Pearson, New York, on "What Manu- 

 facturers Desire in Crude Rubber." 



Tuesday, September 8 : Address by Prof. Erwin Baur, of Ber- 

 lin University, on "The Progress of Investigations as to Heredity 

 and Their Importance for the Raising of Tropical Cultivated 

 Plants, Particularly of Rubber Plants." 



Discussion on "Selection of Hevca." Introductory paper liy 

 Dr. P. J. S. Cramer, Buitenzorg. 



Discussion on "Diseases and Pests of Hcvca." Introductory 

 papers by Dr. C. J. J. van Hall. Buitenzorg; Dr. A. A. L. Rutgers, 

 Buitenzorg. and A. Sharpies, Kuala Lumpur. 



Wednesday, September 9: Address by Dr. SchiifTner, of the 

 Medical Institute, Medan, Deli, on "Hygienic Measures." 



Discussion on "Catch Crops and Intercrops." Introductory 

 papers by Dr. Th. Wurth and Dr. P. Arens, Malang, Java; Dr. 

 C. J. J. van Hall. Buitenzorg; Dr. J. W. Gallagher, Deli, Sumatra, 

 and R. W. Munro, Morib, Selangor. 



Discussion on Planting Distances and Thinning Out." Intro- 

 ductory papers liy C. M. Hamaker. Kiara, Pajoeng. Java, and the 

 Hon. E. B. Skinner, Kuala Lumpur. 



Discussion on "Artificial Fertilisers and Green Manures for 

 Hcvca." Introductory papers by Dr. A. W. K. dejong. .Buiten- 

 zorg; Mr. Callandar, Kalthur. Ceylon; M. Barrowcliflf, Kuala 

 Lumpur, and F. G. Spring, Kuala Lumpur. 



Thursday, September 10: Di.scussion on "Tapping and Tap- 

 ping Systems." Introductory papers by Dr. A. W. K. de Jong. 

 Buitenzorg, and F. G. -Spring. 



Discussion on "Preparation of Rubber." Introductory papers 

 by Dr. A. J. Ultee. Djember, Java; B. J. Eaton. Kuala Lumpur; 

 Stafford Whitby, Kajang, and Sydney Morgan. F. M. S. 



Evening address on the "Collection of Rubber in Brazil," by 

 Dr. P. J. S. Cramer. Buitenzorg. 



Friday'. September 11 : Discussion on the "Reduction of Cost 

 Price of Rubber." How to realize it. Introductory papers by 

 E. .\. O. \'ervooren. Bandoeng, Java, and E. Macfadyen, F. M. S. 



Demonstration of the "Scientific Methods of Rubber Testing," 

 on the Exhibition grounds, by B. J. Eaton. Kuala Lumpur, Prof. 

 G. van Iterson and J. G. Fol, Delft, Holland. 



S.\turday. September 12 : Address by J. G. Fol. Delft, on 

 "The Results on Scientific Testing of the Empirical .Appreciation 

 of Raw Rubber." Discussion on "Methods of Testing Raw Rub- 

 ber." 



Introductory papers by J. G. Fol. Delft; B. J. Eaton, Kuala 

 Lumpur, and Dr. \\'. R. Tromp de Haas. Buitenzorg. 



AMANI AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTE, GERMAN EAST AFRICA. 

 This institute made considerable additions to its plantations 

 during the year 1912-1913; this development allowing of an en- 

 larged distribution of seeds and plants. -As the cultivation of 

 Maiiiliot does not seem to have been successful, the demand for 

 seeds of that variety has fallen ofT. 



On the other hand, llcica Brasiliciisis has been developed in a 

 very satisfactory manner, producing an abundance of seeds, 

 which, as well as plants, were freely distributed. 



Kickxia ekistica grew well, but the demand for seeds exhibited 

 a falling off. Fictis claslica showed good development, but only 

 the small-leaved variety coming from Sumatra is available for 

 rubber. The older CastUloas, which yielded an inferior rubber, 

 have been to a great extent cut down and the land used for the 

 cidtixation of other varieties. 



Ktdjber vines have been planted at Amani, where the large- 

 leaved varieties have thriven better than the small leaved, which 

 only produce a limited amount of foliage after five years. 



The various kinds of Pulaquiuni (gutta percha) have made fair 

 progress, but there has been no marked increase in quantity, as 

 there was no propagation by slips. 



VV.\SinNG LOSSES ON K.\ST .\FRIC.\N RUliHER. 

 The report of the Biological Agricultural Institute, Amani 

 (German East Africa) for the year 1912-1913, states that various 

 samples of Manihot rubber mostly came for testing as to loss in 

 washing, the investigation of chemical composition not being a 

 ni.itter at present required. One sample from Udjidji showed 

 loss in washing 21.6 per cent., resin 10 per cent, and allnimen 4.6 

 |)er cent. : being somewhat high in resin, but otherwise normal. 

 Scrap rubber from Morogoro showed loss in washing 27 per 

 cent., while balls from the same source gave losses of 37.8 per 

 cent., and 34.6 per cent. The balls showed traces of larvae de- 

 posited by a moth. 



RUBBER IN SOUTHERN KAMERUN. 



From the annual report of the Hamburg Association of West 

 African Merchants, it would seem that the fall of rubber has led 

 to a collapse of the economic life of Southern Kamerun, which is 

 wholly dependent upon the production of rubber. Business was 

 in many instances arrested or restricted. It is anticipated that the 

 development of the colony will be set back for years. 



'1 he government has expressed its readiness to convert the 

 export tax of about S cents per pound into a graduated tax, ac- 

 cording to value. .At the same time no duty would be levied when 

 tile market price did not approach a remunerative basis. 



PROPOSED AMALGAMATION OF SOUTHERN INDIA COMPANIES. 



Recent advices from London report negotiations for the amal- 

 gamation of three Southern India companies, the Travancore^ 

 f)rkadcn River and Paloor. Their respective capitals are £40,000, 

 £25,000 and £40,000, their areas being 1,738. 779 and 474 acres. 



The three properties together would, it is considered, form a 

 complete and compact estate. .'Another advantage would be that 

 the amalgamation would open a market for the shares of the 

 ccjinpanies. which are individually too small for that purpose. 



THE WORST OVER. 



In the view of the "Financial Times" of London, recently ex- 

 pressed, rubber has seen its worst days. It is added that the 

 price may ultimately reach Is. 6d. (36.49 cents) with a less dis- 

 astrous effect on plantation companies than when it went down 

 to 2s. (48.65 cents) in September last. Remarkable economies 

 have been made in working costs, while allowances to reserve 

 and depreciation funds have taken a prominent place. Con- 

 servatism is also being shown in restricted tapping and in 

 greater attention to questions of preparing rubber ; all tending to 

 the establishment of the industry on a sound financial basis. 



