Jui-v 1, 1914.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



567 



Some Rubber Planting Notes. 



TECHNOLOGICAL STUDY OF CONGO RUBBERS. 



IX a comnninication tn the "Bulletin" of the I'Vench Colonial 

 Office, Messrs. C. Cheneveau and F. Heim report on two 

 samples of Congo rubber which they had recently examined. 



One of them, Funliiinia elastica from the Oubangui district, 

 was found when slightly vulcanized to be less tenacious, less 

 "nervy" and less clastic, but softer and more extensible than 

 fine Para hard cure, coming nearer to Para soft cure. If it was 

 vulcanized to a further degree, which increased its nervosity 

 and elasticity, it seemed to be more nearly equal to Para hard 

 cure. 



The other sample was of a so-called "pounded" rubber sent 

 by M. Baudon, colonial administrator, who described it as hav- 

 ing been extracted by pounding from the roots of dwarf vari- 

 eties of Landol(<hia ovaricnsis. Its technical qualities corre- 

 sponded with those found in vine rubbers. 



After slight vulcanization, it was much softer than fine Pani 

 hard cure — very extensible, but less tenacious, "nervy" and 

 elastic. Vulcanization with a higher proportion of suliihur caused 

 it to gain in elasticity and nervosity. 



Compared with Landolfhia ovaricnsis from West Africa, col- 

 lected by M. Yves Henrj-, under the same conditions of vulcan- 

 ization, it became a little softer, but also a little less "nervy" and 

 elastic. 



TRIALS OF MANURING RUBBER. 



The German Colonial Office has issued a report of the ex- 

 periments in manuring carried out in the German .African col- 

 onies in 1912 and 1913. as w'cU as of those in contemplation for 

 1914. A broad distinction is made between "one-year cultures" 

 and "permanent cultures." In the former group are included : 

 cotton, maize and potatoes, as well as six other vegetables and 

 cereals ; the second comprising rubber, coffee, cocoa, cocoa palms 

 and sisal. "Permanent cultures" require a longer time for ex- 

 periments of manuring than those with yearly crops. 



E.xperiments have been principally carried out with Manihot 

 Glaziovii trees ; measurements of girth and results of tapping 

 having been recorded for plantations at Kange, Xeusagan, 

 Mwule, Massowien, Longusa and Tanga. 



Following up previous trials, an experiment was lately carried 

 out at the Kwagundo plantation of Captain Adler in German 

 East Africa, where the soil is dark and rather heavy. The forest 

 was cleared in 1912 and rubber trees were planted at distances 

 of 13 X 16 feet. Manuring commenced on May 15, 1913. The 

 trees are now said to be thriving. 



CEYLONS COMMERCE FOR PAST TWO YEARS. 



According to the report of Consul Charles K. Moser of Colom- 

 bo, the imports of the island grew from $32,728,512 in 1903 to 

 $56,874,774 in 1912 and the exports in the same period from 

 $32,722,733 to $61,938,553. 



Comparing the exports of rubber for 1912 and 1913 tlie follow- 

 ing results are shown : 



1912. 1913. 



United Kingdom l>ounds 8,176,523 15,841,126 



United .States 4,833.a'^5 6,417.236 



Belgium 1.315,298 4,214.736 



Other countries 676,169 1,560.247 



Total 15,001,075 28,033,345 



While the larger quantities w-cnt to the three more important 

 markets the group of "other countries" showed an advance on 

 the average of about 120 per cent. The general advance repre- 

 ented about 90 per cent. 



SAPUMALKANDE RUBBER CO., LTD. (CEYLON). 



1 he total production of rubber in 1913 was 324,160 pounds 

 against 241,324 pounds secured in 1912. Inclusive cost of pro- 

 duction in 1913 was Is. 4.02d. (32.44 cents) per pound; the net 

 price realized being 2s. 5.28 d. (59.31 cents) per pound. Some 

 133 acres hitherto under tea and rubber are new under rubber 

 alone. I'"or 1914 the crop estimate is 400,000 pounds. 



RUBBER FREIGHTS FROM THE EAST. 



In commenting on the recent course of the crude rubber market, 

 the "Ceylon Observer" urges the need of correcting the great dis- 

 parity at present existing between rubber and tea freights. The 

 latter article from Calcutta pays 30 shillings or $7.30 per 50 cubic 

 feet, while rubber has to bear a rate of about 60 shillings nr 

 $14.59. 



FEDERATED MALAY STATES RUBBER EXPORTS. 



According to a cablegram from the government to the Malay- 

 States Information Agency, the exports of plantation rubber 

 from the Federated Malay States for the month of May- 

 amounted to 2,069 tons, as compared with 1,225 tons in the cor- 

 responding month last year, and 2,151 tons in April last. 



.Appended are the comparative statistics for 1912 and 1913: 



1912. 1913. 1914. 



January tons 1 ,218 2,131 2,542 



February 1,212 1,757 2,364 



March 1,379 1,737 2,418 



April 1,020 1.626 2,151 



May 1,007 1,225 2,069 



Total 



5,836 



8.476 



11,544 



AMERICAN COMPANIES IN MALAYA. 



According to the reports issued by the Waterhouse Co., Ltd.. 

 of Honolulu, of the Tanjong Olok plantation and the Pahang 

 Rubber Co., both these concerns are in a satisfactory condition 

 with good prospects. The secretary and treasurer of the two 

 companies, Messrs. A. and F. T. P. Waterhouse, both visited 

 Malaya during 1913 and the above reports have thus a personal 

 character. 



VV'ith regard to the first of these companies, the manager's 

 estimate for 1914, based on the first four months, is 210,0(X) 

 pounds. The output of 124,1(X) pounds for 1913 having been 

 considered unsatisfactory, a change in organization was made. 



ANGLO-MALAY RUBBER CO., LTD. (FEDERATED MALAY STATES). 



Returns for 1913 show an output of 1,346.008 pounds against 

 943.491 for 1912; obtained from an average area of 3.019 acres. 

 The inclusive cost of production was Is. 3.16d. (32.79 cents) 

 per pound, and the average gross price realized 2s. 9.42d. (67.36 

 cents') per pound. Tw-o new washing mills were installed dur- 

 ing 1913 in the Batang Kali factory. 



HARPENDEN (SELANGOR) RUBBER CO. 



Production in 1913 was 392,136 pounds, against 307,414 in 1912. 

 The inclusive cost price was Is. 3.37d. (30.16 cents) per pound 

 and the selling price 3s. .06d. (73.10 cents) per pound. 



It is reported that a machine is now being constructed for a 

 rubber company in West Africa for the purpose of flying over 

 the forests of that region and locating rubber trees. 



Should be on every rubber man's desk — Crude Rubber and 

 Compounding Ingredients ; Rubber Country of the Amazon ; 

 Rubber Trade Directory of the World. 



