iSZ 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[April 1, 1914. 



The Kditor's Book Table. 



CULTURE ET EXPLOITATION DU CAOUTCHOUC AU BR6S1I.. 

 A report presented to the Minister of Agriculture, Industry and torn- 

 merec of Brazil, by M. O. Labroy and M. V. Cayla. Published by 

 the Brazilian Bureau of Information in Paris. [Illustrated, large 8vo, 

 -^.'6 pages, paper covers.] 



WHILE this book — which lias reccnlly come from the 

 P.razilian Bureau of Information inaintained in Paris- 

 covers ground, mucli of which is already familiar 

 to many readers of The Inih.n Rubber Wcri.d, still it is such 

 a comprehensive story of the culture of rubber in the Amazon 

 basin that it seems well worlli while reviewing it in con- 

 siderable detail. It coniaiiis the report recently presented 



very complete report as to the three ruliber-producing trees of 

 chief importance to the production of Brazil — Seringa (llcvca), 

 Caucho {Caslilloa) and Manitoba. Their personal observations 

 harmonized with those previously made at the saine points and 

 in various plantation countries, such as Malaysia, Ceylon, East 

 .\frica, etc. 



In this work their special object was to deliiie the exact 

 situation of the rubber extracting industry in tlie valley of the 

 Amazon and to suggest practicable improvements ; considering 

 finally the inauguration of cultural enterprises in the localities 

 most suitable for their development. 



At the head of the list of coadjutors in their labors stands the 

 name of Dr. R. Pereira da Silva, superintendent of the "Defesa 

 <la Borracha" (or Defence of Rubber), the bureau which has 

 taken such a proiniiient part in the recently proposed reforms. 

 THE WORLD'S PRODUCTION. 



In 1892 the world's rubber production was about 30,(X)0 tons. 

 of which 1S.31.S tons (61.7 per cent.) came from the region of 

 the Amazon. It increased to about 70,000 tons in 1909, and to 

 X0,000 tons in 1911, but meanwhile the proportions from the 

 various regions have been modified. The rubber of the Asiatic 

 forests has practically disappeared. .African quantities but slightly 



Trunk of Forest Hcz'ca. Showing M.m.fok.mations C.\used by 

 M.VNY Years' Use ok the Machadinho. 



to Dr. Pedro de Toledo, late i'.razilian Minister of .Agricul- 

 ture. Tliis report had been drawn up by M. O. Labroy, 

 director of the Para experimental station lor rulilier cultivation, 

 with the co-operation of M. V. Cayla, agricultural engineer, and 

 was published by the Brazilian Bureau of Information in Pans. 



The object of their labors was to study the present conditions 

 of rubber cultivation in the principal centers of Brazilian pro- 

 duction; to investigate the agricultural possibilities of those 

 regions, and, finally, to fix upon locations suited for the establish- 

 ment of two agronomical stations in the Hevea and Manitoba 

 zones. 



M. Labroy. in handing the report to the minister, stated that 

 the time at the disposal of hitnsclf and his colleague was insuffi- 

 cient to allow of their paying detailed visits to the rubber dis- 

 tricts in the vast territories of Northern and Central Brazil, 

 communication with which is slow and difficult. They were in 

 consequence forced to limit their investigations to the zone of 

 the lower and middle Amazon; including the basin of the Xingu 

 as well as the southern and western part of the State of Bahia, 

 as far as the river San Francisco. 



Nevertheless they were able to compile an interesting and 



Hl'TCllS I'l-.NNTKli I'.KTUKtN B.\\.\NA iKhi--- 



differing from one year to another ; a new competition having, 

 however, appeared in the form of plantation rubber. 



During the years 1899-1913 Amazonian production practically 

 doubled (from 21.909 tons to 41.9.S0 tons) and plantation Para 

 advanced from 670 tons in 1907 to 28.500 tons in 1912. At the 

 end of 1912 Amazonian production represented only 40 per cent, 

 of that of the world, being composed of 77 per cent. Hevea and 

 23 per cent. Caucho. In addition, Brazil produces annually about 

 2,500 tons of Manigoba and Mangabeira. 



