May 1, 1914.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



Some Rubber Planting Notes. 



SINGAPORE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RUBBER ASSOCIATION. 



UNDER the presidency of H. Price, the above-named associa- 

 tion recently held its annual meeting to receive the first 

 yearly report under its present amended constitution, which 

 makes the association relatively an independent body, altho in a 

 general way subject to the Chani1)er of Commerce. 



During the year 1913 fifty-two auctions have been held, deal- 

 mg with 1,508 tons of rubber, a satisfactory increase upon 

 the 522 tons handled in the previous year, and forming one-third 

 of the total of the year's sales at Singapore, as against a propor- 

 tion in 1912 of only one-fifth. The 4,500 tons for 1913 represent- 

 ed more than 10 per cent, of tlie total exports from Malaysia 

 and Ceylon of 43,000 tons. 



While it is admitted in the report that there has been great 

 variation in the tiualilies of rubber offered for sale, the hope is 

 expressed that the efforts of producers will soon lead to the 

 production of thoroughly reliable standard grades, serving as a 

 basis for forward contracts, rules governing whicli have already 

 been formulated. A sub-committee has prepared eighteen types 

 of the grades now being handled, which are at the disposal of 

 members wishing to make them a basis for orders. 



By selling in Singapore, plantation owners claim that they 

 save iy>d. (3 cents) per pound as compared with sales in Lon- 

 don. The falling off in supplies of guayule and jclutong had 

 made the demand for plantation rubber greater than ever before. 

 The advantages to buyers and sellers of the Singapore market 

 were fully dealt with by the various speakers. 



OFFICIAL VULCANIZING PLANT AT KUALA LUMPUR. 



The new Iniildings of tlic b'ederated Malay States Department 

 of Agriculture at Kuala Lumpur contain quarters for laboratory 

 assistants, to be engaged in the testing of rubber, fibers and 

 paper pulp, with a view to the standardization of those substances. 

 From a partial inspection of the plant, it would seem that it 

 includes a creping machine and a mixing machine, both steam- 

 injected and water-cooled. In the latter the sheet of crepe is 

 mixed with the sulphur and other chemicals used before being 

 taken on to the calender machine. With this machine, Mr. 

 B. J. Eaton, the agricultural chemist, states tliat three rollers 

 are ■ employed, between which the rubber is conducted, being 

 taken off the canvas, and the thin sheets placed in molds to be 

 put in the tlircc presses — an ordinary open steam press, a high- 

 pressure steam boiler and a hydraulic press. This last-named 

 machine is a miniature of the presses now used for motor tires, 

 giving much more even working than the open press. Other 

 machines for vulcanizing and testing liave been ordered, includ- 

 ing those of Breuil and Schwartz. 



RUBBER EXPORTS FROM FEDERATED MALAY STATES. 



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 March 

 amounted to 2.418 tons, as compared with 1,737 tons in the cor- 

 responding month last year and 2,364 tons in February last. 



Below are the comparative statistics for 1912, 1913 and 1914: 



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 



Total 3,809 5.625 7.324 



INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR RUBBER CULTIVATION IN THE 

 NETHERLAND INDIES. 



The above is the title definitely selected for the new Nether- 

 lands Association, the formation of which was recorded in The 

 l.\iii.\ Rlbher World for February last, page 270. In harmony 

 with the international character of the organization, its articles 

 of association have been published in Dutch, English and French. 

 The objects, among others, are : To promote the cuhivation of 

 rubber in the Xetherland Indies and to protect the interests of 

 its members in that connection; to hold meetings; to study legis- 

 huive and administrative measures, and to investigate phenomena 

 connected v.itli rubber cultivation. It will set up or support 

 scientific establishments dealing with rubber and will arrange 

 tor lectures and for the publication of printed matter on the 

 suliject. Membership costs 100 guilders ($40). 



RETURNS OF NETHERLANDS INDIA COMPANIES. 



The result of keeping the pro<hiction of tea on a level, and of 

 throwing the increase into rubber, is shown by the return of the 

 General Belgium-Java Cultivation Company, which records for 

 rubber: 1912, 88,000 pounds; 1913, 208,300 pounds; tea returns 

 Ijeing respectively 180,200 and 204,300 pounds for the two years. 



Comparative returns of rubber outputs by other companies are: 



1912. 1913. 



Pounds. Pounds. 



Belgisch-Nederlandsche Cultuur Maatschappij. 218,900 363,850 



Plantations de Bantam 76,610 134,624 



Nieuw Tjisalak 80,823 120,404 



Rubber Cultuur Maatschappij, .Amsterdam... 219,700 460,700 



INDRAGIRI (SUMATRA; RUBBER AND GUTTA FERCHA CO.. LIMITED. 



In its annual report to October 31, 1913, this company states 

 that its planted area includes 657 acres under rubber and 285 

 under gutta percha. The crop for 1914 is estimated at a total of 

 about 51.000 pounds. 



ANGLO-DUTCH PLANTATIONS OF JAVA. LIMITED. 



According to the report of the above company, the rubber 

 yield of 1913 equalled 90,848 pounds, the younger rubber plan- 

 tations having been affected by the drought to only an unim- 

 portant extent and the trees being generally in yoofl condition. 



FROPOSFD RAILVi AY FOR SOUTHERN SUMATRA. 



.\ meeting of interested parties took place on March 25 at The 

 Hague, to advocate the importance of the proposed railroad as 

 a factor in the economic development of South .Sumatra. 



COMPARATIVE RUBBER ACREAGE IN JAVA AND SUMATRA. 



Recent statistics show the following acreages planted in rub- 



l)er : 



Java. Sumatra. 



1906 acres 25.000 6,000 



1907 38,000 20.000 



1908 60.000 39,000 



1909 107,000 67,000 



1910 158,000 100,000 



1911 208.000 160,000 



1912 230.000 220,000 



1913 245,000 240.000 



