OcTuBrR 1. 1911.] 



THE INDIA ' RUBBER WORLD. 



21 



growth is reached. Fifteen years is regarded as the "rotation 

 period," but it is added, as the growth efficiency of a plant falls 

 after this age, these plants must be removed every fifth year. 



With the view of their practical use. Dr. Lloyd has embodied 

 the above and other points into "Suggested Rules of Practice," 

 which deal with the questions of the period of harvesting, reseed- 

 ing barren ground, and other topics of importance. In closing 

 this branch of the subject. Dr. Lloyd emphasizes the fact that 

 the disregard of these rules of operation, or of other equally 

 or more efficient, will lead to the practical extermination of the 

 plant. 



CULTUR.\L OpeR.\TIONS. 



As Dr. Lloyd remarks, while forestal operations are of imme- 

 diate and great importance for the preservation of the natural 

 supply as long as possible, the ultimate and adequate solution of 

 the production of guayule shrub lies in its successful cultivation. 

 The abundant and ready growth of guayule under irrigation 

 (properly alternated with drought) is an established fact. It re- 

 mains to be shown, on a larger scale, what may be done to es- 

 tablish the culture of the plant on an economic basis. The great 

 difficulty of the initial work is the question of water, without a 

 proper supply of which it would be useless to attempt cultural 

 operations. 



Growing Seedlings. 



Under present conditions it would be necessary to collect seed 

 from tlie field, which is a costly and uncertain method; this point 



Fig. B. Box 



Co.NTAiNixc Tubes for 

 Seeds. 



Germinating Guayule 



being of importance in the event of its being found desirable 

 to raise and transplant seedlings. 



With a view to eliminating the risk cf loss in transporting 

 seedlings, a tropical principle was adopted. .A. unit system of 

 wooden trays and paper tubes was devised by Capt. L. C. An- 

 drews, the tubes being four square inches in transverse section 

 and si.x. inches long. A tray 20 x 28 inches inside measure and 

 six inches deep, was equipped with these tubes (Fig. B), the 

 whole being filled with unsifted limestone soil. The tray 

 placed in a "melga" was watered by sub-irrigation, while the 

 surface was shaded at a height of 1.6 inch by a thin cotton cloth 

 supported in a frame. On February 16, 1908 1.5 ounce of seed 

 was sown. The germinations numbered ,525. of which 41 were 

 lost, leaving 484 living seedlings. Of the 525 germinations, 104 

 had taken place by the end of February, 300 more by March 8, 

 a further 100 by March 12, and the balance by March 16. The 

 appearance of these seedlings is shown in Fig. D. Wlien ready 

 for placing in the grove the whole pot is planted ; the decay 

 of that receptacle, aided by the fracture, setting the roots free, 

 without any disturbance. These changes will have more or less 

 taken place by the time it is desired to transplant the seedlings. 



Seeds germinate more promptly and seedlings grow much more 

 rapidly during the summer months. 



Irrigation. 

 Hand-watering of the surfaces would, it is remarked prove 

 laborious and expensive. In sub-irrigated trays, the germination 

 was over twice that in surface-watered trays ; sub-irrigation with 

 shade being the most favorable system. 



Tb.\nspl.\nting Field Pl.\nts. 



.Another method of cultivation described by Dr. Lloyd, as hav- 

 ing the advantage of speed, is the transplanting of field plants 

 into irrigated ground. From experience it has been found that the 

 best method is to cut back to the top of the tap-root and send the 

 tops to the factory for extraction ; the returns from which would 

 go far towards the expense of operations. 



PROSPECTS OF GUAYULE. 



Dr. Lloyd's conclusions touch upon two questions of importance 

 — first, that up to the present time, the facts have not warranted 

 cultural trials on a scale sufficient to make available a crop of 

 anything but limited experimental size ; and, second, that such 

 cultivation may be supplemented ad Ubhum, provided that areas 

 with sufficient water are available, and that care is exercised in 

 harvesting their yield. 



In connection with the latter branch of the subject. Dr. Lloyd 

 suggests that the new growths (say, of two years) of plants about 

 40 inches spread, may with advantage be removed by a cutting 

 instrument, so as to leave the butt undisturbed to shoot out afresh. 

 The branches which have rooted, can then be removed by hand, 

 f imply by breaUng them awMv. and replanted. These are usu- 



FiG. D. The Same Box Containing Seedlings Well Grown. 



ally supplied with a strong root which can be pulled up without 

 severe damage. 



Dr. Lloyd's treatment of his subject is remarkably practical 

 and detailed, indicating liis thorough acquaintance with its vari- 

 ous aspects. 



ANOTHER PROOF OF RUBBER'S COMMERCIAL POSITION. 



It appears that an industrious junk-dealer of Paterson, New 

 Jersey, has been busy for some time past making a collection of 

 worn-out rubber goods. This collection he put in his storehouse 

 with his ether treasures. .\ few days ago thinking that he 

 had rubber enough to take to the reclaiming market, he visited 

 his storehouse with the intention of packing it up and making 

 delivery. To his consternation he discovered that the window 

 had been broken and that while nothing else had been touched 

 in his storehouse his rubber was gone, to the last scrap. Sus- 

 picion fell upon a rival junk-dealer, whom he immediately haled 

 before a justice of the peace, who in turn passed the matter along 

 to the grand jury. The larceny of the rubber, together with the 

 immunity enjoyed by the rest of the dealer's collection, shows 

 that among junk, rubber is now in a class by itself. The Pater- 

 son dealer should secure proper quarters in a safety deposit 

 institution. 



