November 1, 1911. 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD. 



59 



THE "SERINGUEIRAS" OR RUBBER TREES OF THE 

 AMAZON. 



A PORTUGUESE DESCRIPTION OF RUBBER G.^THERING. 



THE seringueiras Heveas produce the best known rubber. The 

 basin of the Amazonian rivers is the country on which the 

 different kinds of trees are scattered, unequally grouped, de- 

 pending upon the nature of the ground, altitude, its dampness, 

 etc. There are several varieties of rubber trees. We note 21 

 different kinds, of which five take a prominent part (Ruber'). 



The rubber tree ''rana" or "mangue" {Hevea guyanensis or 

 sifhoiiici elaslica) will grow in a very damp ground, nearly 

 always inundated, situated at the mouths of rivers. This tree 

 does not give a very important product. 



The rubber tree "branca, vermelha ou preta" white, red or 

 black (Hcrea Brasiliensis) is found in groups on the islands 

 and at places of inundations, from the middle upward to the 

 high parts of basins of nearly all the Amazonian tributaries. It 

 is also found on solid ground (especially the red variety, which 

 is the least milky) and in places filled with dampness during 

 most of the year. This rubber tree produces the largest quantity 

 and the best class of Amazonian rubber. 



The rubber tree "puca" (Hevea viridis) yields latex of an 

 inferior quality. The rubber tree "barriguda" {Hevea spruceana) 

 is frequently encountered on solid and high ground, between the 



The rubber trees are found in nearly all the Amazonian ter- 

 ritory, from the sea level up to the altitude of 600 meters (about 

 2,000 feet) and more, but the best quality is encountered on the 

 islands lying at the mouths of big rivers, and in the high basins of 

 the principal Amazonian tributaries, principally the Madeira, the 

 Purtis, the Jurua, the Javary and their own ramifications. 



The longevity of the rubber tree is not known exactly^ — it may 

 live 100 years or more. The milk production accumulates with 

 the age of the tree and therefore its value is increasing with 

 age. Barring accidents or sicknesses, which are very rare, the 

 rubber tree being less inclined to sicken than any other domestic 

 tree, it is supposed to live the time mentioned above. Compared 

 to a gold mine, the rubber tree is much more valuable, because 

 every dollar of profit that is drawn from a mine represents a 

 depreciation in its value, whereas with every year, the rubber tree 

 will augment its production of a better quality. It is an in- 

 exhaustible mine, without limits. The rubber tree is an automatic 

 augmentation of profits. With every year's production these profits 

 are increased without depreciating the value cf the tree. The 

 rubber trees develop into majestic trees grow'ing tall and straight. 

 At the blooming tirne, the air of the seringual (rubber plantation) 

 produces a very agreeable perfume attracting swarms of bees 

 and other insects. Four months after, the seeds begin to appear 

 in hanging clusters. During the hot season there is a discordant 

 roncert of a fantastic musketry in the seringual which is produced 





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Photograph by Algol Lange. 



Br.^nding Pelles of Par.\ Rubber. 



two rivers and in the vicinity of the interior lakes. The latex is 

 not cf a good quality, but is used in the mixture of other better 

 varieties of rubber. 



The rubber trees "itauba" or yellow {Hevea Cuneata), which 

 produces a rubber of good quality, lives best on high, dry 

 grounds. 



by the cracking burrs, opening themselves and scattering seeds in 

 all directions. 



For the exploration of the rubber, the first duty consists in 

 opening the estradas, which are opened by the matteiros, who 

 are experts on rubber trees. 



The estradas are supposed to hold about 120 to 180 trees 



