November 1, 1911.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



71 



differences of temperature, always hurtful at this period of vege- 

 tation. In the day time, when the sun is not strong and the cut- 

 tings commence to blossom, they are uncovered in order that 

 their growth may be invigorated by the full daylight. After 30 

 or 40 days the protective coverings may be finally dispensed with. 

 When the planting has been efifected the soil which is around 

 the plants should be covered with a thick layer of leaves or cut 

 grass and the plants with some large leaves or paper. 



During the season nearest to the rains (that is to say, in July) 

 the plants can be removed to their definite location, or otherwise 

 it will be necessary to await the rainy season of the following 

 year. Before the definite planting it is better to prepare some 

 months previously the holes in which the roots will be placed. 

 In this way the soil will become more fertile, i 



When rain is falling daily it keeps the plants watered, but at 

 times when there is no rain the shrubs are watered daily by 

 hand, about a quart of slightly tepid water being sufficient for 

 each one. The layer of foliage or cut grass placed upon the soil 

 prevents the latter from drying too quickly, thus helping the 

 plants to take root. 



In conclusion, it is claimed that the system of propagating 

 guayule by cuttings is much more certain than by seeds. But, it 

 is remarked, the advantage of the first-named system depends 

 upon the selection and propagation of the descriptions of guayule 

 richest in rubber. It is known that sugar beets at one time only 

 contaiBed 8 per cent, of sugar, while with present system of selec- 

 tion a yield of 16 to 18 per cent, is obtained. 



WHY CUSTOMERS HAVE TO WAIT. 



To THE Editor of The India Rubber World: 

 /'CUSTOMERS frequently complain of delays in shipments, ana 

 ^^ the manufacturer is sometimes at a loss to explam satis- 

 factorily the exact cause that makes thees delays, that unques- 

 tionably do occur. In order that a better understanding may ex- 

 ist, we take this opportunity of calling attention to some of the 

 reasons why some shipments may not be forwarded with the 

 promptness that might be desired. 



In the first place, the trade is acquainted with the fact that the 

 demand for special labels and special goods is on the increase. 

 The feeling that the jobber has, that it is wise to have his name 

 identified with the rubber goods he handles, has grown, and the 

 dealer who depends upon the name of a manufacturer of recog- 

 nized repute to assure the public of the quality of goods he is 

 offering for sale is constantly importuned to buy "the same goods" 

 under the jobber's name, the theory being that when the dealer 

 reorders he will specify the brand, and the order will go to the 

 owner of the brand in preference to others who may be offering 

 the same article under their own brands or under that of the 

 manufacturer. This results in the manufacturer being forced to 

 carry a greater number of special labels, boxes, patches, dies, 

 etc., for various customers than ever before, and on account of 

 the growing assortment it is impossible to carry stock for each 

 individual customer. 



The shelves may be full of regular stock, but when these same 

 articles are ordered under special brand the factory is obliged 

 to make up new goods, and it requires time, even when an 

 order can be immediately taken in hand; and a greater delay 

 when, on account of preceding orders, new ones must wait their 

 turn for attention. It is safe to say that the largest part of 

 delays is caused by the specials which have to be made to order. 



An outgrowth of these conditions is that nearly every order 

 for special brand goods is marked "Rush." To such an extent 

 has this practice grown that we find ourselves unable to give 

 the preference that rush orders are supposed to have. Our work- 

 rooms are overwhelmed with "rush" tickets, and to heed all such 



requests would leave the orders received in the usual course un- 

 filled indefinitely. 



So it happens that it is necessary to give precedence to some 

 rush orders, and work others in as best we may, to satisfy so 

 far as possible the demands of our trade. The buyer who fails 

 to make an order "Rush" is deserving of attention and may suffer 

 by the urgency of others who may not actually be in any greater 

 or immediate need. This is neither fair nor satisfactory, but, 

 deplorable as it is, the condition exists. The value of a "Rush" 

 is growing less on account of its too frequent and ill-advised use. 



Too frequently a buyer allows his stock to run too low before 

 reordering, and then writes or wires, "All out, rush," etc., and is 

 greatly perturbed by the inability of the manufacturer to give his 

 late order precedence over older ones. 



It rests with the manufacturer to decide also just what dis- 

 position is best when an order calls for assorted goods, part 

 stock goods ready for delivery from his stock room and part 

 special, which may require from three to four days to that many 

 weeks to complete. If the shipment is split there is the freight 

 or express to consider. Perhaps the order is too small to split 

 into two shipments, and the ready stock is held for completion 

 of special goods and then comes the complaint about delay. 



Orders are booked for delivery as soon as possible or for 

 future delivery, as may be designated. No factory can expect to 

 depend for the work tomorrow upon orders received today; they 

 must keep work ahead and plan to keep within reasonable dis- 

 tance of the mark. Let us take for illustration the folIoVing: 



The factory has the work in the water bottle department laid 

 out for ten days ahead. This does not clean up all orders on the 

 books, but leaves, say, five or six days' work that has accumulated 

 in the busy season, so if no more orders were received in nine 

 (lays all orders would be made up. An order comes in marked 

 "rush" for a special brand of bottle. This is given preference. 

 It is entered in the morning, goes to the factory and the details 

 of specifications, are lorikcd up and entered, on a factory ticket. 

 The stock, if special, is ordered from the compounding depart- 

 ment. All this may delay the starting of this rush order for a 

 day. To compound, calender, cut, distribute the various parts to 

 the maker ; make, vulcanize, inspect, finish, sun and season, assort, 

 box, wrap, prepare for delivery in shipping department, will under 

 ordinary circumstances take from one to three weeks, according 

 to conditions, size of order and the attending circumstances. In 

 the meantime a hundred or more other orders are coming 

 through, perhaps with a goodly number marked as this one was, 

 "rush." 



We know of no actual remedy, but the conditions could be 

 alleviated by careful guarding against unnecessary delays on the 

 part of the manufacturer and a realizing sense on the part of the 

 buyer of the conditions which exist and the desirability of avoid- 

 ing "rush" orders by anticipating his wants and allowing reason- 

 able time for completion of orders. 



Manufacturer. 



Jelutong Rubber Concession.— The American vice-consul gen- 

 eral at Singapore, Straits Settlements, writes that he has received 

 a letter from an individual who states that he has obtained a 

 concession for the collecting of jelutong rubber over 3,UO0,0OO 

 acres on the east coast of the Malay Peninsula. He is anxious 

 to ship this product to the United States and wishes to receive 

 inquiries from prospective buyers. 



Members of the Carriage Builders' National Association, who 

 recently held their annual convention in Atlantic City, were the 

 specially invited guests of President Frank A. Seiberling, of the 

 Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. at the hangar, where the airship 

 "Akron" is being put in readiness for Mr. Vaniman's trip across 

 the ocean. The carriage men were very much interested in this 

 new form of conveyance. 



