112 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[December 1, 1911. 



trunk has been tapped. In case there are large branches, these 

 are also tapped and the milk led into the main channel. The 

 average tree produces forty pounds of milk, and the gum con- 

 tent is 60 per cent. A man can tap three to five trees a day, 

 producing 120 pounds of gum per day, which will shrink about 

 16 per cent, in curing and marketing. 



As to position, the camps are located adjacent to the area 

 abounding in Berba— in fact, the established rubber camps are 

 pre-emptied for the purpose, as it is a strange coincidence that 

 the Castilloa and Berba are found in the same localities. The 



milk is first carefully strained and placed in the large copper 

 kettles to boil, very great care being taken to apply the heat 

 gradually, in order to bring the mass by degrees to boiling 

 point. As soon as the entire mass shows agitation, the fire is 

 drawn, leaving enough incandescent coals to continue the boil- 

 ing for ten minutes longer. Tlie kettle is then lifted from the 

 fire, and the contents poured into large deep copper pans, which 

 hold five gallons each. These are placed where the air can freely 

 circulate around them and in about three days the gum is ready 

 for shipment. 



Again Rubber in the Temperate Zone. 



To THE Editor of the Indi.\ Rubber World: I have read 

 your articles on "Rubber Growing in the Temperate 

 Zone" with much interest. You may not know of the 

 planting of Ceara rubber in Germany a few years ago, so I am 

 sending you a description of the venture. 



In 1906 Professor Pfadhauer, the well-known German scientist, 

 noted that the rubber tree (Maiiilwt Gtacioz'ii) was in no sense of 

 purely tropical growth, and that with suitable preparation of the 

 soil it can be also raised in Europe. About 1904 this expert had 

 planted several two-year-old rubber trees in his garden at 

 Dachau, near Munich, in carefully prepared ground, and by 

 1906 was in a position to supply the requirements of his house- 

 hold for erasing rubber, garters, etc., from these two small trees. 



This success on a limited scale encouraged him to a more 

 extensive trial. According to his views, the climate of upper 

 Bavaria is very suitable for the cultivation of rubber. Hence 

 from being a private enterprise of Professor Pfadhauer, the ex- 

 periment was subsequently carried out upon a larger scale at 

 Munich itself under the eyes of the Institute of Natural Science. 

 The opinion was at the time voiced by the press that if the 

 anticipated success attended this further trial, wide tracts of 

 land near Dachau would be planted with numberless rubber 

 trees, which would amply cover the needs of Germany for the 

 product. 



A company was therefore formed, under the title of the 

 Deutsche Kautschuk-Gesellschaft (German Rubber Co.), with 

 quarters at Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne and Munich. A suitable 

 position and proper soil for the experimental plantation were 

 provided by the above-named Institute near the Botanical Garden, 

 in a location comparatively sheltered from the blasts of winter. 



It was found that the Ceara rubber tree (Maiiilwt Glaciovii) 

 commences to yield in the fourth year. Consequently it was 

 only necessary in the experimental plantation to secure for the 

 four-year-old trees selected in Brazil, the same conditions as 

 existed where they were growing wild. In the first place the 

 surface to be planted was thoroughly ploughed. The holes in 

 which it was contemplated placing the trees were very deeply 

 excavated, and then half filled with tropical fibrous plants anil 

 earth from the Amazon ; the nature of the soil being the only 

 point of importance — not the climate. 



In execution of this plan three superintendents from the Buen 

 Retiro plantation at Manaos were brought over to Germany 

 Early in 1906 the rubber trees (which, in consequence of 

 their roots being carefully packed in palm fiber, had suffered 

 no damage) arrived in Munich. They included 45 four- 

 year-old trees and, for a special trial, three trees ten years of age. 

 With the view of avoiding injury to the susceptible roots, the. 

 trees were carefully unpacked and wrapped in fiber and Manila 

 mats. 



All the holes had been already prepared by being half filled 

 with the tropical plants and earth referred to. The trees were 

 then carefully hoisted in, firmly embedded in the Amazonian 

 earth and surrounded with same to the height of 12 inches. 



Particular care had to be taken with the ten-year-old trees to 

 prevent exposure of the naked roots. 



Shortly after the planting it could be noticed that the trees 

 warmly embedded in the prepared earth had commenced to 

 blossom. 



According to Professor Pfadhauer, the only right course was 

 considered to be the selection for growth in Germany of trees 

 at least four years old. While the transportation and the plant- 

 ing came somewhat more expensive, the risk of growth failing 

 is almost excluded and — above all — a crop can be attained in 

 the first year after planting. According to the results obtained 

 with the experimental plantation, six, eight and ten year old trees 

 would be planted in the Dachau section. The ploughing and 

 preparation of the soil might be considered in that case as liable 

 to be attended with less difiiculty ; everything being on a large 

 scale and, moreover, such great precautions as would otherwise 

 be necessary, being rendered needless by the sheltered position of 

 that district in question. 



Estimates in 1906 made the planting of 600 hectares (1,500 

 acres) prospectively represent about $75,0(X). With an estimated 

 yield in the first year of about 50,000 pounds, an early and liberal 

 dividend was looked for, which might be expected to increase in 

 following years. Even should the price of rubber in Germany 

 be materially reduced, it was anticipated that by the operation 

 before that time of the sinking fund (through which the whole 

 of the plant would have been written off), there would still re- 

 main an enormous profit. Bavarian. 

 * * * 



[There are so many contradictions in the communication 

 printed above, and from a practical standpoint the whole venture 

 is so chimerical, that we suspect a joke on the part of our corre- 

 spondent. Certainly the shipments of Munich grown Ceara 

 rubber are not a feature of today's rubber market. In the pho- 

 tographs sent the earth heaped about the trees looks like Ama- 

 zonian earth, or African or Icelandic, for that matter. The trees, 

 however, leafless though they be, do not look like Manihots. Is 

 it a joke? Yes? — The Editor.] 



539,000.000 MORE CRUDE RUBBER IN 1910. 



Government statistics show that in 1910 the total value of mer- 

 chandise imported into this country was $1,557,000,000, which 

 was $245,000,000 more than during the preceding year. The 

 value of imports of forest products in 1910 showed an increase 

 of $55,000,000 over 1909. Of this increase $39,000,000 was attrib- 

 uted to india rubber. 



BERLIN RUBBER FACTORY CHANGES OWNERS. 



The offer of Gebriider Israel for the works of The Gummi- 

 warenfabrik vorm. Voigt and Winde, A. G., of Berlin (in liqui- 

 dation), equalling $187,500, has been accepted by the shareholders 

 at a special meeting. This arrangement enables the company to 

 return 74 per cent, on the share capital. 



