December 1, 1911.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



ii; 



feet ; but the preponderance of authoritative opinion places the 

 distance rather at from 16 x 16 feet to 20 x 20 feet, and cer- 

 tainly the latter (giving, respectively, 120 and 110 trees to the 

 acre) w^ould allow liberal space for root and branch develop- 

 ment for a good many years. 



As to nietliods of cultivation, complete clean weeding, as 

 against suitable cover growth between the rubber trees, is still 

 a debatable question, although the late Mr. J. B. Carruthers, of 

 Trinidad, who had devoted much special study to it, was very 

 decided and urgent in his view as to the actual necessity of the 

 latter method for the restoration of humus, the aeration of the 

 soil and the prevention of erosion. Perhaps a z'ia media, in- 

 volving the keeping in subjection of w'eed growth until the trees 

 commence to shade the ground, and then permitting the natural 

 herbaceous vegetation to come up between the rows of rubber 

 trees, would commend itself to most planters on practical and 

 economical grounds. 



There is in Mexico one enemy to Hevea that must, from the 

 very first, be seriously reckoned with, namely, the "Tusa," as it 

 is called in this country, a subterranean rodent, commonly 

 known in the United States as the gopher {Geomys bitrsarius). 

 The species found in the tropical sections of Mexico (and 

 known to occur at least as far south as the Isthmus of Panama) 

 is rather larger than the North American species, but appears 

 to be identical in habits. In Chiapas this pest is, or was, a 

 grave menace to young plantings of Castilloa, and on one estate 

 with which the writer is familiar, men had to be specially and 

 regularly employed in trapping the vermin. On the Isthmus of 

 Tehuantepec the gopher has not shown any particular liking for 

 Castilloa, but has confined its depredations mainly to cacao. 

 These animals, however, did much damage to young Hez-ea 

 trees there, and constant vigilance had to be exercised to pre- 

 vent them from destroying all such trees. The fondness of the 

 gopher for Hevea is probably due to the large percentage of 

 starch contained in the roots of that tree ; and it would seem 

 well, in setting out Hevea in Mexico, to make a systematic 

 attempt to exterminate this vermin immediately after the burn- 

 ing of the clearing. To this end all colonies of gophers should 

 be located and marked in some easily visible manner, concur- 

 rently with the staking of the ground, proper traps being set at 

 the time, as the least delay is dangerous. In case of failure to 

 capture the animals by such means after persistent effort, the 

 only thing left to do is to dig them out of the ground with 

 spades. Bi-sulphide of carbon, introduced into the subterranean 

 passages by soaked pieces of cotton waste, has been used with 

 considerable success ; and if the gopher inhales the fumes given 

 off by this chemical, death is sure, but one rarely has the certain 

 evidence that the animal has been killed, while trapping and 

 digging them out leave no doubt on this score. Once thus 

 anniliilated. immunity from the pest may be assured for some 

 time, and, when making subsequent cleanings of the planting, its 

 possible entrance from contiguous breeding grounds may be 

 similarly dealt with. 



Considering, on the other, hand, the non-existence in Mexico 

 of that deadly vegetable parasite, Fames semitosttis, and the 

 hardly less destructive insect pest, Vermes Gestroi, against the 

 ravages of which planters in the East have ever to be on the 

 alert, we may count ourselves here, in the light at least of 

 present knowledge, relatively fortunate. (The above-named 

 termite is quite distinct from the Mexican species, in that it 

 penetrates into, and works upon, living trees ; w-hile the latter — 

 commonly known as the "Comejen — only attacks dead wood.) 

 Following the best scientific advice, which a beneficent govern- 

 ment places at their disposal, planters in the East are now 

 going to the vast expense of removing all stumps and roots from 

 lands destined to the planting of Hevea. in an organized effort 

 to minimize the propagation of Fames semitosttis, which is 

 classed as a contagious disease fungus, spread by underground 

 mycelium. 



Without reflecting upon the possible profitableness of Castilloa 

 cultivation in Mexico where the natural elements are thor- 

 oughly favorable, it must be conceded, in view of the higher 

 productive capacity of Hevea, as compared with any other 

 rubber yielding tree, that the successful establishment of a 

 planting of Hevea, under suitable conditions, cannot but greatly 

 enhance the speculative value of any estate so exploited, and 

 upon which surplus forest or other appropriate virgin areas are 

 yet available ; and it would seem that the prospects with regard 

 to this culture in Mexico are .sufficiently encouraging to war- 

 rant its adoption on cautious lines as a potential means of com- 

 pensation for the limited realizations of Castilloa. 



CULTIVATION OF "HEVEA" IN BRAZIL. 



/^N'E uf the most interesting chapters of the report issued 

 ^^ by the Turin Exposition on the State of Para (reviewed in 

 another column), is that dealing with the measures which have 

 been taken for the development of Hez-ea culture in that State. 



While excellent lands were available, of a character appro- 

 priate to the proposed cultivation, it was necessary to obtain the 

 co-operation of the Government, in the form of such concessions 

 as would attract capital. Other points calling for like attention 

 were the scarcity of labor as well as the high cost of transporta- 

 tion. 



By the State enactments of November 5 and 6, 1909, guaran- 

 tees were conceded of interest, premiums and other favors to 

 national and foreign companies, or even to individual agricultur- 

 ists, having in view the cultivation of Hevea Brasiliensis or 

 Cacao within the territory of the State. 



In consequence of this legislation some grave obstacles were 

 partly removed. Among the steps taken by the State Govern- 

 ment was the establishment of experimental fields intended for 

 promoting the cultivation of Hevea and cacao, at its agronomical 

 stations of Igarape, Assu (a short distance from the Braganza 

 railroad) and of Belem ; with a view to giving practical instruc- 

 tion to new planters. The results of these official plantations 

 are said to have been worthy of commendation. 



At the Orphan Institute of Santo Antonio do Prata there is a 

 plantation of Heveas in blossom and of cacao, in a lofty and 

 sandy location. This plantation the Government intends to bring 

 up to 100,000 trees of one or other species. 



Subsequently to the promulgation of the laws of November, 

 1909. and up to December 26, 1910, applications had been received 

 from 42 agriculturists desirous of being inscribed as competitors 

 for premiums, and intending to plant about seven million Heveas 

 as well as two million cacao plants. The proportion of the 

 above, representing foreign capital, was about two million 

 He'veas and a nearly equal number of cacao plants. 



Two companies, desirous of availing themselves of the privi-, 

 leges granted by the enactments referred to, proposed to culti- 

 vate a total area of 50,000 acres, granted free on the terms of 

 the statute ; each company agreeing to plant 20,0(X) trees an- 

 nually. The plantations were to be situated: the first in the 

 Lower Amazon territory, and the second on lands between the 

 River Guama and the Prata Institute (already referred to). 



The co-operation of the National Government has been the 

 subject of a project submitted to the Federal Chamber of Depu- 

 ties by the representatives of the State of Para, for promoting the 

 cultivation of Hevea Brasiliensis and cereals in Amazonia, their 

 natural habitat. 



In conclusion, the report states : ".Amazonia is the best region 

 in the world for the extensive and profitable cultivation of Hevea 

 and cacao. No other country is in a position to compete with 

 it as to fertility of soil, favorable conditions of climate for this 

 <3escription of culture, potentiality of production, and quality of 

 products. . . . Predominance in rubber production will be- 

 long to .'Vmazonia in the same way as that of coffee does to 

 Sao Paulo." 



