186 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[January 1, 1912. 



based on allowing for the annual increase in the girth of the tree, 

 and upon dividing into thirds, instead of fourths, with a view to 

 leaving a strip of untapped bark to perform the functions neces- 

 sarj' for the nutriment of the tree. It is claimed that the system 

 works out well, being elastic in character, and enabling a young 

 tree to be profitably tapped when 16 to 18 inches in girth at 

 three feet from the ground. It is, moreover, said to be adaptable 

 to any district or elevation, while the period of renewal can be 

 extended from three years to six years, as desired. 



From further details given, it would seem that the leaving of 

 the untapped section increases the yield, and must in any case 

 prove beneficial to the tree. 



BUBBEB IN PORTUGUESE EAST ATEICA. 



Advices from Beira state that owing to the position of the 

 rubber market many of the large concessions obtained during 

 the "boom" period will probably remain indefinitely undeveloped. 

 Only three seem at all likely to be worked, each from 200,000 

 to 250,000 acres in extent. In one case a company has been in- 

 corporated and floated, but the property is chiefly devoted to 

 sugar cultivation. Rubber is, however, now being collected on 

 another larger concession, which is expected to become a basis 

 for incorporation at an early date. 



RUBBER CULTIVATION IN THE BELGIAN CONGO. 



Efl'orts are being made by the Belgian Government to profit, 

 for the benefit of the Congo plantations, by the experience ac- 

 quired by Asiatic planters. Four experts, it is offitially reported, 

 have been despatched to Malaya and British India for the pur- 

 pose of studying the methods of cultivation practiced there on a 

 large scale, including the questions of irrigation and of how to 

 combat the various diseases of rubber plants. 



One of these experts, a mycologist, is gathering information 

 in Pusa (Calcutta) as to the establishment of phytopathological 

 laboratories. From that point he will proceed to visit the labo- 

 ratories at Kuala Lumpur, Buitenzorg and other locations. Two 

 others of the party, agriculturists, will study the accessory ques- 

 tions of Indian coffee, cacao and rice culture. The fourth expert 

 will devote himself to the subjects of Hevea cultivation, the ex- 

 traction of latex and its conversion into rubber, on typical 

 Malaya and Ceylon estates. 



In the Congo itself, the authorities have been busy, an experi- 

 mental plantation having been established at Zambi (Lower 

 Congo). A new botanical garden has been opened at the same 

 point. 



By the end of the year 1911, it was anticipated that about 

 2,800 acres would be planted in the Belgian Congo with rubber, 

 about two-thirds in Hevea and the balance in Funtumia Elastica 

 and Manihot Glaziovii. It is, however, contemplated to abstain 

 from further plantings of Funtumia, as the yield of this species 

 is too small in proportion to that of Hevea. 



With regard to the prospects of Hevea culture the report adds : 



"Hevea seems to show a normal development within the limits 

 of the great primeval forest. Over 50,000 acres of suitable char- 

 acter have been surveyed in the equatorial district, while there 

 are more than 500,(X)0 young Heveas in seed-beds at Sarela and 

 other stations." 



Among other features of the report are statements that experi- 

 ments have been made in a new method of tapping Manihot. and 

 that up to the present no serious disease has been reported 

 among the rubber trees of the Congo. It is said, moreover, to 

 be the intention of the Government to discontinue a certain part 

 of the cultivation of rubber vines ; possibly relinquishing ' that 

 branch in favor of the natives. 



ENGLISH REPOHTS ON CONGO PROGRESS. 



The English Board of Trade Journal states that as a result of 

 trials made, it is in contemplation to considerably extend the 

 experimental cultivation of Hevea Brasiliensis in the equatorial 

 regions. With this intention, considerable quantities of Hevea 

 seed have been imported from Ceylon. 



Funtumia Elastica, while developing satisfactorily in some 

 regions of the Congo, does not appear capable of bearing re- 

 peated tappings over a long period as well as Hevea. It is stated 

 that while the yield of latex at the first tapping is greater than 

 from Hevea, at the end of a few days the secretion ceases. 

 Regular experiments, while the results have been encouraging, 

 have apparently demonstrated that the quantity of rubber from 

 Funtumia is much less than from Hevea. 



The prominence being given to Hevea cultivation is further 

 recorded by Mr. H. G. Mackie, the British Consul at Boma. _ 

 He states that a number of the larger and best equipped planta- ■ 

 tions are being devoted to the exclusive cultivation of Hevea " 

 Brasiliensis, while many smaller plantations have been aban- 

 doned, their upkeep causing a useless outlay. The Congo Gov- 

 ernment recognizing the merits of that species, is said to have 

 planted 30,000 Hevea trees. At the same time the results of 

 planting Manihot Glaziovii are said to be encouraging. 



Experiments are likewise in progress with other varieties, in- 

 cluding a latex-yielding Euphorbia, introduced from Central 

 America. As soon as the tapping of the trees becomes prac- 

 ticable, it is proposed to establish the industry on scientific lines, 

 such as those obtaining in Malaysia. 



SOCONUSOO (MEXICO) RUBBER PLANTATIONS. 



During the first business year of the above company a quantity 

 of 20,290 pounds was produced, which realized the average 

 equivalent of $1.04 per pound for the best grades. 



In view of this quantity falHng considerably short of the 

 original estimates, the calculations of the late Dr. Olsson-Seffer 

 have been criticized by various shareholders. However, he is 

 dead and his mistakes are buried with him. The board has been 

 taking active steps to put the company's holdings in a profitable 

 condition, and the hope has been expressed of that result being 

 attained in the future. 



Under these circumstances the directors have waived one-half 

 of their fees for the current year. 



In the report of the directors for the year ending June 30, 

 1911, it was mentioned that the late Dr. Olsson-SefTer had esti- 

 mated the output of rubber for that year at 215,625 pounds, while 

 Horace E. Levesley, who succeeded Dr. Olsson-Seffer, placed his 

 estimate at 60,000 pounds, both estimates, it will be seen, being 

 very much larger than the product actually secured. 



The report states that the small output is largely due to the 

 fact that about half the rubber trees that were first planted were 

 placed under the shade of the aboriginal forest trees, it being the 

 opinion at that lime that Castilloa required shade. The work 

 of cutting out these shade trees was begun some time ago, with 

 the expectation that the yield will now be much greater. It is 

 hoped that it will now amount to 60,000 pounds. The quality 

 of the rubber has proved satisfactory and it has enjoyed a ready 

 sale, at an average price of about 12 cents per pound below the 

 price of fine Para. 



J. C. Wilis, formerly director of agriculture at the Botanic 

 Garden at Peradeniya, has been appointed director of the Bo- 

 tanic Garden at Rio de Janeiro, and expects to assume his duties 

 there in the spring. 



The Joliet Tropical Plantation Co. recently held its annual 

 meeting, and listened to the reports of the various officers. The 

 superintendent of the plantation (which is located at Oaxaca, 

 Mexico), reported 400,000 trees on the plantation, and added 

 that 200,000 of them would be ready for tapping this year. J. O. 

 Barrett, George B. Carey and Robert Pilcher were re-elected 

 directors, and F. M. Muhlig was chosen inspector to make a 

 trip to the property in the early future and report to the stock- 

 holders. 



