June 1, 1912.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



429 



The New Edition of "Hevea Brasiliensis." 



WITH the object of covering the many important develop- 

 ments of the rubber industry within the last four years, 

 the fourth edition of Herbert Wright's work on 

 "Para Rubber,"* has been considerably expanded, as compared 

 with the third edition (1908). The text of the 21 chapters (con- 

 taining 300 pages) of the earlier volume has been supplemented 

 by new matter, and now takes up almost 400 pages ; a dozen 

 additional chapters having likewise been added in treating new 

 subjects or developments of special importance ; the whole work 

 now containing 530 pages. 



The arrangement of Mr. Wright's work conducts the reader 

 in a natural sequence through the various phases of the rubber 

 question. First come the history and botany of the Para rubber 

 tree; then its various stages up to its giving its yield of rubber. 

 Afterwards follow the subjects of preparation, washing, handling, 

 etc. ; then the physical and chemical properties of rubber, testing, 

 vulcanization, etc. ; and finally the questions of estimated costs 

 of planting and production. 



HISTORY AXD PROSPECTS. 



In the opening chapter is an interesting table of the various 

 species of Hevea, with their geographical and botanical origins, 

 in addition to statistical returns of Brazilian shipments, as 

 well as a discussion of the recommendations of the Manaos Rub- 

 ber Congress of 1910, and of the measures of encouragement 

 proposed by the Brazilian government for the development of 

 rubber growing. The present and prospective conditions of 

 Asiatic plantations are then fully dealt with, as well as the out- 

 turns of the larger companies. The question as to whether 

 Eastern plantations will in time produce three times the Amazon 

 crop is fully discussed, but the position is summed up as follows 

 by Mr. Wright : "The possibility of securing a crop from 

 plantations treble the amount now annually obtained from Brazil 

 may seem optimistic, nay, even ridiculous ; but it may have to be 

 faced before 1920." 



The chapter on the value of Para rubber deals with facts 

 which have now passed into the history of the trade, but a record 

 of which adds to the completeness of the work. In a new chap- 

 ter Mr. Wright deals with the history of rubber plantations in 

 all parts of the world, concluding with an estimate showing the 

 world's planted acreage in 1912 as 1,085,000 acres; the "million 

 acre" line having thus been admittedly passed. 



HEVE.-^ RUBBER. 



One pertinent remark of Mr. Wright indicates the prospects of 

 Hevea : "There are already indications that Hevea Brasiliensis 

 will outlive many other species, and it may therefore be confi- 

 dently anticipated that the countries growing this plant will 

 ultimately predominate as rubber producers." 



BOT.'kNICAL SOURCES OF RUBBER. 



While the first two chapters of Mr. Wright's work are of gen- 

 eral interest to all those connected, in any way, with the rubber 

 trade and industry, those whose interests lie in various special 

 branches will find their particular subjects handled in a detailed 

 and thoroughly comprehensive manner in the succeeding chap- 

 ters. Thus Chapter III, which has been increased from 8 to 19 

 pages, keeps pace with the latest discoveries of the rubber botan- 

 ists of all countries. 



GROWING RUBBER. 



Growing rubber has two broad divisions : cultivation and tap- 

 ping, to one of which most items of information are referable. 



•"Hevea Brasiliensis or Para Rubber" f4th edition). By Herbert Wright, 

 Ass. R. C. S., F. L. S., London. 191J. Maclaren & Sons, Ltd. [Cloth 

 8vo, 530 pages; price 15s. 6d.] 



Mr. Wright's closer subdivisions add to the perspicuity of the 

 work and facilitate reference to its detailed features. 



Planters and plantation owners will be specially interested in 

 the five chapters dealing with various phases of cultivation : 

 IV. Climatic conditions for Hevea Brasiliensis; 

 v. (New.) Rate of growth of Hevea Brasiliensis; 

 Vl. Planting operations and methods of cultivation ; 

 "VII. (New.) Catch and inter-crops; 

 VIII. Soils and Manuring. 

 The three chapters on this branch of the subject in the third edi- 

 tion have been enlarged, while two new chapters are added. 



The importance attached to this branch of the subject is in- 

 dicated by the fact that Chapters IV to VIII take up in the 

 aggregate 114 pages, more than one-fifth of the entire work. The 

 new chapters are of special interest ; the rate of growth of Hevea 

 in various countries being a necessary element of international 

 comparisons ; leading up appropriately to the following chap- 

 ter which deals with the cultivation of Hevea in various coun- 

 tries and the means adopted to maintain or increase the regular 

 development of all parts of the tree. In a new chapter (VII) the 

 questions of catch and mter-crops are discussed from a prac- 

 tical point of view. From a financial standpoint Mr. Wright 

 remarks : 



"Why I am inclined to urge the interplanting of more or 

 less permanent products, is that I believe that long before 

 1920, we shall in rubber plantation companies be far more 

 dependent upon inter-crops thaan we are today. . . . Within 

 seven years it is quite possible that the plantation crop of 

 rubber will be treble the amount we have been in the habit 

 of receiving yearly from Brazil. This means that plantation 

 rubber may, possibly only for a limited period, be sold at or 

 below cost of production. ... It is because I believe this so 

 thoroughly that I recommend the cultivation of inter-crops in 

 association with Hevea; it is a measure of protection." 

 Finally the question of soils and manuring is dealt with, the 

 space devoted to that subject in 1908 having been increased by 

 one-half. Experiences in various countries are quoted in detail ; 

 the question being suggested for consideration of the possible 

 beneficial effect of manuring upon the rubber-producing capacity 

 of the tree. 



TAPPING AND YIELDS. 



Up to this point the planter or his financial supporter has been 

 investing money in rubber cultivation. Now comes the question 

 of tapping and the yield resulting therefrom, which is the ultimate 

 object of all the previous operations. The various points affect- 

 ing the details of tapping ; how, when, and where to tap ; and the 

 effects of tapping — are treated in practical and lucid manner, in 

 amplification of the edition of 1908; two new chapters of current 

 interest being introduced : "How Notable Estates Are Being 

 Tapped," and "Tapping and Yields in the .Amazon Region." 



The all-important question of yields is now discussed in much 

 greater detail than in the 1908 edition. The general chapter on 

 "Yields of Para Rubber" has been partly retained, while separate 

 chapters now deal specially with the yields of rubber in the Ama- 

 zon region ; Malaya ; Ceylon and Southern India ; Dutch East 

 Indies. Borneo. Africa, etc. 



PREPAR.\TION. 



Nature having now done its share of the work, it now remains 

 for human ingenuity to complete it and to render the product 

 marketable. On the various phases of preparation, including 

 "The Physical and Chemical Properties of Latex"; "Production 

 of Rubber from Latex" ; "Purification of Rubber and Washing 

 Machines" ; and "Drying of Rubber," the former chapters are ex- 



