June 1, 1912.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



445 



RUBBER PLANTATION FIRE RISKS. 



yV/HILE urban fire risks are an ever present hazard, it 

 "' must not be supposed that the forest is exempt from their 

 influence. The very magnitude of the scene increases the danger 

 through fire to property, if not to life, while the peril is further 

 increased by the inflammable nature of the material exposed to 

 this risk. 



More particularly does this danger affect plantations, where 

 skilled labor has supplemented the work of nature and has in- 

 creased the value of natural products by systematic cultivation. 

 Two causes have been considered responsible for plantation 

 fires, according to whether they originate at home or away from 

 home. In the former category are included fires arising from 

 the burning of a new clearing situated perilously near a planted- 

 out area. With regard to this particular feature of hazard, the 

 fire may arise from the absence of means for the protection of 

 such parts of the estates as may be within their reach. It should 

 be borne in mind that the burning referred to is only possible 

 during a drought, which equally affects the surrounding 

 open country. 

 Whether these 

 p recau t ions 

 should include 

 clean weeding 

 is a matter of 

 opinion, but 

 some experts 

 have held 

 that a moder- 

 ate carpet of 

 weeds, care- 

 fully watched 

 and free from 

 too much long 

 coarse grass, 

 is the cause 

 of but little 

 danger from 

 fire. The point 

 of real impor- 

 tance is to 

 have a natural 

 barrier or pro- 

 tective belt of 

 primeval for- 

 est, from 25 to 50 feet in width, clear of secondary growth, be- 

 tween the plantation and adjoining cultivation. 



One constant source of hazard is the proximity of native 

 settlements, without the intervention of such a protective bar- 

 rier. This risk is largely due to the careless manner in which 

 the natives use fire in cooking and to the highly inflammable 

 construction of their dwellings. Another feature of danger con- 

 sists in the long grass, growing among other vegetation, and 

 liable to be fired by a red-hot cinder from a locomotive, or by 

 the sun's rays ; with the risk of the unlimited destruction of 

 rubber trees. 



In view of these conditions, an important point for considera- 

 tion is the question of wide planting, on the same principle as 

 the greater security offered by the detached arrangement of 

 houses in urban communities. Another interesting question is 

 that of the high resistance said to be offered to fire by the Para 

 rubber trees (Hevea Branhensis), in view of its absorption of 

 moisture being on a scale of importance. The recuperative prop- 

 erties of this tree are of special interest to underwriters, it hav- 

 ing been asserted that a fully matured Hevea would have to be 

 cleaved to its heart before its life was endangered. Even more 

 tenacious of life is the Castilloa tree, which often sends up 

 shoots after being burned almost to the ground. 



On general economic principles, the insurance of rubber trees 

 approaching the productive stage, is a matter which claims the 

 earnest attention of planters. While the danger in question is 

 essentially a tropical one, it likewise affects rubber planters in all 

 countries. Rubber trees are the planters' stock in trade, and 

 as such call for the protection of insurance in the same way as 

 the property of the merchant or manufacturer. 



NOTES FROM BRITISH GUIANA. 



By Our Regular Correspondent. 

 THE DROUGHT— WELCOME SHOWERS. 

 'T'HE drought may be said to continue, but there is hope. 

 •*• April has been wetter than any month this year, and on a 

 recent Sunday we had a typical rainy season day. It poured in 

 tropical torrents for hours, and the rainfall gauge at the George- 

 town Waterworks recorded a precipitation of 4.02 inches, which 

 is a great deal more than for any previous months this year. 

 The next day, however, dawned bright enough and the Sunday 

 storms, although fairly general, appear to have been in the nature 



of a spas- 

 modic effort 

 on the part of 

 the clerk of 

 the weather. 

 The general 

 conditions be- 

 ing slightly 

 more favor- 

 able some 

 companies are 

 preparing t o 

 despatch bala- 

 ta expeditions 

 i m m e diately 

 and thus an- 

 ticipate the 

 rains. The 

 A m s t e rdam 

 Balata Co. is 

 the foremost 

 in this respect. 

 Whether the 

 additional ex- 

 penditure in- 

 curred in get- 



-\ Tropic.\l Forest Fire in Me.xico. One That Destroyed Many Rubber Plantations. 



the grants will he worth while is an 



ting these expeditions to 

 anxious question. 



THE RUBBER EXHIBITIOX— COLONY NOT TO BE REPRESENTED. 



The colony is not to be represented at the rubber exhibition to 

 be held in New York in September, after all. A meeting of the 

 Permanent Exhibitions Committee has lately been held to discuss 

 the matter, and the following official communication has been 

 issued by the secretary, F. A. Stockdale, the Assistant Director 

 of Agriculture. "It had been hoped that it would have been 

 possible for this colony to send a representative exhibit of rubber, 

 balata and other products to this exhibition, which is arranged 

 to be held in New York from September 23 to October 3 next. 

 The Permanent Exhibitions Committee had obtained several 

 promises of exhibits, but at a recent meeting they were com- 

 pelled to decide, owing to the severe drought, that it would not 

 be possible to get together a collection of exhibits that would be 

 creditable to the colony. Particulars in regard to open competi- 

 tions have been asked for by the Permanent Exhibitions Com- 

 mittee in case any samples of rubber from this colony can be 

 entered in these competitions, and it is hoped that arrangements 

 can be made whereby literature relating to this colony and its 

 industries may he distributed at the Exhibition." 



The decision is probably premature. The E.xhibition is a good 



