July i, 1904.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



337 



' HEVEA" TREES AT CULLODEN. 

 [Seven and eight years old.] 



At the present time he keeps a careful record of the produc- 

 tion of each tree and for this purpose the trees are numbered. 

 When a tree has a circumference of 30 inches it is fit to tap, 

 whether it is 5, 6, 7, or more years old. His first year's tapping 

 in 1901 was 4010 trees, from which he secured 4600 pounds of 

 first quality Paid. In 1902 the production was about the same, 

 the production for 1903 from 8300 trees being 10,500 pounds. 

 From 2500 trees on Heatherly, which has just come in bearing, 

 he gets 3500 pounds. 



To show how thoroughly Mr. Harrison is seeking for knowl- 

 edge of the Htvea, he has even had the leaves analyzed to 



know just what they get in Fresh. Air Dried. 



the way of food from the soil Moisture 90.605', 10.60c, 



of Culloden. The analysis is Organic matter. 8 51c, S5.150', 



as follows: Ash 849', 4250, r ; 



The analysis of the organic matter showed that it contained 

 3.696 per cent, of nitrogen, while the ash showed as follows : 



Phosphoric acid 398)1 Lime 084', 



Potash 1.320, Magnesia 2.117;? 



Hence 1000 pounds dried leaves would contain about 4 

 pounds phosphoric acid ; 13.2 pounds potash ; .8 pounds lime ; 

 21. 1 pounds magnesia; and 37 pounds nitrogen. From this it 

 will be seen that the leaf is curiously rich in magnesia, but 

 whether from selection or force of circumstances it is difficult 

 to say. 



Most of the work is done by contract, each coolie being ex- 

 pected to get latex enough to produce one pound of dried rub 

 ber a day. It is very interesting to watch them as they troop 

 up to the curing house early in the forenoon, with huge tin 

 cans of latex on their heads, and to note how they watch the 

 straining that none is slopped over, and even rinse cups, cans, 

 and every receptacle and add it to the rest that no precious 

 drop escape. 



The rubber landed in Colombo costs 16 cents a pound, 

 United States money. Just to let the skeptical do a little 

 bit of thinking, and by the skeptical I mean the majority of 

 rubber manufacturers who believe that the Para from the Ama- 



zon is a better business proposition— just to start them think- 

 ing, therefore, I want to ask them to read the following: 



FINE PARA RUBBER PROM CEYLON. 



Sells at Liverpool, per pound $1.20 



Costs f . o. b. Liverpool 17 



Export duty nil .17 



Planters' profit $103 



FINE PARA RUBBER FROM BRAZIL. 



Sells at Liverpool, per pound $1.00 



Costs f. o. b. Liverpool, minimum 21 



Export duty 23 .44 



Profit $0.56 



The above figures both for Ceylon and South America are 

 very small — that is the cost figures. It is probable that 20 

 cents a pound for cost in Ceylon would be nearer actual prac- 

 tise, while Para rubber costs landed in Para or Man&os often 40, 

 50, and 60 cents a pound, the figures being dependent upon 

 the section that it comes from. 



As a matter of fact, the Tamil coolie whom the planters em- 

 ploy is not a high salaried individual. His pay averages 

 about 13 cents a day, United States money. To this is added 

 the coolie "lines" or houses which are free of rent to him, 

 as is also medical attendance. The planters keep no stores 

 usually, but they do buy rice and furnish it at cost to their 

 laborers, the allowance being 1 bushel a week for a man, and 

 )i bushel for a woman. 



It was while sitting on the cool flags under the broad porch 

 at the Harrison bungalow that the subject of snakes came up. 

 Both my host and his friend acknowledged that cobras were 

 very plentiful, and that they had a great liking for cool bunga- 

 lows, which they sought to enter whenever they thought they 



HEVEA" TREES AT CULLODEN. 

 [Eighteen years old from planting.] 



