January 1, 1920.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



253 



where supplies could be bought at reasonable prices ; such a 

 system, honestly carried out, would perhaps help to put eco- 

 nomics on a better footing, but so far the idea remains an idea. 

 Many advanced countries hold fast to their faith in untaxed 

 exports. It is a doctrine with much to recommend it, especially 



On the Maroni River. 



perhaps in the case of manufacturers, but it is one which the 

 South American countries cannot yet afford to follow. The 

 state revenues are thus maintained, and balata has been the fa- 

 vorite milch cow of the authorities. It has paid in the past, and 

 still is paying one-third of its official value in various export 

 duties. Almost without exception those interested in the in- 

 dustry think that export taxes must be reduced; that they must 

 in fact be reduced to meet conditions of the present day, if the 

 industry is to last. 



It must not be supposed that a decline or even the extinction 

 of the balata industry in Dutch Guiana would mean the ruin 

 of the colony. The threat of declination has rather done good 

 in forcing the attention of industrialists to other fields than 

 that of the collection of the late.x of the balata tree. During 

 1917 there occurred a stimulation for agricultural pursuits, and 

 several thousands of acres were cultivated with rice and other 

 cereals and food roots, while the catllc industry received more 

 serious consideration. There are vast uplands of pasture coun- 

 try which will be valorized when the world becomes more fully 

 aware of the rapid contraction of cattle feeding grounds in 

 other regions. 



There have been, however, some important changes made 

 during this year. In April the Balata Company Suriname ac- 

 fiuired for a respectable amount the rights held by Brown & 

 Co. on certain blocks, and it is rumored that the Consolidated 

 Balata & Rubber Estates operating in British Guiana will soon 

 take over for a good round figure some of the principal con- 

 cessions held by local concerns. With the arrival of fresh 

 capital and new blood it is expected that the industry will be 

 placed on a still more firm and lasting basis. 



The exports from the colony during the year 1918 were 663 



tons against 887 tons in 1917, 76S tons in 1916, and 210 tons in 

 191S. The small output of last year is mainly due to the scarcity 

 of labor; the best bleeders migrated to French Guiana where 

 inducements were better than in the colony and where the 

 workers are not so much controlled. A very large crop is an- 

 ticipated for the present year, however, owing to the fact that 

 ibere has been a rush of men from Demerara since the armistice 

 was signed. Local restrictions having been partly removed, it is 

 lair to say that balata will resume its former position as an 

 important industry the moment conditions return to normal. 



For five long years the balata boys experienced very hard 

 limes; they worked under some most difficult circumstances; 

 the great scarcity of American foodstuffs on the one hand, and 

 the uncertainty of receiving their wages on the other (owing 

 to the world's struggle, which cut off the colony practically 

 from the outside) were causes of great dissatisfaction amongst 

 them. Now the worst is past and there is daily evidence of 

 renewed interest to enter into contracts and be once more 

 cheerfully earning their daily bread. 



TRINIDAD RUBBER CULTURE. 



Rubber in the island of Trinidad is still in the experimental 

 stage though the .Report of the Department of Agriculture of 

 Trinidad and Tobago for 1918 says that it continues to expand. 

 The exports were 39,517 pounds, nearly double the 22,224 pounds 

 of 1917. On one estate 16,000 Hevea trees were tapped; on some 

 scrap was made from Castilloa but many Castilloa trees have 

 been cut down because the yield was less than had been ex- 

 pected. The report regrets the experimentation. 



Hevca is apparently the best rubber tree for the colony; it 

 flourishes not only in the moist districts but in places that were 

 thought too dry for cocoa. Trees at St. Clair yielded an average 

 of 2y.'. to 2M pounds in the last seven years when the average 

 rainfall was only S6j4 inches. Interesting experiments in tap- 

 ping are reported and no leaf disease or other disease or pest 

 has appeared so far. 



THE ROOT SYSTEM OF HEVEA. 



At the Horto Florcstal of the Seringal Miry, the experiment 

 station in the State of Amazonas of the Rubber Tree Club of 

 Manaos, an interesting investigation has been made of the root 

 system of Hevea brasiliensis, as shown in the illustration. 



The trees in the grove are seven years old and planted thirteen 

 feet apart. The roots on one-quarter of the circumference have 



("A Scrhti^ucira.'') 

 One Quarter of the Root System 

 TwENTvsix Feet 



He 



iLiENsis, Extending 



Trunk 



been uncovered here for a distance of over twenty-six feet from 

 the trunk. The picture demonstrates graphically to what extent 



the rubber trees call on the soil for nutriment 

 the necessity of wide planting. 



md : 



evidence of 



