316 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[March 1, 1916. 



which is sn obviously more easily detected and treated than a 

 root disease. 



An example of the damage that can be done by certain dis- 

 eases is seen in the witchbroom disease of cacao. This disea.se, 

 where conditions are favorable, can and does prove most disas- 

 trous. The cacao industry of Dutch Guiana was practically 

 ruined by the witchbroom disease, and in British Guiana the 

 planter here and there were also victims to this terrible 

 plague. The coffee industry of Ceylon was ruined many years 

 ago l)y disease which would probably in these days have been 

 tackled and the industry saved. 



From e.xhaustive investigations in the Guianas, it has been dis- 

 covered tliat the soil in neither of the colonies is responsible for 

 the leaf disease. The Department of Agriculture at Dutch Gui- 

 ana is at present very busy with its examinations, and it is 

 expected by the middle of 1916 its report will appear before 

 the world. 



In British Guiana, 1.932 pounds of rubber were exported in 

 1914-15 as against 1.292 pounds exported in 1913-14, an increase 

 of 640 pounds. Of this amount 380 pounds was collected from 

 crown lands and paid royalty, the rest was from private prop- 

 erties. 



The rubber cultivation on leased crown lands at the Hills 

 Estate, right bank of the Mazaruni river, and of the Consoli- 

 dated Rubber and Balata Estates, Limited, at Aliki, right bank of 

 the Essequibo river, have been maintained. Cultivation of rubber 

 has been commenced by the latter company on 43 acres of the 

 recently leased land, Koriabo, on the left bank of the Aruka 

 river. North West district, adjoining the Government Experi- 

 mental Station at Issorora, the rubber being interplanted with 

 catch crops. 



The tapping of rubber trees was carried out at the Govern- 

 ment Experimental Station at Christianburg and Issorora, and 

 at the David Young's property, Aruka, now owned by the Con- 

 solidated Rubber & Balata Estates, Limited, and excellent bis- 

 cuits obtained from the latex. 



A showcase owned by the Permanent Exhibitions Committee 

 of the Board of Science and Agriculture and containing samples 

 of rubber and balata, has been placed in the Museum buildings, 

 with the consent of the directors of the Royal Agriculture and 

 Commercial Society. 



The cultivation of rubber on the sugar estates in Demerara 

 and other freehold properties in that colony have been main- 

 tained, and the production from such sources ought soon to be 

 apparent. 



The estimated area under rublier cultivation in the whole col- 

 ony of British Guiana, according to the reports from the Depart- 

 ment of Lands and Mines, on March 31, 1915, was 4,962 acres. 



The low price of rubber has had the effect of diverting atten- 

 tion from the cultivation of this product, and there has been no 

 large increase in area cultivated, but it is possible that interest 

 may lie revived after the war, when an improvement in the mar- 

 ket is looked for. 



In Dutch Guiana, the industry during 1915 cannot be said to 

 have suffered any material loss. The trees on most of the 

 estates are all nearly ready for tapping and, had it not been for 

 the war in Europe, many planters would have reported good 

 shipments. It would seem, however, that the trouble in Europe 

 is a blessing in disguise for the industry in the Dutch colony for, 

 after the war, prices are expected to be high. The estates will 

 be then in a better position to profit by the long cessation from 

 tapping and the trees will, it is hoped, be entirely freed from the 

 leaf trouble. 



It is unfortunate, however, for Dutch Guiana, that the Holland 

 element introduced from the East Indies to fill responsible posi- 

 tions are men of very little feeling for the country. A recent 

 importation, who arrived a few weeks back to report on a rub- 

 ber estate, has discovered already that Dutch Guiana is unsuited 

 for rubber and that the Far East is ideal. I could quote instances 



where these East Indian experts are prejudiced against the 

 country long before they set foot on the soil. 



The balata industry in the Guianas suffered considerably dur- 

 ing 1915 and bleeding operations were practically suspended. 

 In British Guiana, however, the royalty collected on this product 

 during the year was $24,946.35, as against $29,590.86, or a de- 

 crease of $4,644.51. Notwithstanding the adverse conditions in 

 that colony caused on account of the war. the production was 

 very satisfactory and had the war not occurred, tlie year would 

 have bid fair to have been a record one. 



The following are the companies that carried on operations 

 during the year with tlie quantity of l)alata on which royalty 

 was paid by each : 



Consolidated Rulil-,1 \ l;ili;:i i:M,ii.x, I luntcl /.,.i,,i</,t ^SS.Oei"^ 



Garnett & Co.. I ni,ii< -I 143,286 



Thorn & Canier.Mi, 1 t ■ 73,614 



M. Bugle ,S: Cn. 65,771 



Hrilish Guiana I:. l.iM < - , I i.:ni..l 26,271 



H. L. Rongeiron 14,554 



C. A. Parrett 11,121 



Edward Mauier 9,191 



Evan Wong 8,536 



P. F. Smith 5,654 



W. 11. Patoir 2,665 



T,;tal I,148,724J^ 



it will be seen that the chief operators were the Consolidated 

 Rubber & Balata Estates. Limited, whose holdings represent the 

 tracts foriTierly owned by Garnetts, McKinnon, Downer, Davson 

 — chief balata pioneers of the past. Four new balata collecting 

 licenses were issued and 65 licenses canceled for failure to pay 

 the rentals due thereon, leaving 678 in existence at the close of 

 the year. 



The bleeding of balata by Indians on the reservations was 

 continued from April to October, 1914, when the issue of permits 

 was discontinued owing to the difficulty in disposing of the sub- 

 stance on account of the war. There was, notwithstanding, col- 

 lected by the Indians from the Berbice and Pomeroon reserva- 

 tions, 19,559 pounds of balata which produced in revenue to the 

 government $1,955.90. 



Dutch Guiana's balata crop began in May, 1915, owing to the 

 new regulations which upset the entire machinery of the indus- 

 try, but fortunately an order to cancel the laws reached the col- 

 ony just in time to avert a crisis. However, from May to De- 

 cember 31, 1915, the colony produced 564.380 kilograms [1,128,- 

 760 pounds]. 



The war severely hampers the industry, as it is not possible to 

 export balata to Europe and, there is no demand from the 

 United States ; if, however, the prices were attractive, good busi- 

 ness could be effected by sending the bulk of balata produced in 

 the Guianas to the L'nited States. 



French Guiana produced a fairly large crop during 1915, but 

 no figures have yet come to hand. Very much activity, however, 

 is displayed by the French people and there is a great rush for 

 the balata forests on the Maroni, where very extensive tracts are 

 untouched, especially on the Mini and Spirning creeks, where 

 the trees are within easy reach from the landing places. 



GERMAN IMPORTS AND EXPORTS OF WASTE. 



Under paragraph 98d of the German tariff, rubber waste is in- 

 cluded with gutta percha and balata waste. The latest available 

 statistics of this trade, which are for the year 1913. are re- 

 printed from the "Gummi-Zeitung," which says that no statistics 

 have been given out since the beginning of the war. 

 (;i-:rm.\n i.mports .and export.s. 



Imports. E.xports. 



Belgium ro'""ls 407.000 306.460 



France 1.236,180 298,540 



Great Britain 1.861,200 4,217,400 



Holland 319,220 443,960 



Austria-Hungary 1 ,406,020 446,600 



Russia 490,600 187,000 



Sweden 239.020 



United States 603,460 2,508,000 



Other countries 1,443,320 173,140 



Totals 8.006,020 8,581,100 



Total Values $649,502 $658,308 I 



