16 ' 



The continuous tapping of trees six inches in diameter, 

 indicates that a yield of one-third ounce of dry rubber 

 per day may be expected. The experiment just men- 

 tioned, indicates that three men, working on mature 

 trees, can obtain about one pound of dry rubber per hour. 

 From these figures, it seems evident that the rubber in- 

 dustry rests upon a sure foundation and that a reason- 

 able profit may be obtained from it. In order to utilize 

 the land to the best advantage, however, it will obviously 

 be necessary to practice intercropping with suitable 

 crops during the first year or two of the plantations, and 

 to keep the soil in good tilth, in order to bring about a 

 sufficiently rapid growth of the trees. Experiments are 

 also in progress to determine whether the growth of rub- 

 ber trees may be benefited by fertilization, and whether 

 the temporary stimulation of the latex flow may be ac- 

 complished by fertilizers. It appears, from experiments 

 already carried out on Maui and Oahu, that the tapping 

 period may extend from 6 A. M. to 10 A. M. This period 

 is sufliciently long to allow the economic use of the 

 laborers' time. 



The prospects for rubber in the Islands seem bright. 

 The rubber planter is constantly reminded that this indus- 

 try is being enormously extended in other countries, 

 particularly Ceylon and Mexico; but t\ie rapidly increas- 

 ing demand for rubber, in both old and new lines of 

 manufacture, would seem to furnish an outlet for all of 

 the rubber which can be produced for many years to 

 come. At any rate, the best informed rubber producers 

 and manufacturers can see no immediate prospect of an 

 over-production. In these Islands we have considerable 

 areas in which the rainfall and other conditions are suit- 

 able for rubber production. These areas are not desired 

 for sugar or other crops, and, therefore, offer opportunity 

 for a further extension of the rubber industry. 



TOBACCO. 



There has never been any reasonable doubt about the 

 possibility of obtaining a good yield of tobacco from 

 Hawaiian soils. The natives have long grown a coarse, 

 strong grade of tobacco, chiefly for smoking purposes. 

 Experiments in the culture of improved varieties of to- 

 bacco, demanded by modern markets, were begun about 

 four years ago, and have led to the formation of three 

 companies, one of which is already growing tobacco, and 



