164 



THE RUBBER INDUSTRY 



So far as can be seen at present, the average cost of 

 Ceylon plantation rubber f.o.b. Colombo should not 

 exceed 8d. per pound, although the cost may be con- 

 siderably below that figure, and in the case of some 

 estates has been reduced already to 6|d. per pound. 



The question of Para rubber (Hevea Brasiliensis) only 

 has been dealt with. Ceara grows well in various dis- 

 tricts; but it is not much in favour, owing to difficulty 

 in tapping, therefore the acreage cultivated is insig- 

 nificant. Castilloa has been tried, but proved a failure 

 wherever its cultivation was attempted, on account of 

 the smallness of the yield. 



The following statistics show clearly the develop- 

 ment of the Ceylon rubber industry during the past ten 

 years : 



In 1913 the total exports of rubber from Colombo 

 were 11,835 tons, but of this amount 1,149 tons were 

 imported and reshipped after sale at the local 

 auctions; in 1912 some 200 tons were classified as 

 re-exported. 



