THE NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES 261 



her own, but in the matter of cinchona bark Java was 

 able to reduce the cost of production to a figure so low 

 that the Ceylon plantations were abandoned as unprofit- 

 able. In the direction of the rubber industry the pride 

 of place rests easily with Ceylon, but the estates in 

 Java are developing rapidly, and in a very few years 

 the rivalry between the two countries will be accen- 

 tuated to a marked degree. 



The rubber estates of Java are scattered over the 

 island from east to west; but they are much more 

 numerous in the southern section, for the reason that 

 the rainfall is greater and more regular in the south. 

 The principal districts where plantations have been 

 opened are near Buitenzorg and Krawang, in the 

 province of Batavia; Rangkas-Bitoeng and Menes, in 

 Bantam; Tjandjoer, Bandoeng, and Banjar, in Preanger; 

 Langen, Tjipari, and Kiliminger, in Banjoemas; Malang 

 and Limburg, in Pasoerean ; Dj ember, Kalisat, and 

 Banjoewani, in Besoeki ; and at various points in the 

 provinces of Kediri and Soerabaja. In nearly all dis- 

 tricts where coffee plantations previously existed, rubber 

 has been planted whenever conditions of climate and 

 soil permitted. Experiments tried with Para rubber in 

 the northern sections of the island, between Batavia 

 and Soerabaja, have not proved successful, owing to 

 climatic reasons. 



Java differs from the other rubber-producing coun- 

 tries of the Orient in that Para rubber flourishes at 

 elevations varying from sea-level to 2,000 feet. At the 

 latter height the growth may be somewhat slower, 

 although it is difficult to express a definite opinion on 

 this point, as all the rubber at high elevations has been 



