264 



THE RUBBER INDUSTRY 



Official returns for 1910 gave the area planted with 

 Para rubber as 158,000 acres on 215 estates ; in addition, 

 there were under cultivation 1,086,126 Ficus, 687,748 

 Castilloa, and 356,253 Ceara trees. In 1911 some 

 50,000 acres were planted with Para rubber, and in 

 1912 the area was increased by 25,000 acres. This 

 aggregate for 1911 and 1912 is compiled from informa- 

 tion supplied by estate agents and planters ; it is prob- 

 ably less than the actual amount, and in any case must 

 be considered a very conservative figure. Summed up, 

 the approximate extent now cultivated with Hevea 

 Brasiliensis is 



The extensions in 1911 and 1912 are directly due to 

 the rubber boom of 1909-10 ; they took place principally 

 in the eastern districts of the island in the provinces 

 of Besoeki, Pasoerean, and Kediri. 



In 1898, when the price of coffee dropped so low that 

 no profit remained to planters, efforts were made to find 

 some product as a substitute. The question of con- 

 verting the coffee estates into rubber plantations was 

 considered in many districts, and application was made 

 to the Government Agricultural Department for advice 

 as to cultivation and the species of rubber-bearing tree 

 most suitable for the conditions prevalent in Java. The 



