36 RUBBER AND 



Ficus, and in Fiji from Alstonia plumosa. In all these 

 countries the development of plantations is rapidly 

 supplanting the collection of wild rubber. 



Jelutong Rubber. 



This rubber, called after the name used by the 

 natives in Borneo, is of a low type containing a very 

 high proportion of resin. It has, however, taken a 

 prominent place in the rubber market in consequence 

 of the recent high prices of purer kinds. Jelutong 

 rubber comes chiefly from Borneo and Sumatra, and is 

 derived from large forest trees of the genera Dyera and 

 Alstonia. These are abundant in certain districts, 

 mainly in swampy places, and may attain a circum- 

 ference of as much as 20 feet. Much damage has 

 already been done by native methods of collection, but 

 steps have recently been taken by the governments 

 concerned to safeguard the life of the trees. Large 

 factories have also been opened for producing purified 

 rubber by the use of resin solvents. Schidrowitz states 

 that the trees can be tapped 40 times in a year without 

 damage, and that as much as 100 Ibs. of latex can 

 be obtained from a single tree. The method of tapping 

 recommended is done with a gouge in the form of a 

 wide V. 



The export of Jelutong in 1910 is said to have 

 exceeded 25,000 tons. The crude product contains 

 only 12 to 14 per cent, of actual rubber. There is also 



