Conditions tor a IRubber plantation* 383 



expenses of transportation, commission, freight, insurance, and others, 

 including also the profits of the exporter, which may be calculated at 

 thirty per cent, of the price above mentioned, this would be reduced 

 to forty-two cents per pound on the place of production. 



As the cost of a plantation of one hundred thousand trees in the 

 State of Chiapas, the best locality for this product, would not prob- 

 ably be more than ten thousand dollars, it results that the profits 

 would really be fabulous. 



It must be observed, moreover, that as the yield of every tree will 

 increase annually, there is every reason to believe that a tree twenty 

 years old will give from fifteen to twenty-five pounds of sap. 



For the purpose of showing upon what basis the preceding calcula- 

 tions rest, and of giving general data that may be useful to those who 

 would like to go into that business, we will consider in the following 

 chapter, what are the requisite conditions to form such a plantation. 



V. 



PROPER CONDITIONS TO FORM A PLANTATION OF RUBBER- 

 TREES. 



When about to form a plantation of rubber-trees, it is indispensable 

 to ascertain beforehand what are the best conditions for the develop- 

 ment of that tree, so that at the least possible expense and in the 

 shortest time, for " time is money," the largest returns may be ob- 

 tained. The following points, therefore, should be carefully ex- 

 amined : 



1 . What are the climate and soil most favorable to the development 

 of the rubber-tree ? 



2. What is the best way to form a plantation, by sowing seeds, 

 transplanting from the nursery, or with cuttings ? 



3. Should the plantation be exposed to the sun or should it have 

 shade ? 



4. At what distance must the trees be from each other, so that they 

 shall not interfere with one another's growth, and yet that no land shall 

 be wasted ? 



5. What operations will the tree require before bearing ? 



6. How long after planting the seed will the tree begin to bear ? 



7. What quantity of rubber can each tree produce in a year ? 



8. What is the best way to extract the rubber from the tree without 

 destroying it ? 



Unfortunately, it is not possible to answer positively and conclu- 

 sively every one of the preceding questions. In regard to some of 

 them certain fixed principles, proved by experience, may be laid down ; 



