THE BALATA INDUSTRY. 
By GrorGe CU. BENSON. 
I promised the Editor-in-chief of “ Timehri ” a short article on the Balat1 
Industry. The promise must have emanatea more from a soft nature chan 
from a controlling brain ; because as so many of my views are opposed to 
existing theories and to present arrangements. I shall only be facing hostile 
criticism. However, as I feel I am right, I follow the example of President 
Roosevelt by throwing my hat in the ring and take my chances. 
The Balata Industry must always be by its very nature a somewhat precaci- 
ous one. The element of speculation must always exist, but there is no reason 
why it should not in spit. of this element of chance be on an average exceedingly 
remunerative to the operators. Like all forest gums, balata is extremely 
dependent, net only on the quality of the soil on which it grows, but also on 
weather conditions. Too much rain is detrimental, and toc much sunshine 1s 
equally so, but an equally proportioned alternation of xain ana sunshine 
tends to produce the maximium of yield. 
If balata is to be profitably produced and to be made to give a splendid 
commercial return, a differcat plan to that which is now followed must be 
adopted. ‘Io begin with, the trees must be bled in a totally aiflerent way. 
The present method of bleeaing not only endangers the trees, but does not 
produce a maximum yield. Many others. besides myself, certainly believe 
that with scientific bieeding the trees could be tapped without detriment 
every year instead of every five years, and that naturally means a very much 
greater yield of latex than is now obtained. Again it must be borne in mind 
that the milk of the balata tree has highly combinative qualities. Balata 
is so strongly tenacious that it can advantageously absorb and combine 
quite 50 per cent. of many 0: the abundant common gums in our tropical 
fo.ests. Samples uf compounded balata which were sent to England, and 
which contained nearly 60 per cent. of carefully prepared Brittle Balata, quite 
surprised the British market and orders were at once despatched to my firm for 
very large quantities of the compound at the highest market quotations for pure 
balata then reigning. Other samples containing 40 pex cent. ot true balata, 30 
per cent. of brittle balata, and 30 per cent. of the very common and abundant 
Hya-hya, so attracted Mincing Lane that it not only offered for the consign- 
ment the very highest market price fetched by pure balata but also wanted to 
know how large a quantity it could obtain by way of a regular supply. The 
way a great deal of our Balata is prepared often shows wantvn carelessness 
and reflects great discredit on many of the bleeders and others. Through this 
the different balata companies suffer financially. It would be well if the 
doublées or dabrays were done away with, and arrangements made for the 
balata milk and other combinative gums to be sent to Georgetown in large 
tins or in small casks ; because then they could be so easily manufactured into 
clean, uniform, and beautiful amber-like sheets, which are so much esteemed 
