514 SECTIONAL TRANSACTIONS.—M. 
The Hevea Brasiliensis was first cultivated some fifty years ago, and presented 
many difficult problems, the most important being the problem of extraction of the 
product, on which the superiority of the cultivated over the wild product depends, 
and the problem of evolving the best type of tree, on which must depend the pre- 
dominance of European over native plantations. 
Up to 1900 world’s requirements (50,000 tons) were met by wild rubber. The 
plantation industry, derived from seed brought from Brazil in 1876, arose in the 
East, and became of importance from 1900 ; it outstripped the wild product by 1914, 
and now supplies 974 per cent. of the world’s requirements. Supplies of wild rubber 
have declined considerably, the decline being due to the economic advantages held 
by plantation rubber. 
The plantation industry was started by Europeans, but its great profits early in 
the century resulted in the establishment of native plantations. So rapid has been 
the increase of the latter that they now supply half the world’s rubber requirements, 
with a considerably greater potential share in the near future. 
Native plantations are organised on a system quite different from the European, 
the native relying on large stands of undeveloped trees per acre. Conditions 
approximate to those of the tree in its jungle state, and this system may have definite 
scientific advantages. The total native area is about 4 million acres. 
The European planter relies on a small stand of highly developed trees per acre, 
and he aims at the maximum yield per tree to reduce his overhead costs. The object 
of the scientist has been to increase the yield per tree, and he has substituted for an 
original yield of 300 Ib. per acre yields of 1,200 lb., with the possibility of 2,000 Ib. 
in the near future. He has done this on new areas by means mainly of bud-grafting 
and seed selection, while by soil conservation, &c., he has increased yields of old 
areas. The scientist has not generally been able to improve the quality of the product. 
A contest is at present in progress between native and European; the native 
advantage of low production costs is offset by heavy marketing costs; the European 
is attempting to reduce his higher costs (mainly overhead) by increasing yield per 
acre. The result of this contest cannot yet be foretold. 
World’s production is considerably in excess of world’s consumption, and after 
allowing for the various factors it is clear that productive capacity is excessive, and 
will increase heavily in the next few years. It is difficult to say if this excess will 
be absorbed or what the relative effect will be on European and native plantations. 
It is difficult to adjust productive capacity to demand owing to the 7-year lag 
between planting and production, and the difficulty of arranging a planting programme 
is made more difficult by the fact that since its birth the industry has never been on 
a normal basis. It is certain that the wild product will never oust plantation rubber, 
but it is still doubtful whether the European or the native will win in the fight for 
predominance in plantation rubber. 
Dr. B. J. Eaton (read by Dr. H. A. Tempany).—Research on Rubber 
Production. 
Corron :— 
Sir James Currin, K.B.E., C.M.G.—A Survey of the Present Position. 
Dr. W. L. Batus.—Research on Cotton Production. 
Friday, September 25. 
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS by Sir Joun Russe 1, F.R.S., on The Changing 
Outlook in Agriculture. (See page 231.) 
Followed by Discussion on The Application of Science to Present Problems 
of Empire Agriculture. (Gen. the Rt. Hon. J. C. Smuts, P.C., C.H., 
F.R.S., Sir Danret Hatt, K.C.B., F.R.S., and Mr. C. 8. Ornwin.) 
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