32 



of rubber more than 20,000,000 trees would have to be tapped. 

 When it is reflected, the immense area that has to be traversed to 

 obtain this output, the enormous expense incurred, the heavy gov- 

 ernment tax 23%, it will be better understood of the scope that 

 offers itself for successful and remunerative cultivation in the 

 Straits and Native States. 



On the same estimate the whole Brazilian output of Rubber 

 (26,933) tons could be produced on 179,550 acres under cultivation. 



For the year 1903 the market appears still more favourable. Im- 

 ports into England were larger and prices advanced, commencing 

 at 35-. Sd. falling to 3^-. \d. rising to \s. yd. and closing at 3^. i\d. 

 This larger demand being due to activity in the motor industry and 

 a growing use for rubber foot-pads. 



Considering the world's demand for Rubber, about 60,000 tons, 

 and the success and facilities for planting in the Straits and Native 

 States, and that all the seed bearing trees of Para Rubber in the 

 East are in Ceylon or the Straits, more extensive planting and the 

 utilization of the seed crops for the next few years would give this 

 country a lead it would be impossible to catch. 



R. DERRY. 



RUBBER IN < FIRST HANDS." 



When one studies the countries which yield rubber naturally, and 

 the conditions of life in them, it becomes easy to understand why 

 the cost of this product remains so high as compared with most 

 other materials in wide use. Another page of this Journal is de- 

 voted to some extracts from a recent work by a scientist who, in 

 the study of Brazilian Indian tribes, came now and then in contact 

 with rubber camps of the type from which is gained a great share 

 of what we call " Para rubber, " and w hile this explorer has nut 

 undertaken to write a report on rubber we feel that he has contri- 

 buted to an understanding of the rubber situation by his incidental 

 references to the subject. 



There is no other class of intelligent men, of equal number, at 

 work in any part of the world to-day, under such conditions of 

 isolation and deprivation as the patrons whom Mr. STKERK met 

 on the river Purus, living on unsalted fish and wild game, in a 

 climate where it rains every day, even in the " dry season, " and 

 in constant danger from fevers ; with no other society than that of 

 their Indian employes, who can hardly be congenial, even though 

 " civilized and Christian, " as Mr. STEERE expresses it; with per- 

 haps no communication with the outside world until the yearly 

 Hoods drive everybody from the scene of their work. 



The isolation of the American farmer in pioneer days was not 

 comparable with that of the owner of a rubber camp ; the one had 

 neighbours of his own kind, the other is obliged by the nature of his 

 work to go far away from every other camp to find fresh rubber 

 fields. The pioneer farmer, too, was inspired by the hope of found 



