4i 



We reported in our special issue of May 12th : " With the 

 extension of plantations and larger crops it has become difficult to 

 continue on some estates the preparation in biscuits, and new 

 processes are being tried. We have seen small sample lots of 

 thin sheets cut into narrow strips which look nice rubber, but 

 being not known to manufacturers in this form there has not been 

 so ready bidding for it. Some washed and pressed pale clean 

 rolled ' crape ' in sheet was sold to-day at 6s. Sd. to 6s. 8%d., but 

 the darker coloured lots only realised 6s. id. No doubt this 

 preparation will save planters time and trouble in preparation of 

 their rubber, but they may perhaps find that there is some extra 

 loss in weight to them in the preparation." 



The difference of is. per lb. in favour of plantation fine, as 

 compared with fine Para (Brazil) obtained when the supply of the 

 former was smaller, may not be maintained when supplies increase. 

 The preparation of " scrap " has improved and prices accordingly, 

 the value as we close being of fine biscuits or sheet 6s. id., scrap 

 5s. to 5s. 4^., fine Para 5s. 5^., negrohead (best) 4s. Shipments 

 from Ceylon we estimate 70 tons as against 40 tons in 1904. 

 From Malay 75 tons. Rambong brought high prices, 4s. 6d. to 

 5s. There is but little Ceara. Castilloa we have scarcely seen. 

 The world's supply of all rubber in 1905 was 60,000 tons. 



It must be taken into account that " planting " rubber goes 

 on in Mexico, Nicaragua, other Central American States, and 

 some in Brazil and Bolivia, besides India. Burmah, Borneo, and 

 Java, and recently in Samoa and Pacific Isles. Plantations in the 

 Congo region of the native rubbers are being rapidly extended. 

 We repeat the suggestion that owners will plant from Para seed 

 and produce hard clean rubber, for which there is an excellent 

 and increasing demand. But as the Amazonas show no signs of 

 reduction of crops (Brazil exports 36,000 tons), too much expecta- 

 tion of serious decrease in Brazil supply ma}- prove unwise. 



Review of Para Prices for 1905. 



Early last January hard fine sold at 5s. ojd., soft 4s. iojrf.* 

 scrappy negrohead 3s. gd., Cameta 2s. gfcd., Caucho ball 3s. 3±d. 

 Prices soon advanced 2\d., and again 2d. in February, and the 

 highest price of fine hard was paid in March — fine hard 5s. gd., 

 soft 5s. *]\d., scrappy 4s. 3d., Island 3s. y^d. By end of March 

 prices declined 2d. but recovered in April, and in May 5s. gd. was 

 again obtained for fine hard (5s. 8%J. soft being scarce), but only 

 3s. id. for Island, against 4s. id. paid for scrappy, and 3s. ^d. to 

 3s. 6d. for ball. By middle July values declined 4^. — hard 

 5s. 4$d., soft 5s. 3|d., scrappy 3s. gd., Island 2s. g\d., ball 3s. <\\d. 

 During August we advanced 2d., and the sinking of Cyril early in 

 September pushed up values to 5s. Sd. fine hard, 3s. nd. scrappy. 

 2s. 1 id. Island, and 3s. g\d. ball. Values fell constantly from 

 5s. (id. end September to 5s. 2\d. for hard end October, ball 3s. gd, 

 to 3s. 6%d. forward. In beginning November large receipts caused 



