265 



This grouping into real and inferior Gutta-percha gave an uni- 

 que clue to the Chinese practice in Singapore, for it can be seen 

 that 1900, for example, 23,000 more piculs (3,111,067 pounds, to be 

 exact) more of Gutta-percha were exported than were imported, 

 while at the same time 21,000 piculs (2,893,867 pounds) less of 

 inferior Gutta were imported than exported. As the average price 

 of the inferior Gutta is §4.40 per picul, and the average price of 

 Gutta-percha $74 per picul, this work of adulteration of the real 

 with the inferior netted some $1,500,000. 



Dr. Sherman is inclined to the belief, since he visited the recog- 

 nized Gutta-percha producing districts, that Gutta-percha species 

 of value exist in important quantities in the Philippines, though up 

 to date the most valuable species (Dichopsis gutta) has not been 

 recognized there. But even if this species should not be found, 

 Dr. Sherman believes that it may be introduced under cultivation, 

 citing in support of his belief the success which has attended the 

 experimental planting of Gutta-percha, under government auspices, 

 in Java, to which island the true Gutta-percha is not indigenous. 

 The Dutch government began planting Gutta-percha in 1847, as a 

 result of which manv thousands of trees have come into existence, 

 but as they are of more value in producing seed for further planting 

 than for their product of gum, no extraction is allowed. In view of 

 the diminishing native supplies, the Government is now devoting 

 serious attention tc Gutta-percha cultivation, and active steps have 

 been taken in a program that, by 1907, will have 900,000 to 

 1,000,000 Gutta-percha trees planted in Java alone. 



In regard to the amount of Gutta-percha secured by the natives 

 in their careless way of working it is almost impossible to say. 

 Their own statements are both inaccurate and wilfully misleading 

 The experiments made by botanists and others show pretty conclu- 

 sively that the amount of Gutta-percha in a tree increases with its 

 size and age. The amounts secured by supposedly reliable wit- 

 nesses vary from only a few ounces to 13^- pounds. This is not 

 to be wondered at, as the trees felled were of all sizes and ages. 

 One of the latest and most carefully carried out experiments by 

 Curtis gave \\ pounds of pure Gutta-percha, the tree being large 

 and full grown. Most experimenters agree that the natives, from 

 their careless methods, only get, on an average, 1 pound from each 

 tree. These 'experiments naturally suggest the queries . First, 

 what amount of Gutta-percha does a tree really contain? Second, 

 what proportion of the total Gutta-percha in the tree can be col- 

 lected by ringing the tree in the native way? Wray experimented 

 on the large Gutta-percha tree found in the forest, with a view of 

 throwing light on the matter. By felling and ringing the tree, 

 native fashion, he secured about |th pounds of Gutta-percha. He 

 then analyzed the bark and leaves, computed their weight, and con- 

 cluded that there had been at least 25 pounds in the entire tree. 

 Thus, by the native method, only one-thirty-fifth to one fortieth of 

 the entire yield can be secured. From an experiment conducted 

 by P. Von Romburgh, on another tree, cultivated, the above figu- 

 res would appear to be too large, but even if we take a perfectly 



