and Magazine of the Ceylon Agricultural Society.— Feb., 1910. 189 



MESSRS LEWIS AND PEAT'S REPORT. 

 World's Production 75,000 Tons against 

 70,000 Tons in 1908. 

 Plantation 4, 600 ; against 2,200 Tons in 1908 



London, 1st Jan.— The year 1909 lias been a 

 phenomenal one for Rubber and at times the 

 variations in values extraordinary. Prices for 

 Fine Para have fluctuated from 5s 2Jd at the 

 lowest to 9s 3£d at the highest, or roughly spea- 

 king 4s per lb a variation hitherto unknown in 

 the article. The previous record highest price 

 was 5s 9d per lb in 1905. The average price for 

 five years, including 1909, works out at 5s 4d per 

 lb and for the last ten years at 4s 6d per lb. Plan- 

 tation Para has fluctuated in price from 5s l|d in 

 January to 9s 8£d in November, and closes at 7s 

 6d for Biscuits and Sheets against 7s G.Jd for Fine 

 Para on the spot and 7s 5d for forward delivery. 



The Brazilian Crop, commencing last July, will 

 doubtless prove a large one, although supplies 

 have up to now been somewhat hindered by the 

 low waters of the Upper Amazon, but this only 

 means that they will arrive later than was ex- 

 pected, and it is probable the heavy weight of 

 the Crop will be felt in January-March . The 

 Americans have up till now taken the bulk of 

 the supplies received in Manaos and Para, so 

 that only just sufficient supply has reached Eu- 

 rope for European Trade requirements, and yet 

 prices have dropped from 9s 3^d in- October to 

 7s 6d in December, as soon as the squeeze was 

 over. All interested in either Fine Para or 

 Plantation Rubber, when considering the likely 

 course of prices during 1910, should bear in 

 mind that 1910 commences with a range of 

 prices 2s 4d per lb. above the prices ruling in 

 January, 1909 and whilst it is true the demand 

 for the past six or eight months has been extra- 

 ordinary and very little affected by the enor- 

 mous and abnormal prices consumers have had 

 to pay, it is not reasonable to expect such rates 

 will be maintained when the heavy supplies come 

 to hand as come they must. Possibly early in the 

 year there will be a decline of 6d or 9d per lb follo- 

 wed by a recovery, as consumers fill their tequire 

 ments;but we do not look for a low range of prices 

 for some time to come. We should rather ven- 

 ture a prediction of a 7d basis with variations of 

 3d per lb or possibly 6d either side of 7d for the 

 next six months, both for Para and Plantation. 

 Such a position and basis must be considered a 

 most satisfactory one for Planters and Producers, 

 and equally so to those who have taken an 

 interest in Rubber Companies as an investment. 



We do not hesitate to call attention to the 

 benefits being derived, and to be derived, in 

 London and in the Rubber World generally 

 from the enterprise, capacity aud intelligence of 

 Planters in the East, which has brought about 

 this great, lucrative and important industry, to 

 their own advantage and that of everyone con- 

 nected with it. An enormous amount of capi- 

 tal has been invested in Rubber Companies, 

 but it must be borne in mind that such an 

 industry requires, and is entitled to, a huge 

 capital, and we are of opinion that the out- 

 look is a bright one for Rubber Producers and 

 Investors from the simple fact that the de- 

 mand is a growing one, and that Consumers 

 and Manufacturers are finding by experience 

 that in buying Plantation-Grown Rubber they 



are receiving in their factories an article of 

 high merit and purity to be relied upon and 

 free from the irregularity and uncertainty of 

 native-prepared and wild rubbers. The result 

 is certain. The demand for cultivated rubber 

 must and will increase, and we do not believe, 

 with all the new enterprises entered into, that 

 it has been overdone, although we do not for one 

 moment expect the present enormous profits are 

 going to last, although for some time to come 

 we are persuaded that there is no industry with 

 such prospects as present themselves in con- 

 nection with the plantation rubber industry. 

 Points : 



During the past year features of plantation 

 rubber may be summarised as follows : — 



General improvement and regularityof quality 

 and colour of crepe, which facilitates business 

 and the execution of manufacturers' orders. 



The special demand and top price paid for 

 Smoked Sheet, the smoking process having 

 apparently increased or preserved the strength 

 of the rubber, and saved it from deterioration 

 by heat or microbe action, &c, exampled by 

 " Highlands aud Lowlands" and " Vallambrosa.'' 



The extraordinary demand and relative in- 

 crease in prices paid for clean brown crepe and 

 good crepe scrap. 



The maintained excellence and evenness of the 

 Premier " Lar.adron " Block. 



The lead for colour and quality by the " War- 

 riapolla " Biscuits, and for prime thick crepe 

 by " Rosehaugh " blankets. 



We have mentioned some of the leading crack 

 marks as examples of successful preparations, 

 but there are many other marks fast approa- 

 ching an equal standard of excellence, and there 

 is no doubt in a very short time, as in the case of 

 Fine Para, regular contracts will be possible, made 

 simply upon a guarantoe of a given mark that has 

 established its reputation for quality and regula- 

 rity, whether it be block, crepe, sheet or biscuits. 



In fact a good many contracts have already 

 been entered into for crops and outputs, and 

 with a continuation of the careful preparation 

 which has made such strides during the past 

 year, the forward and delivery business should 

 present few if any difficulties. 



Worms 



have been coming much darker in colour and, 

 unless very pale, have been difficult to sell, we 

 do not recommend this form of preparation. 

 Castllloa. 



The quality of parcels sent during the past year 

 has improved, but the colour has been very dark. 

 A new machine is now in course of construction 

 and we have valued some excellent strong sheet 

 almost white, prepared by it ; we have every con- 

 fidence of a great future for this class of rubber 

 when new methods are discovered and perfected. 



Ficus Elastica, 

 prepared in crepe form has always met a ready 

 demand and we do not get nearly enough to 

 supply even the smaller buyers. 



The Mabika Forest Rubber 

 (Funtumia) has met with extraordinary success, 

 which goes to show that other rubber beside 

 Hevea, properly prepared and sent home in 

 good condition, will meet with a quick and 

 ready sale, and bring excellent prices. — Lewis 

 & Peat, Rubber and Rubber Share Brokers, 



