and Magazine of the Ceylon Agricultural Society.— March, 1910. * 271 



RUBBER OUTPUTS IN THE F.M.S. 



Some Questions as to Yield or Trees 

 Answered. 

 (To the Editor, Straits Times.) 



Sir, — Much has been written at various times 

 with regard to the output of rubbbr trees, but 

 prospectuses vary so much in their forecasts 

 that, after perusing a few and comparing some 

 of them, one feels bound to give up the attempt 

 to arrive at any definite and reliable figures 

 from such sources. Would the statistics at your 

 command permit of your publishing what quan- 

 tity per tree or per acre may be expected as a 

 fair average yield from a European-managed 

 estate ? Not from one which shows exception- 

 ally good growth, nor on the other hand, from a 

 backward estate, but a fair average figure for 

 rubber of 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 years of age 

 respectively, which intending investors might 

 use for the purpose of calculating the prospec- 

 tive output during the next three or four years of 

 the estates now Hearing or just staited tapping. 



If you don't care to publish such a statement, 

 perhaps you would be so kind as to furnish me 

 with the information, for my own use, by letter. 

 1 feel sure, however, that many would appreci- 

 ate its publication. 



I enclose my card and remain, yours, etc., 



Veridical. 



Singapore, Jan. 3(», 1910. 

 [The question asked by our correrpondent is 

 of great interest and importance, and, as he 

 says, it is most difficult to get definite inform- 

 ation. We have no objection, however, to giving 

 the calculation made for our purposes as writers 

 on rubber subjects. It is as follows : — 



Age of 



Yield per 



Yield per 



trees. 



single 



acre of 





tree. 



120 trees. 



Years. 



lb. 



lb. 



4 



3 

 •1 



90 



5 



1 



120 



6 



2 



240 



7 



3 



360 



8 



4ft 



460 



9 



6 



720 



10 



7 



840 



The estimate 



is for estates on 



good average 



soil, under competent European management, 

 where all that is possible is done to work for 

 safe immediate, and assured future results. 

 Some will say that more shouid be put down for 

 the ages 4, 5, 6 and 7, and less for older trees. 

 We do not think so. More may be got from the 

 young trees, but it is at the risk of injuring 

 them unless the conditions are quite abnormally 

 favourable. Alter the seventh year, trees which 

 have been tapped moderately and with care 

 should be strong, and capable of responding to 

 calls for a larger yield. 



We fix the number of trees at 120 per acre 

 because we are convinced that where the number 

 is larger, the yield per tree will be proportio- 

 nately less. 



One of the dangers to young plantations is 

 that the trees may bo excessively tapped while 

 rubber prices are high on the principle of 

 " making hay while the sun shines." 



A good many estates, especially those laid out 

 by Chinese owners, are too closely planted, and 

 our correspondent and others must not overlook 

 this. Generally, yield per acre on the 120 tree 

 basis is a safer guide than yield per tree. 



(In most well-managed estates, collection, 

 curing, etc., can be done at a cost of Is per lb. 

 But there are incidental expenses, losses, etc., 

 to be met, and a probability of labour becoming 

 more expensive. The cautious investor, there- 

 fore, should take 1/3 as a fair average cost figure 

 before counting profits on output. — Ed., 5. T.~\ 



PLANTATION vs. FINE PARA RUBBER. 



A Report Fbom South India. 



From the following report of the findings of 

 the Scientific Department of the Depar- 

 tment of Agriculture it will be seen that 

 the conclusion that is of tho most impor- 

 tance to those interested in the industry is 

 the fact that a series of tests on rubber from 4J, 

 5, 9, 10, 17, and 27 year old trees show very little 

 difference in the strength of the rubber from the 

 trees of various ages, but the fact remains that 

 the potential strength of plantation rubber of 

 any ago is inferior to that of fine Para, and it 

 seems clear that the necessary improvement in 

 the cultivated product can be obtained only 

 through improved method of treatment : — 

 Report on Plantation Rubber (Hevea 

 Brasiliensis.) 



First. — The rubber from young trees is not 

 materially different from those of much greater 

 age, and leads us to the conclusion that the age 

 of the tree from which rubber is extracted is not 

 so important as is generally supposed. 



Second. — The potential strength of the plan- 

 tation product is inferior to that of fine Para. 



Third - Stretch satisfactory for all practical 

 purposes. 



Fourth.— The plantation product has slightly 

 jess resin than fine Para. 



Fifth. — The plantation rubber has slightly 

 less mineral matter than fine Para. 



Sixth. — The well known fact that plantation 

 rubber has from 15 to 18 per cent less moisture 

 than fine Para. — Planters' Chronicle, Jan. 22. 



BRAZILIAN RUBBER EXPORTS. 



United States Takes More and Europe Less 

 from Para. 

 According to statistics of the shipments of 

 rubber from Para furnished by Consul-General, 

 H Pickerell, the United States takes more rub- 

 ber from Para than Europe. The following 

 comparative statement for the past three titcal 

 years ended 3Uth is interesting (a kilo = 2'2 lb.) : 

 United States. Europe. 



1907 ... 18,276,098 ... 19,390,679 



1908 ... 14,658,280 ... 21,764,526 



1909 ... 19,062,633 ... 19,172,238 



