THE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 



Tropical Agriculturist and Magazine of the C. A. 8, 



No. 2.] 



AUGUST, 1908. 



[Vol. III. 



RUBBER SHIPMENTS: 



ESTIMATES AND EXPORTS. 



In 1904, Ceylon exported 35 tons of rubber ; 

 in 1905 this rose to 75 tons, and in 1906, this 

 again was doubled, and we reached 150 tons. 

 A year ago we ventured to estimate the export 

 of rubber from (Jeylon for 1907 at 230 tons. The 

 actual shipments aggregated 556,000 lb. or very 

 nearly 250 tons. For 1908 our estimate put forth 

 in August, 1907, but based on tho Directory 

 returns of acreage 6 years ago, was 350 tons 

 (794,0001b.), and so far as we can judge at this 

 moment, this is likely to be realised. An export 

 of between 750,000 and 800,000 lb. ought to 

 be safe by December 31st, if we go by the 

 Chamber's returns up to 20th July which gave 

 350,897 lb.; because there has usually been at 

 considerable progressive increase in the second 

 half of the year. 



Now, if we turn to the Malay States, it will 

 be seen how rapidly our neighbour has shot 

 ahead and far outstripped Ceylon in her har- 

 vestings and exports. In 1906, the Malay States, 

 exported 1,028,792 lb. or 460 tons ; for 1907, the 

 shipments were 1,984,285 lb., equal to 885 tons ; 

 while the first half of 1908 has given 1,382,158 lb. 

 or 617 tons and, therefore, if only the same quan- 

 tity be shipped in the current half year as during 

 the same period of 1907, the total export will be 

 about 1,120 tons; but we may feel pretty sure 

 if harvestings go on as usual, the export will not 

 fall short of 1,300 tons. We may now contrast the 

 exports of the two chief Eastern rubber growing 

 States for some years :— 



ExroitTS of Rubber in Tons. 







From Malay 







From Ceylon. States. 



Total. 





Tons. 



Tons. 



Tons. 



1904 



... 35 







1905 



... 75 



130 



205 



1906 



... 150 



460 



610 



1907 



... 250 



885 



1,086 



1 90S 



(Es.) 350 



(Es.) 1.300 (Eg. 



1,650 



As regards the future, no special increase 

 is expected for the next two or three years ; 

 but by 1912, what may we expect to see from the 

 40, 000 acres plantedin Ceylon up tol905,and still 

 more from the 100,000 acres of rubber planted 

 upto 1906 and the 150,000 acres upto 1907 ? Six: 

 years hence by 1913 or 1914, an export requiring 

 five figures in tons muy surely be expected, with 

 a very much larger return for the Malay penin- 

 sula. If again, five years later, Southern Asia is 

 expected to be producing (or capable of produc- 

 ing), " plantation rubber '' equal in quantity in 

 one year to the present consumption of the 

 world, it is surely time now to stop planting any 

 more rubber, until it is seen what effect on 

 prices, largely increasing exports from the East 

 from 1911 onwards may produce? 



RUBBER AND TEA. 



The question of rubber interplanted in tea 

 comes up in an acute form in connection with 

 this year's Directory returns. Last year 41,690 

 acres were shown as planted with rubber and 

 tea and 10,707 acres of rubber and cacao. It 

 was certainly anticipated that there would be 

 no addition to these figures, — no further inter- 

 planting. But to our great surprise the present 

 season's returns from the several estates and 

 districts work out to a total of 60,284 acres of 

 rubber and tea and 19,718 of rubber and cacao. 

 We believe this increase must be accounted for 

 by greater precision in rendering the acreage 

 under different products on very many estates, 

 rather than be due to further planting of rub- 

 ber in, or with tea, in old or new clearings 

 within the past twelve months. Of course, 

 there may have been a few interplanted 

 clearings ; but they could only amount to very 

 little. Our belief is borne out by the opinion 

 of, probably, the best authority among the 

 planting community at tho present time, from 

 his wide experience of different districts. In 

 answer to our enquiry, this gentleman writes; — 



23 



