THE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 



Tropical Agriculturist and Magazine of the G. A. 8 



Compiled by A. M. & J. FERGUSON. 

 No. 6.] DECEMBER, 1908. [Vor, III. 



PARA RUBBER PRODUCTION IN 

 BRAZIL. 



PROSPECT OF PRICE RISING ABOVE 

 PLANTATION RUBBER ! 

 The thanks of the whole rubber-planting com- 

 munity are due to the ex -Chairman of the 

 Planters' Association, Mr. J as. R. Martin, for 

 the important information lie makes public 

 elsewhere, with reference to the present con- 

 dition of Para rubber production in Brazil. 

 His correspondent has travelled in most tro- 

 pical countries and his opinions are conse- 

 quently of the greater value ; but it is to be 

 noted that he does not know the methods ot 

 preparing the Ceylon — or rather the plantation 

 —product generally. Hence we need not lay too 

 much stress on his emphasizing the superiority 

 of the smoking method. The meritre of the latter 

 are, of course, well-known. While more im- 

 purities are retained in the process of smoking 

 the latex-covered ladle (after dipping in the 

 vessel holding the latex collected) and turning it 

 over and over, above a fire, till a ball is for- 

 med, it is undeniable that nerve, strength and 

 elasticity are retained to the full in that 

 process. But there seems to us to be mortj 

 value in what is said about plantation rubber- 

 growers being in too great a hurry to get 

 their produce to market. It is these growers, 

 we read, that tend to weaken the reputation 

 of plantation rubber and to reduce the premium 

 on the latter — onoe from 6d. to 7d. — above fine 

 Para ; this premium is now only 1 id. and— ac- 

 cording to the expert — is rapidly vanishing. It 

 is altogether a novel doctrine to be told that 

 before long we may find a premium placed 

 on Brazil Para rubber ; although it was well- 

 known that the manufacturer could hardly do 

 without it — the great age of the trees tapped 

 jn Brazil lending increased quality in every 

 respect for which rubber is bought by the 

 makers of enduring rubber goods. As far as 



the immediate situation goes, it is notice- 

 able that the Brazil output has fallen from 

 37.S50 tons in 19U6-7 (Para 31,537 and 

 Caucho 6,313) to 36,680 in 1907 (Para 29,725— 

 a drop of 1812 tons or nearly 6 per cent— and 

 Caucho 6,955, a rise of 642 tons) ; but though a 

 little less is expected for 1908-9, confidence is 

 returning and the collection will be more easily 

 financed than has been possible of late. It 

 is amusing to hear of the cost of production 

 (including export tax, about 6d to 7d) being 

 as much as 3s per lb., when in the East 

 the aim is not to exceed from Is 6d to 2s 

 and certain estates are known to keep 

 down to or below the shilling. The view that 

 if rubber fell to 2s or 2s 6d, the Amazon rubber 

 would be knocked out of the market, at once 

 rises in recollection ; and it is satisfactory to 

 find Mr. Martin's friend deals with it. He says 

 the cost of production in Brazil would certainly 

 come down, in a life-and-death struggle: ex- 

 port tax would be reduced or possibly be 

 remitted for a time, business would be done 

 on a cash basis, and imposts (which exist but 

 are not specified) would no longer be tolerated. 

 And on the other side of the scale — supposing 

 we are looking at fine Para and planta- 

 tion weighed in the opposing balances — we 

 have the deliberate opinion, and it is one which 

 deserves careful attention, that if planta. 

 tion rubber should ever be selling at 2s or 

 2s 6d a lb., that is below half what it is fetch- 

 ing just now, a sufficiently large premium 

 will be put on Para rubber to allow of it being 

 gathered at a profit. A partner in a big rubber- 

 buying house had told them that customers 

 complained of late of the rapid falling-off in the 

 plantation quality — owing to this forcing of pro- 

 duction (from too young trees ?) in order to 

 pay oarly dividends. " It would be ii catas- 

 trophe if at this date Ceylon rubber ,; — and the 

 same applies, perhaps, in less degree to Malaya — 

 " were to get a bad name. ; ' The warning thus 



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