Gums, Resins, 



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SCIENTIFIC METHODS NEEDED. 



During investigations of the rubber industry in Ceylon and in Mexico 

 the writer was impressed by the difference of interest manifested by the rubber 

 planters in these countries. 



In Ceylon, although rubber planting is only a very subordinate industry, the 

 planters frequently turn to the experiment gardens for scientific advice in regard 

 to methods of cultivation. In Mexico, where such an immense amount of capital is 

 invested in rubber plantations, the planters go on experimenting, each on his own 

 account and according to his own notions, not with a small number of trees, but 

 with the whole plantation representing hundreds of thousands in value. The share- 

 holders have in many instances had to pay dearly for the experience of their 

 manager. It would have been more economical and more according to modern 

 American methods to employ scientific assistance for discovering the right methods 

 and for investigating the various problems that confront the practical planter. 

 There are a few planters who devote their spare moments to the solution of one or 

 more of the numerous problems connected with rubber culture. But there is no 

 co-operation and progress is slow. What the rubber planters need is a number of 

 trained persons who can devote all their time to this purpose, who can visit all the 

 plantations in the country, make a thorough study of the different problems, and 

 make the results known to the general benefit of all the planters. 



EXPERIMENT STATIONS IN OTHER COUNTRIES. 



Where would, for instance, the sugar industry of the Hawaiian Islands stand 

 at the present day had not the planters of that country co-operated and established 

 a sugar experiment station. It is an acknowledged fact that the output of sugar 

 from the Hawaiian Islands has increased many times as a result of the investigations 

 in the field and laboratories by the scientific staff of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' 

 Association. 



Similar instances can be given from different countries, and especially from 

 the United States, where growers of fruit, corn, wheat, cotton, sugar and other 

 agricultural products have associated and employed scientists to assist them in per- 

 fecting methods of culture, in fighting diseases, in improving varieties, in studying 

 the questions of harvesting, preparing and marketing the crops. There can be no 

 doubt of the necessity of similar organization for the American rubber planters of 

 Mexico. 



PRACTICAL BENEFIT OF STATIONS. 



It is satisfying for those interested in rubber culture to know that the 

 planters have generally recognized the importance of the immediate establishment 

 of a rubber experiment station and laboratory in Southern Mexico. Only a few 

 months ago action was taken in approaching all the companies with a proposal 

 for co-operation to that end, and it has met with a ready response. There is, besides 

 the wish for improvements in culture of the rubber tree, also a desire on the part of 

 all the legitimate rubber concerns to organize and thus to prevent fraudulent enter- 

 prises from appearing. The public will soon recognize the standing of such com- 

 panies which have been refused membership in the Planters' Association, and which 

 are not visited by the scientists employed by this society. 



The methods of gathering and handling the yield are still practically on the 

 same level, where they have been since the Indian "ulero" began to roam through 

 the forests in quest of rubber from the wild trees. 



Experiments conducted by the writer during a three months' stay in Southern 

 Mexico last summer have made it evident that by improvements in the methods of 

 preparing crude rubber large sums can be saved. But it also became clear that 

 whatever experiments are commenced they must be done on the spot where fresh 



