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GUMS, RESINS, SAPS AND EXUDATIONS. 



Rubber Culture in the Philippine islands. 



By W. L Hutchinson. 

 (Forester, Philippine Bureau of Forestry.) 



One of the great problems to be solved in the development of every new 

 country, apart from principles of government, is, what products aie best suited 

 to the climatic and soil conditions at hand. 



So important is this matter that every civilized nation maintains numerous 

 agricultural stations and farms, not only at home but throughout its foreign 

 possessions, in order that by careful experiments some light may be cast on this 

 all important subject. 



To the business man and the farmer of the Philippine Islands, this question 

 is a vital one. A considerable amount of capital is usually required to further a 

 large farming project, and it is but natural that the first question that those whose 

 money is involved should ask, is, what returns may we expect, and how long will 

 it be necessary to wait before the first crop can be gathered ? 



Coconuts, hemp, and sugar cane have been planted in these Islands for 

 many years, so that the profit that may be secured from these products is generally 

 well known. One reads daily, however, of the large returns received from cultiva- 

 tion in the Bast, of tropical species other than those mentioned, and on comparing 

 their gross proceeds with those from coconuts or hemp, is surprised to find that 

 the species planted to the greatest extent in any country, are not always the ones 

 that yield the largest income. 



It was undoubtedly on this account that rubber was first introduced into 

 the Philippines, or perhaps it would be more accurate to say, into the Island of 

 Mindanao, as it is in this section of the Archipelago that the greatest amount of 

 planting has been done, through official channels. 



Up to the present time Para rubber seed has been secured either from 

 Sandakan, Borneo ; or Singapore, through the Bureau of Forestry at Manila and 

 the Government of the Moro Province, Island of Mindanao. A few private ranch 

 owners have also obtained small shipments of Ceara and Castilloa from Ceylon. 



On account of the different methods of treatment, growth, etc., of these 

 various species, they will be considered separately. 



para rubber (Hevea Brasiliensis). 



During 1905 several small lots of Para seed were received in the Philippines. 

 Early in the year the Moro Government obtained 1,000 seed from Sandakan, Borneo, 

 which were distributed among ranch owners and government officials throughout 

 Mindanao, but of these seed few germinated, due without doubt to their infertility 

 and the lack of knowledge as to the proper methods of planting-. 



In October, 1905, the Bureau of Forestry at Manila received 5,000 seed from 

 Singapore, 2,500 of which were sent to the Island of Mindanao, where they were 

 planted in seed-beds at the Moro Government Experimental Farm, located on the 

 Zamboanga Peninsula. Although every care possible was given the seed, which 

 were planted within a month from date of shipment, only about 400 of the total 

 number sprouted. The average rate of growth of these nursery plants was about 

 18 inches in 50 days, seeds unfiled when planted. 



