Ma? 1907.] 



265 



Saps and Exudations. 



Exports. -The total expor ts of rubber from the German East African Pro- 

 tectorate amounted last year to 337 tons, the value of which was computed at about 

 £11,000, As the Customs authorities, however, make no distinction in their returns 

 between rubber obtained from the indigenous species in their wild state and that 

 emanating from the cultivated plantations, it is impossible to say to what extent 

 the latter contributed to these figures, but it is probable that the proportion is not 

 large. 



Tapping and Collection,- The Director of the Agricultural Institute at 

 Amaui is engaged in an exhaustive series of experiments with a view to ascertaining 

 the best method of tapping and collecting the rubber. These experiments are not 

 yet complete, but so far it would appear that in the case of trees just arrived at 

 maturity, the best results can be obtained by allowing a period of four days to elapse 

 between each tapping. 



The final results of the investigations above alluded to cannot fail to be of 

 interest, and on their completion a further special memorandum on this subject might 

 be considered useful. 



The cultivation of rubber in German East Africa is, as will have been seen 

 from the foregoing notes, still practically in its infancy, but the climate and other 

 conditions would appear not unfavourable, and a prosperous future may be 

 anticipated. 



LONDON RUBBER MARKET. 



London, March loth, 1907.— At to-day's auction, 527 packages of Ceylon and 

 Malaya Plantation grown rubber were under offer, of which about 433 were sold. 

 The total weight amounted to about 24i tons, Ceylon contributing nearly 6i, and 

 Malaya over 18 tons. There was a good demand for all descriptions at about last 

 sales rates, though biscuits and sheet, where the quality was not quite up to the 

 finest, were inclined to be slightly easier. Fine crepe was again the chief feature, 

 both in the strip and block form, and the highest figure mentioned was 5s lOfd, 

 which was offered for some very pale block crepe from Linggi Estate. A parcel of 

 nice clean Ramboug crepe realised 5s. 0|d„ and there was a good enquiry for scrap. 

 Plantation flue to-day. — 5s 8d to 5s 10fd, same period last year, 6s 2d to 6s 3id. 

 Plantation Scrap. — 4s Od to 4s 8d, same period last year, 4s lid, to 5s 3Ad. Fine 

 hard Para (South American).— 5s ljd, same period last year, 5s ihd. Average price 

 of Ceylon and Malaya plantation rubber, 433 packages at 5s 5|d per lb., against 121 

 packages at 6s OAd per lb., same period last year. Particulars and prices as 

 follows :— 



CEYLON. 



MARK. QUANTITY, DESCRIPTION AND PRICE PER LB. 



Ederapolla 1 case good biscuits, 5s. 7|d. 



Kepitigalla 27 do fine amber sheet, 5s. 8|d ; 1 case good palish to darkish 



biscuits, 5s. 8kt. 



C.L. (in diamond) 9 do darkish crepe, 5s. 4id. ; 11 cases dark, 5s 3d ; 1 case black 



pressed crepe, 4s 10|d ; 3 cases fine pale scrap, 4s 7|d ; 5 cases 

 little darker 4s 7d, 



Ellakande 1 do good pale and darkish biscuits, 5s 8id ; 2 cases good scrap, 



4s 7|d ; 2 cases dark pressed crepe, 5s 3|d ; 1 case black 

 4s 7d ; 1 case fine palish biscuits, 5s 8|d. 



Llaugsland 11 do fine palish to darkish biscuits, 5s 8|d ; 2 cases scrap and 



rejections, 4s 8d. 



J.V.V. <fc Co 3 do low scrap, 4s 8d ; 1 case darkish scrap, 4s 7|d, 



Glanrhos 5 do good palish to darkish biscuits, 5s Sjjd ; 12 cases good 



darkish crepe, 5s i,|d» 



