460 
least  say  that,  after  some  experience  they  still  believe,  and  with 
more  solid  ground  for  their  faith  than  before,  in  the  excellent 
prospects  of  their  venture.” 
RUBBER  STATISTICS. 
By  D.  C.  Lindsay. 
There  are  in  the  islands  five  incorporated  companies  whose 
principal  business  is  the  growing  of  rubber.  Statistics  have  been 
obtained  from  all  of  these  and  also  from  two  individual  planters. 
No  statistics  were  received  from  either  Kauai  or  Oahu. 
Six  reports  were  received  from  Maui  and  one  from  Hawaii. 
The  acreage  controlled  by  these  companies  and  individuals  is 
5,599  acres. 
The  acreage  planted  at  date  is  1,338  acres. 
Acreage  planted:  Hevea,  242;  Ceara,  1,092;  other  varieties,  4; 
total,  1,338. 
Total  trees  planted : Hevea,  79,940 ; Ceara,  349,400 ; other  vari- 
eties, 800;  total,  430,140. 
Average  of  girth:  Hevea,  2 years  6,  3 years  8;  Ceara,  2 years 
8,  3 years  14. 
Four  places  practice  clean  cultivation.  Two  of  them  consider 
it  absolutely  necessary.  One  manager  reports  that  it  is  entirely 
too  expensive  and  two  have  not  tried  it.  The  approximate  cost  of 
cultivation  per  acre  runs  from  $14.00  to  $24.00  per  acre  for  the 
first  year  and  lighter  for  following  years. 
Inter-crops,  such  as  corn,  potatoes,  beans,  oats  and  green  vege- 
tables are  planted  on  parts  of  two  plantations.  While  one  manager 
reports  that  pineapple  has  been  tried,  but  without  success. 
One  manager  reports  that  inter-crops  are  profitable  only  as  the 
returns  reduce  the  cost  of  cultivation,  but  would  not  be  profitable 
otherwise. 
Only  experimental  tapping  has  been  done  and  the  result  is  yet 
undetermined.  One  manager  reports  very  good  results. 
From  reports  received  there  are  11,000  trees  that  may  possibly 
be  tapped  commercially  during  the  year  1910.  One  plantation  re- 
ports that  fertilizers  are  too  expensive  to  use  in  quantities  enough 
to  be  beneficial.  Two  have  not  used  them.  Three  places  report 
the  use  of  fertilizers  with  excellent  results  and  one  with  fair 
returns. 
For  the  purpose  of  getting  statistics  for  next  year  that  might  be 
more  reliable  and  more  detailed,  I would  suggest  that  a committee 
of  three  be  appointed ; one  on  Oahu,  one  on  Maui  and  one  on  Ha- 
waii, and  each  one  attend  to  the  securing  of  data  on  the  island 
on  which  he  resides.  These  results  could  then  be  tabulated  as 
desired. 
