November t, 1881.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
THE RUBBER INDUSTRY. 
Planters of Rubber of one or other kind in Ceylon 
are now to be counted by scores and hundreds, and 
we b;ivc b eu pressed for some time to afford them 
fuller information than any yet available, by republish- 
ing in pamphlet form (he opinions of different authori- 
ties under the title of " All about India-rubber. " Such 
a compilation is in hand ; but we have not concealed 
from ourselves the fact that cultivators in Ceylon will 
have to make up from their own experience a truly 
reliable guide for Rubber planters. All that has hitherto 
been written is theory, rather than practice, and in 
respect of the cultivation of this product, as well as 
of many other tropical products, to Ceylon should 
belong the credit of leading the way and showing 
the world of would-be cultivators "how to do it. " 
By far the most practical pap 1 r that has yet appeared 
is that of Dr. Trimen which was included iu our last 
Handbook. This was based partly on Mr. Cross's 
Report, and in some respects Mr. Cross has not been 
found a reliable authority by local planters. Some 
Of hie statements uro now generally discredited, but, 
although not borne out Ivy experience in Ceylon, they 
are no doubt in accordance with what is seen of the 
plant id its native habitat Mr. Scott Blacklaw de- 
scribed Ceara rubber as a w< ed in tbe c ffec plantations 
in Northern Brazil, and he gave a word of warning 
as to the value of some of the seed imported thence 
to England. We are glad to learn that Dr Trimen 
will shortly be able to publish some more useful in- 
formation for Rubber planters the result of his culti- 
vation an I experiment! in Peradeniya Gardens, aud 
we shall endeavour to supplement the papers already 
available by the results so far as they cau be obtained 
of local experience. One planter has very courteously 
placud his experience at our service, in the following 
practical form : — 
" Ckara Rubbek.— Germinating the need*.— File each 
seod carui idly on both .sides, until the kernel is just 
visible. The two cuds may be rounded off a little, hut 
the operation requires care. When tho filing is 
fini-hed, have ready a solution of kerosine oil ami 
water (one to ten) and immerse the seeds iu if for 
a second or two. This prevents ants and other insects 
from coming near thetu. This operation over, the 
seeds -liould be thrown into a tin box containing 
some coir tibr« refuse, procurable in Colombo. Cover 
them well over with a further supply of the same 
material and shut down the box. In two days' time, 
they will bo found, on examination, to have com- 
menced to germinate. Take them out and put them 
(germ downwards) into Wilton's transplanters filled 
with good soil, on a table, with its legs in saucers of 
water. Three or four days more will suffice to let the 
seedlings developc into nice, healthy little plants, 
and tin days irom tho date of the commence 
nioi.t . I the . peration they can bo finally transplanted. 
When the seeds arc in tho box of coir refuse no water 
is required, and even when put into the transplanters 
v. i little moisture is needed. 
"Tbe young plants are rem irkably strong and love 
tho sun. Tin y are however, very impatient of moi-t- 
are, and should therefore be placed undercover dining 
a shower of raiu. The tiling operation may be dono 
on a grind Btone ; but to ousuru perfect success each 
see. I ihonld he rasped earefully with a lilo. 
" " 'in.- planters lose a. many as CO and 71' percent, 
and in one iustancc, which has come to my know- 
101 
ledge, five plants only were secured out of 300 seeds. 
I am indebted to a gentleman in Colombo for the 
above simple but effective way of ge minating the 
seed, and can confidently recommend its general adop- 
tion. Not a single seed need be lost if the directions 
are carefully followed. 
"Planting out. — It being important that the C.-ard 
species of rubber should he induced to grow cocouut 
fashion with a tall, clean stem, it will be found necess- 
ary to plant them pretty close to each other, say 50O 
to the acre; and so far as my expt-iience goes, plants grown 
from seed, are more likely to develops into this style of 
tree than those propagated by cuttings. The latter 
grow faster, perhaps, aud blossom earlier — a matter 
of some importance in cases where a supply of seed 
is required : but, for a permanent plantation, I am 
of opinion that every tree should be raised from 
seed. 
" Mr. Cro»s's statement, that the Ceara rubber may 
be expected to grow and flourish in soils where hardly 
anything else will live, is not supported hy Ceylon 
experience. On the contrary, there is no tree 1 can 
name that enjoys more thoroughly richness of soil, 
and the difference between plants in good and bad laud 
is very marked. 
"Collection; Value and Quantity of Produce. — No-, 
body is yet in a position to say which is 
the best way to tap the tree when it reaches 
maturity ; but, from experiments I have made, 1 believe 
it will be found impossii.le to improve upon the 
metbod adopted by the natives of Ceara. They bare 
the trunk of the tree and allow the milk to trickle 
down the stem. Two or three days afterwards the 
gum or caoutchouc is pulled off in strings and sent 
to the market. As may naturally be supposed, the 
rubber reaches England in a very impure state. Hence 
its value is less thau the Para kind, which is pre- 
pared with the greatest care. My reason for think- 
ing it impossible to improve upon the native method 
of collection is because the flow of milk from a Cear& 
tree is very slow, and any other system would in- 
crease the cost, a contingency which must be guarded 
against. It may, perhaps, be found possible to purify 
the caoutchouc in Colombo before shipping it to 
England. Labour is cheap aud the machinery necessary 
for the operation is by no means complicated. As 
regards the yield pei tree, a very small quantity will 
pay, provided the cost of production is restrict, il, and 
an inexpensive method of collection adopted. " 
The Rubber industry is yet destined to be one of 
considerable importance in Ceylon, and we trust to 
be able to aid intending planters as much as possi- 
ble, by laying before them " All about India-Rubber. 
The title may be deemed misleading, since so much 
has yet to be learned about Rubber, but of course we 
can only give such information as is available up to 
the time of publication. 
In this connection wo may draw attention to the 
Papers already published (pages 393 to 399) referring 
to tho New Products Commission— if it may be ?o C died. 
Dr. Trimen's " Memorandum on the part taken by the 
lloyal Botanic Gardens in the introduction of Useful 
Plants into Ceylon" is especially interesting, and he 
shews there very clearly how much indebted we (in 
Ceylon) have been to India for tho introduction of 
a the Pari and Ceani rubbers. Iu such mattors how. 
over, Ceylon may well bo considered an integral part 
of India, aud tho authorities here ought always to be 
teady to rocipr. cate by the supply of any seeds 
and plants from OUT Gardens required by the Govern- 
ment of India. 
