456 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Jan. 1, 1901. 
allowed to each area after having being tapped 
over. On the other hand, if no bad results fol- 
low, the re-tapping of No. 4, compartments 1, 2 
and 3 that -were last tapped in 189S-99 may be 
again operated on in 19i)l-1909, a:- well as com- 
partment 4 for the fourth year in succession. 
CONCLUSION. 
18. Ill conclusion, the followins- deductions have 
been made from the points brought^ out by the 
figures and observations discussed in the above 
rep'irt. In some cases these observations still 
require more proof before they can be formulated as 
rules for the guidance of future operations ; but it 
seems convenient and likely to be useful to at- 
tempt such deductions as a means of attaining 
steadily, if gradually, to a correct method of plan- 
tation rranagement : — 
(1) That in the present condition of the plan- 
tation, only about 9^ lb. of clean rubber per acre 
caii be safely extracted from the trees at one 
tapping (see par.agraph 16), 
(2) That a densely-planted area does not neces- 
sarily yield more rubber per acre than an area of 
the same age in which the trees are relatively 
much fewer (see paragraph 3). 
(3) That the out-turn of a tree in rubber 
seems to be in proportion to its crown or lateral 
spread (see paragraph 15). 
(4) That a carpenter's gouge or a modification 
of this tool is be!?t adapted for tapping, as it does 
less danrage to the trees than the fttao or kukri, 
and enables the rubber to be collected with_ a 
smaller intermixture of foreign matters and dirt 
(see paragraph 5, 6 and 7). 
(.5) That only horizontal cuts should be made 
during the tapping process, as neither oblique nor 
vertical cuts yield the same quantity of rubber 
(see paragraph 10). 
(6) That the expensive application of tar to 
the wounded trees is not justiEed by any com- 
mensurate result, and may be discontinued (sea 
paragraph 14]. 
(7) That so far as experiments have been m.ade, 
there are grounds for believing that the trees can- 
not be tapped three years in succession without 
showing signs of exhaustion, and that if this is 
proved to be correct, it is also probably only less 
wrong to tap the trees two years in succession (see 
paragraph 16 and Statement C). 
(8) That neat and careful packing has an im- 
portant effect on the selling price obtained for the 
rubber in the London market (see paragraph 14). 
E. a. p. 
Packing, weighing and cost of Acme 
chests, etc. . . 
Carriage from Plantation to Tezpur 
Steamer freight, Tszpur to Calcutta 
Erection and repair of camp hut3 . , 
Clearing jungle and making paths 
for Inspection .. .. 909 4 a 
Measuiing girth and crown and 
labelling trees 
Purchase of, and making, gouge . . 
MiscellaueouB 
Add — On account of Agents' charges 
78 7 
12 8 
159 9 
2i3 14 
420 5 
66 12 
206 3 
2,116 15 
j^ili3_As por statement, cost of 
tapping and collection ind clean- 
ing of the rubber .. •» 
1,722 3 0 
£ s. 
d. 
Printing, advertising and 
0 2 
Sale expenses 
6 
freight 
6 19 
7 
Wliaif charges 
4 19 
4 
Brokerage 
3 17 
9 
Fire Insurance . . 
0 15 
6 
Postage and petties 
0 7 
6 
Agency and Superintend- 
ence, London and Cal- 
cutta 
23 6 
9 
40 8 
11 
Calcutta charges : — 
Shipping 
lusui-ance 
Stamps and postage 
E a. p. 
11 2 0 
33 1 9 
8 12 0 
Total 
£ B. d. 
Gross amount of sale of 
4,323 lb. of clean rubber 
(reduced in London to 
4,280 lb, , atSs 7d perlb. 766 16 8 
Gross amount of 128 lb. 
of ground rubber (re- 
duced in London to 
122 lb ) at IslOd perlb. 
Add interest for seven 
davs of £201-5 
604 5 3 
52 15 9 
4,496 6 11 
11 
0 
3 8 
3 10 
778 4 2 
Deduct — Discount at 2| 
per cent . . 19 9 0 
758 15 2=11,337 1 5 
Deduct — Total expenditure as above 4,496 6 11 
Ner profit on 4,451 lb. of rubber 
Do perlb. 
— Indian Forester. 
5,889 Si 0 
THE VALUTATION OF RAW RUBBER. 
BY H. L. TeREY, F.I.C. 
Probably there is no other body of similar import- 
ance or intrinsic value v.'hich is bougfit and sold on 
less scientific lines than is India rubber in its various 
qualities, and it can be asserted with confidence that 
in the case of no other regular article of merchandise 
has less progress been made in the way of putting the 
sale and purchase on a scientific rather than " rule of 
thumb" basis. Not that there is anything to be 
wondered at in this when we consider all the facts, 
the problem to be solved being undeniably one of con 
siderable perplexity, but all the same, seeing the pro- 
gress that has been made with regard to putting the 
sale of other organic products on a scientific basis, it 
might have been supposed that sometbing would have 
been attempted in the case of rubber. As my present 
title may lead the reader to imagine that I am here 
about to propose some scheme to eSect the desired 
result, I may as well put in a disclaimer at once, my 
present effort being limited to a few casual remarks 
on the subject generally, though it is hoped that ,snch 
remaiks may not be entirely without interest, even if 
their perusal fails to throw a gleam of light into the 
gloom that still surrounds the matter in the minds of 
those who are more competent to hold forth on it 
than I am myself. In using the term rules of-thnmb, 
J do not wish to bo understood as doing so in a dtro* 
gatory spirit, because, even if the case is not similar 
in all trades, there is no doubt that the practical man 
who uses his senses of sight, smell and touch is in the 
rubber trade often superior to the scientist. For an 
pjiiaiQn value pa mnj i^^h^ fi'9fl??ts it in 
