Nov. 1, 1901.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
313 
The above is quoted as showing that the results 
of priviite enterprise in the planting of Rul'ber would 
not be apparent for some years, njeanwbile it is 
known that considtrable quantities of stei( have been 
exported to the Straits and elsewhere so (hat it can 
hardly be necessary to commence an extensive ex- 
perimental plantation in a similar climate and under 
similar conditions, 
4. In a recent Report of the United Planters' 
Association, Malay States, the following sentences 
occur Rubber ( Hevea brasiliensis of Para). This 
vaiiety of rubber continues to come on exceedingly 
satisfactorily, the average growth of trees from ni e 
months upwards amounting to about 1 foot per mmsem, 
whilst at three years their average circumference at 
3 feet from the ground is about 16 inches. This far 
exceeds anything reported from Ceylon and other 
countries where Para is being planted, and we con- 
sider that Mr. Curtis' description in the 1900 annual 
Report on the Botanical Gardens of the Colony, 
of "the tapping of the 15 year-old Para tree in 
the Gardens at Penang, is conclusive evidence 
of the contention of the writer ' that in this 
cultivation lies a source of wealth of the greatest 
importance.' In two years 12i lb of dry marketable 
Rubber were procured ' wTtiiout any ' apparent 
injurious result to the health of this tree ', and 
the conditions under which it is growing are 
reported as anything but favourable. It appears in 
the opinion of the different Directjrs of the Botanical 
Gardens, that the size of a tree more tlian its age 
indicates its fitness for tapping, and probably 
a circumference of 30 inches 3 feet fiom the ground 
is the limit at which attempts to extract the Rubber 
should be commenced. Reports from London 
show that prices , of Para have of late de- 
clined, one reason alleged being the falling off in the 
demand for bicycles ; l3ut in Para Rubber we have un- 
doubtedly the most valuable and highest quality rubber 
in the world, and your Committee feel that the large 
number of trees amounting now to several millions, 
planted in the Federated Malay States, must, in the 
not very distant future, prove a source of revenue 
which will largely recoup the planters for the losses 
which they have sustained through the decline in 
value of Liberian coffee." 
5. From the above quotations it seems plain that the 
success of the planting of Para Rubber in a suitable 
climate is apparently assured and that, theretoie, no 
extensive experimental plantation of 5,000 acres is ne- 
cessary, and your IMemorialists submit that Govern- 
ment rivalry with private enterprise in the production of 
Rubber is to be deprecated. The industry is already 
threatened with the production of cheap substitutes, 
and prices are declining and it is felt that the pro- 
duction by the Government of India of such a large 
amount as is likely to be secured fiom the planta- 
tions in contemplation would be a serious and 
undue competition with private growers who have, 
as it is, to contend with the enormous productions 
of the indigenous trees in the forests of South 
America and Bast and "West Africa. 
6, An authoritative statement that the Government 
of India bad no intention of placing Rubber on the 
London market nor competing with private enter- 
prise by large operations, would, of course, tend to 
remove any cause for alarm. In 1882 lepreseiita* inns 
were made to your predecessor Earl Kimberley on the 
subject of Government sales of Cinchona bark, and at 
that time Government was a-ked to obtain all possible 
information regarding the Indian Plantations, and 
the intention of Goverrment as to the future disposal 
of the product of the Cinchona tree. Government 
then gave a distinct assurance that it was not 
intended in any way to interfere with the ordinary 
course of trade or to do anything prejudicial to 
private interests. The two cases seem to be snffi- 
ciently analogous to call for similar treatment, and 
your IMemorialists venture to express a hope that 
"His Majesty's Government will respond to the 
representations submitted, 
/. Wherefore your Memorialists pray that the 
present position of British-grown Rubber Producers 
may be considered by His Majesty's Government, and 
that 6.ny necessary action may be taken in the 
m-itter. And your Memorialists as in duty bound 
will ever pray. On behalf of the Memorialists. 
(Sgd.) A. Philip, (Sgd.) Edward Rosling, 
Secretary. Chairman. 
Kandy, Ceylon, 3rd Sept. 
THE KING ACCEPTS A BOOK ON 
"COCOA" PLANTING. 
BY OUR CORRESPONDENT, MR. H. H. SMITH. 
The King has graciously accepted a copy 
of Mr. Harold Haniel-ymith's book entitled 
" Some Notes on Cocoa Planting in the 
West Indies "—Daily Express, Aug. 31. 
INCREASE OP OVER £1,060,000 IN THE 
BRITISH TEA DUTY REVENUE. 
(Extract from the Report of the Commissioners of 
Cxistoms.) 
The annual report of the Commissioners of Ilia 
Majesty's Custouis for the year ended Marcli 31, 
1901, which was issued as a Blue-book on Saturday, 
is ratlier more inteiosting than Usual. The gross 
Imperial Customs Revenue collected in 1900 1901 
amounted to £26,614,609, or, after deduction of 
drawbacks and repayments, to £26,270,959. This 
is £3,227,487 niore than t!ie produce of 1899-1900 
and £2,650,959 more than the Budget estimate 
for the year. 
The amount received from the tea duty was 
£6,264,515, an increase of £1,635,569 over the previous 
year. The Commissioners say : — 
The progress of the increased consumption of tea in 
the past three financial years has been obscured by 
the quantity held over from one year and by the 
forestalments of the other two years. A truer com- 
parison is afforded by the quantities retained for 
consumption in the past five calendar years, viz : — 
lbs. 
1896 ... 2-27,722,000 
1897 .. 2.31.3280u0 
1898 . . 235,353000 
The forestalments by 
1899 
1900 
lbs. 
242 506,000 
249,751,000 
the tea trade occurred in 
the last quarter of the financial year; and so dis- 
tuibed the normal out-turn of the year ; but by com- 
paring calendar years these irregularities are 
corrected by adjustments of the trade during the 
rest of the year. In each of the past two years 
there have been increased quantities taken for con- 
sumption of about seven million pounds or 3 per cent, 
over the preceding years. Tn the last calendar 
J ear the increase of duty from 4d. to 8d. per pound 
commenced on March 6, so that there was ample time 
in the succeeding year for the effect to be observed. 
The result showed a continued increase of consump- 
tion. But while this testifies to the well-being of 
the population, another cause, that of low prices, 
has also contributed to bring about this satisfactory 
result. — London Times- Sept. 2ud. 
PKARLS ImpEEVIOUS to l^ONTGEN KAYS. — 
An experiment conducted by Professors David and 
Pollock at the instance of Messrs. Fairfax and 
Roberts, demonstrated that pearls are impervious 
to the Bontjj;en rays, though somewhat trauspareut^ 
under powerful electric vibrations. Thou-sands of 
pounds worth of pearls are lost annually through 
paring to discover a better skin or lu.stre, and it 
was de.sired to ascertain the internal layers of a 
very large pearl. — Sydney Mail, Aug, lu. 
