3 * 
faith in Providence must be present to undertake the growing of 
QuayuJe without any provision for occasional artificial irrigation, 
lhe price paid has been as high as $43 per ton of dry plants, 
pressed into bales, and delivered at railroad station. With that 
price, and the slow growth of the plant it is difficult to see how 
anyone can in earnest consider the cultivation of Guayule. 
Factories operating a large area should naturally take some steps 
for re-covering the ground with Guayule, but beyond sowing the 
seeds, and taking the chance of their germinating, and growing in 
a few years to a size, that can be utilized, it is hardly possible to do 
anything. 
As for the fear of Guayule filling "the market to the exclusion 
of crude rubber from previous sources of wild tropical rubber and 
from present and future plantations, such an idea is hardly worth 
refuting.^ If we remember that the requirements at present of the 
United States alone amount to more than 60,000,000 lbs. annually, 
a simple mathematical calculation, based on the most exaggerated 
expectations of the output of Guayule rubber from the entire- 
territory where it is growing, will show the role this product could 
have in the world’s market, even supposing that the supply was 
inexhaustible and as large as claimed by Guayule enthusiasts. 
. , ma y be added that the quality of Guayule rubber is very 
inferior, the rubber being very sticky and rapidly deteriorating 
1 he market value is very low in comparison with that of first class 
rubbers, but it still leaves a wide margin for profit, and the supply 
of rubbei plants is apparently enough for a few factories, not too 
closely situated. As a special product the Guayule has a market 
of its own, and if cultivation of this plant can be accomplished on 
a profitable basis, it will prove a great boon to the sterile parts of 
Northern Mexico. 
Another rubber plant of Mexico, Euphorbia elastica has been 
spoken of 1 have seen the plant, but not been able to obtain a 
sample of the product, which I understand,' however, somewhat 
resembles the Guayule rubber. 
Postscript. 
r 
I may have failed to convey a right idea of the extent of our 
Mexican rubber industry in my discussion on the previous pages. 
But I hope I have drawn the reader’s attention to the fact that, 
although we may be far behind other countries in our methods we 
are trying to do things as best we can. There has been much to 
bnng our rubber planting industry into disrepute. But we are by 
no means down-hearted, and we feel confident that we shall, some 
day, be able to do our share in contributing to supply the world 
with that valuable commodity, rubber. The area now planted will 
yet be largely increased in Mexico and all through Central America, 
but 1 dp not think this need cause rubber planters, present or 
prospective, in other countries any concern. There is plenty of 
room, and with more rubber produced we will have more articles 
made from this staple, for the benefit of mankind. 
