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nearer to the total of the whole world’s consumption than the 
imports. I estimate the world’s consumption in 1906 to be 
approximately 80,000 tons. Of this amount the Malay Peninsula 
contributed 200^ P art or 2 P er cent. If the whole of the rubber 
trees planted at the end of 1906 are growing vigorously and yield- 
ing 1 lb. of dry rubber per tree, in 1912 the total production will 
be 5,475 tons, which will be ^rth or little more than 4 per cent, 
of the total rubber required. In order to estimate the world’s 
consumption in 1912 the rate of increase (10 per cent.) during 
the last seven years has been added, giving a total estimated 
consumption for 1912 of 142,352 tons. 
If we increase the yield to 1^ lbs., i.e., estimating that every 
£ree planted now will in 1912 give us 1^ lbs. per annum, at that 
date the Malay Peninsula will furnish 8,213 tons or j^th of the 
estimated world’s consumption at that date. 
These calculations do not increase the fears so often 
expressed that production will in the course of a short time 
exceed demand. The question of how much Brazil will continue 
to produce, whether it will increase or decrease, is one which 
only those with a knowledge of the Brazilian jungles can judge, 
and even such are not able to tell us whether the supply can be 
depended on to continue or may be expected to grow less in the 
few years. 
There are many reasons for considering that the consump- 
tion of rubber may in the near future increase more rapidly than 
in the past. New r uses and expansion of old uses for rubber are 
constantly being found, the consumption of rubber per head in 
most countries is extremely small, in Britain and other European 
countries less than in America. If producers are wise they will 
not neglect to do everything in their power to stimulate and 
expand the rubber consumption, money wisely spent in this 
direction will be handsomely repaid in the future by a steadily 
widening, firm market. 
Health of Trees 'pN Rubber Estates. 
The general health of rubber trees of all ages, from seedlings 
to 25-year old trees, has been during 1906 excellent. Diseases 
have occurred in nurseries and on older trees but not affecting 
a very large number of cases or a large percentage of trees on 
any except tw r o or three estates. The rapidly increasing area of 
rubber, with its thousands of trees added monthly, means an 
inpreased danger of spreading disease, and should bring with it an 
increased vigilance w 7 ith regard to the first signs of disease and 
promptitude to take steps to prevent it growing any further. I 
have prepared a pamphlet entitled “First Aid to Plants ” which 
will be circulated among planters, giving briefly the methods to be 
employed at once in any cases of suspected disease either of 
