I 7 2 
The Future of the Rubber Market 
is beyond human gauge. It is not fair to take the present price of 
6 j. 2d. as a normal one. The correct price of rubber is the average 
for the past three years, say, about 45-. 6d. or 4^. gd. During the 
next six or eight years, however, until plantation rubber comes for- 
wards in very big quantities, I would prefer backing a ij. rise than 
a ir. fall in rubber.” 
Seed Exportation. 
“ I would not allow a single seed to leave the island/’ said Mr. 
HOFFMAN in favour of the export duty on rubber seed. “ But after 
all,” he continued, “ it is only staving off the evil day when the seed 
will be planted throughout the East?” 
The Government Land Policy. 
Mr. Hoffman would not criticise our Government’s land policy, 
as he thought that Ceylon men had better opportunities than out- 
siders of getting land. The difficulties and delays are infinitely more 
easy to surmount by the local man than by the London financier. 
Questioned as to how Ceylon could preserve its good name at 
home, Mr. Hoffman said “The only thing that can be done is to 
educate the public to discriminate for themselves.” 
Times of Ceylon. 
April 1 2th. 
RUBBER IN COORG. 
The planting of Ceara rubber will be largely extended during the 
coming season, as the success of this species is assured. There 
should be no difficulty about the germination of the seed, as numer- 
ous plants grow up from seed shed by old trees. The filing of the 
seed accelerates germination.' In one case seed scattered in an 
uncleared forest is coming up successfully. A ryot near here has 
found himself in possession of three seed-bearing Ceara trees, which 
were planted by a former occupant of the land. He is showing 
commendable enterprise in collecting the seed with a view of plant- 
ing it out this season. It was in 1887, I think, that large numbers 
of Ceara plants were put out on the Sampaji Ghauts. If the lantana 
has not entirely choked these out their exploitation now might pay. 
Rubber Laud. 
In the Prospectus of the Perak Rubber Plantations, Ltd., it is 
stated that “all the rubber trees are planted on virgin soil, which is 
infinitely preferable to planting on old coffee land, the soil of which 
is partly exhausted, as is the case with many plantations in Malaya.” 
Statements like these would tend to depreciate properties of the 
latter description without sufficient reason ; for coffee, as a crop, is 
not exhaustive of the soil (JOHN HUGHES). 
Rubber in Madras, 
In a letter to the Madras Mail , dated the 8th September, 1905, 
Mr. J. CAMERON wrote : — “ The Western Ghauts contain a mile of 
