56 
It has taken Brazil 50 years to raise its output from 
1,800 tons to 36,470 tons* and this much may be accom- 
1 plished by plantation rubber from the E ast within the next 
ten years. How far a large influx of cultivated rubber 
may effect the market it is difficult to forecast. At the 
present time there is strong demand for raw material and 
an annual output of about 100,000 tons during the next 
decade may not do more than meet market requirements, 
but there are many other plantations in other parts of the 
world and when all comes into bearing this output would be 
largely augmented. 
But during the next decade there must be a large fall 
off with several wild rubbers. The African Landolphias 
like the Malayan Willughbeias will gradually drop out. 
“Gruayule” is reported to be shortening, and Jelutong, in 
native hands will most probably share the fate of all the 
other Malayan indigenous rubbers, and Pulai too. 
Whether Brazil can maintain its present output is very 
doubtful, there are already signs of a,’ decrease in exports 
and Brazil is living on its capital. Undoubtedly Hevea 
braziliensis is a marvellous reproductive plant but there 
is no record of any plant, or crop, which does not become 
exhausted when no assistance — in any form — is given, (the 
well known Mangrove swamp plant reproduces itself pro- 
vided seed-bearing trees are ear-marked and the period of 
recuperation is a long one) but such a system could not be 
adopted with wild rubber — in competition with plantation 
— and the lower grade rubbers are almost sure to suffer 
when plantation rubbers make good the shortage, but I 
am not at all sure that fine grade Para would suffer by 
such competition. 
Rubber Prospects. 
The greatest disservice that could be done to a pros- 
pective industry would be to overrate its jiossibilities and 
although cheap production is an important and necessary 
factor in Plantation Rubber, I suggest it is a gigantic error 
to build on it as the only, or most, important one. 
It has yet to be proved that the present method of 
treating latex from plantation Para crees in British Malaya 
is the best or only, method. It will be remembered that the 
process is borrowed. When Professor Biffeu demonstrat- 
ed the advantage of curing Castilloa latex by centrifugalis- 
ing, lie also tried Hevea by the same method, but the latex 
failed’ to respond to such treatment. The rotating machine 
* Vide Mr. Herbert blight's lecture at the Exhibition Conference. 
