83 
General Notes. 
RUBBER IN UPPER BURMA. 
The Imperial Institute Journal for April, 1897, has the following on the 
Rubber Industry :—‘ From a recent report on the forests of Upper Burma, it 
appears that the difficulties of transport from the Hukong Valley are increasing 
as the more accessible of the rubber trees are being worked. out. ‘he forests at 
the head of the Namkong are rich in rubber, and the tree attains a height of 200, 
feet, with an enormous girth. The Kachins go far and near to collect the rubber 
in the dry season, and the chiefs Jevy tol] on the produce as it passes down the 
rivers. ‘lhe Chinese control the trade, selling provisions and cloth to the 
Kachins, who pay inrubber. The produce of the forests within the drainage 
area of the ‘arou River goes to Assam, across the passes of the Patkoi 
Mountains. Rubber in this district is said to be growing scarcer, and it often 
takes a man forty days to collect a coolie-load, although the Singpho villages 
levy a tax on each collector. When first collected the rubber is very pure, but 
the Nagas have acquired the trick of adulterating it with earth and stones, so, 
that Assam rubber is not regarded with favour in the Calcutta market. The 
rubber that goes to Rangoon is also adulterated, the Chinese being adepts in 
the art. ‘he report states that it is useless to apply legislative protection and 
regulation to these rubber forests, unless the districts are taken over and 
administered directly, for the Singphos are extremely independent and own no 
masters, while some of the chiefs affirm that they could not enforce rules or 
interfere with the collectors. But the protection of the trees growing within 
our own administrative sphere would be possible, though Kachin opposition 
would have to be dealt with.” 
THE BUTTER INDUSTRY OF CANADA. 
From the same journal we quote some remarks on the Butter Industry of 
Canada which are of interest to Queenslanders at the present juncture :— 
“Much careful thought has lately been given to the butter industry by the 
Government of Canada, where, owing to the yast and magnificent pasturage, 
it is capable of almost illimitable expansion. A glance at the Board of Trade 
returns shows that there is ample scope for the export of this product to the 
mother country. During last year the United Kingdom imported £15,344,083 
worth of butter, of which Denmark alone sent £6,288,407 and Irance 
(£2,537,690. Although during recent years Canada’s contribution has in- 
creased, yet the necessity for greater efforts is demonstrated by the fact 
that in 1896 the value of the Canadian article imported only amounted to 
£339,744. Theaction of the Government in arranging for the requisite cold 
storage, both on land and sea, will be of incalculable benefit to Dominion 
farmers, and give additional impetus to the export trade. During the present 
year the Department of Agriculture has arranged to open in Manitoba and the 
North-west territories seventeen creameries, to be worked on the co-operative 
plan, under Government supervision, The charge to be paid by farmers to 
the milk department for manufacturing will be 4 cents per lb., with a 
further 1 cent per lb. to defray the Government loan, and it is expected that 
the monthly output of produce for export to Great Britain will reach a value 
of some 30,000 dollars.’’ : 1 ae, ae SEO Srey et 
