1 Ocr., 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 413 
is very deep and rich, and easily able to su 
as that portion of the original forest left for shade. ‘This means a saving of 
land and a doubling of its earning capacity. The same weeding serves for both 
products, and I believe that, by keeping the soil always moist by means of the 
combined shade of the forest trees and coffee plants, the life of the rubber-tree 
will be incalculably extended, its yield of sap inereased, and the quality 
enhanced, with no consequent detriment to either the coffee plants or their 
product. On the other hand, rubber set out in the sun grows faster and can be 
tapped earlier than that under shade, and for the first 12 or 18 months “ catch 
crops,’ such as corn, beans, and tobacco, can be planted in among the trees, the 
profits therefrom offsetting the constant and heavy expense of keeping down 
avank growth of grass and weeds... 
The cost of clearing, rowing, staking, and 
coffee, under forest shade, putting 150 plants to the acre, including the cost of 
the plants, is in this immediate locality 36 dollars per acre, and it will cost 
12 dollars per acre each year for the following seven years to replant and weed, 
at the end of which time the trees should be ready to tap, having cost 120 dollars 
per acre or 80 cents each. = 
Planted in the sun, 15 feet apart each way, or 200 to the acre, the cost is 
60 dollars, with an expense of 40 dollars for the first year for replanting and 
weeding, and an average cost of 20 dollars for weeding each year until the 
rubber is ready to tap—usually when six years old. The total cost would thus 
be 200 dollars per acre, or 1 dollar per tree, less any profit resulting from 
“ catch crops.” 
All of the above figures are in Mexican silver, worth to-day 49% cents, 
United States currency (2s. Od ). They include Management and living 
expenses, but nothing for cost of land, buildings, interest on Invested capital, &c. 
Field labour figured at 85 cents, silver—50 cents for Wages and 35 cents for 
keep. Of course the cost of doing this work will naturally vary in different 
districts, but these figures will apply very accurately to most of the forest lands 
of the gulf slope. 
Just what the yield would be from a six or eight year old rubber plantation, 
when properly planted, cultivated, and tapped, has yet to be demonstrated on 
the isthmus. None of the plantations owned by foreigners have attained that 
age, and those of the natives are poor criterions, ‘They are rarely, if ever, 
weeded; the trees generally improperly tapped at irregular intervals, and 
frequently at the wrong time ; and the sap Invariably collected and cured in the 
crudest manner. No estimates are made of the crop or the cost of harvesting 
it. However, by means of careful inquiries and a systematic tapping of selected 
trees of all ages throughout the different districts, 1 has been possible to arrive 
at a comparatively accurate knowledge of what can reasonably be expected. 
One-half pound of high-erade, clean rubber can be counted upon with certainty 
from eight-year-old trees, and 3-lb. increase every year thereafter until the trees 
are yielding 5 lb. each. At present prices the planters net 80 cents per Ib., 
silver. This means a profit of 80 dollars per acre from eight-year-old plants, 
400 dollars per acre four years later, and 800 dollars per acre when the trees 
are in full bearing ; and this return should continue without any shrinkage for 
at least 25 years. These estimates are conservative in the extreme, and the 
prospective purchaser can rest assured of seeing them fully realised, with a 
possibility of their being doubled. 
The isthmus rubber, both wild and cultivated, has been favour 
upon by experts in New York, London, wd Hamburg, and a great deal of it 
sold in American and European ports ab prices comparing well with the best 
rubber on the market, taking into consideration its crude preparation. As in 
the case of coffee, badly cured and dirty rubber is subject to a heavy discount, 
out of proportion to its intrinsic value. 
Castilloa elastica, on the isthmus at least, has no enemies in the w 
insects or diseases. There is no export duty, and the Mexic 
DL 
pport both of these products, as well 
planting rubber alone, without 
ably passed 
ay of 
an Government 
