Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-01-28
The India IL ubber Tree OF Brazil.

Kids Journal an English publication, furnish
es these particulars respecting the caoutchoac, or
India Rubber tree of Brazil:
The caoutchoue tree grows, in general to the
height offorty or fifty feet, without branches then
branching runs up fifteen feet higher. The leaf
is about six inches long thin, and shaped like the
leaf of peach tree. The trees show their work
ing by the number of knots or punches, made by
tapping; and a singular fact is, that when most
tapped, they give more milk or sap. As the time
of operating is early day, before sunrise the tap
pcrs are on hand. The blacks arc first sent thro
the forest, armed with a quantity of soft clay and
small pcck-axe. On coming to one of the trees, a
portion Of the clay is formed into cup, and stuck
to the trunk The black then striking his pick
over the cup, the sap oozes out slowly, tree Civ
ing out daily about gill. The Taper continues
in this way, tapping, perhaps, fifty trees when he
returns, and with jar, passing over the same
ground, empties his cups. So by IL o'clock the
blacks come in with their jars ready for working
The sap Mt this stage resembles milk in appear
ance and somewhat in taste. 1t is also frequent
" drank with perfect safety If left standing now
it will curdle like milk, disengaging a watery sub
stance like whey. Shoemakers now arrange them
selves to form the gum. Seated in the shade, with
a large pan of milk on one SIDE and on the other
hagon in which is burned nut peculiar to this
country emitting dense smoke, the operator hav-
ing his last or form held BY long stick or handle
previously besmeared with a soft CLAW in order TO
slid of the shoe when finished, holds it over pam
and pouring the milk till it is covered sets the
the coating in the smoke, then giv4,g it a second
Wit
third and fourth coat till the shoe is of the
required thickness, averaging from six to twelve
coats.
When finished the shoes on the forms arc
placed in the the remainder of the day. 10 drip.
Next day, if required, they may be figured, being
soft that impression will be indelibv recev-
| ed. The natives arc very dcxterous in this work
/ With quill and sharp pointed stick they will
produce finely linned leaves and flowers. such as
Won NAV have seen on one in an incredibly short
space of time. After remaining in the forms two
or three days the shoes are cut open the top al
lowing the last 10 slip out. They are then tied to-
gethcr ready for the market There pedlars and
! Jews trade them with merchants who have them
stuffed with straw and packed in boxes TO export
In the same manner any shape may be manufact-
urcd.
Thus TOYS are made on clay forms After dry
ing the CLAW is broke and extracted Bottles etc.
are made in the same way. According as the gum
grows oAutI IL ocCOulcS udIheI COlOI HlOEt
tough. The number of caoutchouc trees in the
province is countless. In some part. whole for
ests exists, and they are frequently cut down for
| irewood. Although the trees exists in Mexico
and the East Indies, there appears to be no impor
taton thence TO this country. The reason, we sup
pose must he the want of that fruitfulness which
| is found in them here. The caoutchouc tree NAV
be worked all the year; but generally in the wet
season they have rest owing TO the foo ded state
| of the woods, and the milk being watery requires
more tronble to manufacture the sane article than
J IN the dry season