The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-06-22
GATHERING RUBBER IN BRAEHk
TIE World Dependent on wild Trses Worked
By Isnoraut and Careless Natives.

The World Dspsndsus ON wild Trees Worked
by Isaoraut and Careless Natives.
Writing about the production and export
Of rubber In Brazil Consul General Andrews
says: Tho rubber tres requires growth OF
twsnty to twenty-five years before II begins to
produce. hence little or nothing has been done
for its propagation. The milky sap which
forms rubber 10 taken from the wild tree.
which grows scattered through the forests OF
tho Amazon and many OF its aflluents. The
industry. being principally In the hands OF IN
uneducated and half civilized nomad popula-
ton OF Indian mixture. is OF crude character.
Nothing has boon done to improve tho system
Of labor. A wasteful and exhaustive sys-
tom has been followed for half u con-
fury. and the consequence Ia that millions
OF rubber trees have been destroyed and
many others abandoned from premature and
excessive use. There are instances OF groves
OF trees which, by careful use and by not per.
hitting them to be tapred in the months of
August and September. in which they change
years. aud still nre in good producing condi.
ton: hut the common practice Is so wnstcful
that many well.informsd people epnrehend
that unless some remedy Is applied. this rich
resource will before long suffer serious and
perhaps fatal decline.
The rubber tree thrivos only on soil which is
annually oyoriowe1 to depth OF three or
more feet and prefers the lowest a. and most
and tasr
IL y hut with low roof Of palms, beneath one
end OF which there Ia a raised floor or Frame
work Of Hath. ono or two yards from the ground,
TO- which the occupants retreat ut high water.
The following description Of the process Of
gathering rubber was written by Mr.. Franz
Keller: Marrow paths lead from the gatherer's
hut through dense underwood to each separate
bctakcs himself with his ha tchet to the trees to
cut little holes In the bark The milk white
sap Immediately begins to exude into pieces OF
bamboo tied below and having their ends in
little clay cups set under tho gashes to prevent
its trcking down the stem. He travels thus
from tree to tree. On the return visit he pOurs
the contents Of tho bainboos into u large earth
en- vessel provided with straps. which h; emp
ties at homo into largo turtle shell. without
delay he sets to work to coaguate 1t with
smoke OF palm nuts. and poars u little of the
milk evenly on n light wooden shovel which
he thrusts into the thick smoke issuing from a
little narrow chimney made by tho neck Of an
earthen bottle. He moves the shovel several
times TO and fro with great rapidly when the
milk is seen to consolidate and to take gray
ish yellow tinge.
the rubber on both sides Of the wood hns reach
ed a thickness OF two or three centimetrps.
Cutting 1t on one side. he takes 1t OIL the hOve
and hangs It In the sun to dry. A good work
man cnn thus prepare five or six pounds of
solid rubber In an hour. From Its initial color
OF clenr silver gray 1t turns shortly into a yell
low. and finally becomes the we-known dark
brown OF the rubber such as Is exported. The
more uniform. the dsnser. and fresr Of bubbles
Almost double the value is obtained for the
hrst.rate article over that OF the mos, inferior
quality. which Is nothing hut the drops collect
ed at the foot OF the trees"