Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-04
GATHERING RUBBER IN BRAZIL
The World Dependent on Wild Trees Worked
nv Ignorant and Careless Natives.

by Ignorant and Careless Natives.
Writing about the production and ex-
port of rubber in Brazil, Consul-General
Andrews says "The rubber.tree requires
q growth OF twenty to TWENTY-FIVE years
beiore It begins to produce, hence little
or nothing has been done for It's propaga-
ton. The milky sap which forms rubber
IS taken from the wild tree, which grows
scattered through the forests Of the ANA
zon and many Of It's afliuents. The indus
try. being principally in the hands OF an
unfducated and half-civilized nomad popu-
lation Of Indian mixture, is of crude char
acter. Nothing has been done 10 improve the
system OF labor. A wastefu and eX-
b,ustiye system OF labor has been followed
for half century, and the consequence IL
that millions OF rubbeT-treeS have been de-
stroyed and many others abandoned from
premature and excessive use. There are
instances OF groves OF trees. which, by care
mi use end by not permitting them to be
tanned in the months OF August and Sep
teinber. in which they change their leaves,
have been yielding for thirty years, and
.till nre in good producing condition; but
the common practice is so wasteful that
many well-lniormed people apprehend that,
unless some remedy is applied, this rich
resource will before long suffer a serious
and perhaps fatal decline.
"The rubbcr-tree thr.ves only on soil
which Is annually overlooked TO depth OF
three or more feet, and prefers the lowest
and most recent riyer-depO-it. The rubber
ggtherers are temporary sqEatters, aud
their usual dwelling is hut with low roof
of palms, beneath one end Of which there
=. HDcp orr run1nsVnris az lQil nnp
or two Yards from the ground, 20 which
the occupant retreat at high water"
The following description Of the process
Of gathering rubber was written 10y Mr..
Franz Keller: marrow paths lead from
The CATERERS hut through dense un.
derwood - each separate tree. and as soon
rs the dry season sets in he botJkeS himself
with his hatc,iCi to the trees 81 cat little
holes in. tie bark. The milk-white sap
immediately begins to cyude into pieces OF
bamboo tied below and having their
ends IN little clay cups set under the
cnslcs 10 prevent IFS trl:hlin@ down the
stem. He travels thus from tree 10 tree.
ON the return visit he pOurs the contents
OF the bambOoS into a lar-e earthen Ncs-
sci provided with straps, which he emptics
at homc into a large turtlc-;hell. Without
delay ne sets TO work 10 col su!atc Il with
smoke Of palG!-nu.s, and poarS little oi
Tie milk evenly on light wooden shove,
which he tlirusts into the thick smoke issu-
inc from a little narrow chimney r:ade by
the neck Of an earthcn bottle. He moves
the shovel several times 20 and irO with
great ral6iiy. when the milk is seen to
consolidate and 10 take grayish-yeIlow
urgc.
THUS hc puts layer opcn layer, until at
lust the rubber CT both sides Of the wood
has reached thickness Of two or three
centimetcIs. Cutting II on one side, he
takes il of the shovel and hangs il
in the sun to dry. \ good workman
can thus prepare five or six pounds
Of solid rubber ir an hour. From It's mi
tIal color Of clear silver gray it turns
shortly into yellow, aud finally becomes
the " ell-known dark brown OF the rubber,
such as Is exported. The more Uniform,
the dcnser, and freer Of bubbles the whole
mass is the higher price it brings. Almost
double the value is obtained for the first
rate article over that of the most inferior
quality, which is nothing but the drops coll
lccted at the foot Of the trees"