The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-03
India Rubber.

A very interesting and valuable report on
rubber and the rubber trade has just been
published by the State Department at WASH
ington In avolume OF the special consular
reports. The chief value Of the book lies
FIRST In Its information rs to the possibility
Of cultivating the rubber tree In this coun-
try. and secondly In its suggestions as to
the proper methods OF extending our trade
In manufactured rubber articles.
Tho term rubber tres Is generic triv-
inl term for many plants from which India
rubber may DO obtained. Those plants be-
long chiefly to the orders OF EIphorbtacen.
MoraceG. Avtocdrpacce. and Apocyrooe0.
III Mexico rubber Is obtained from Sipho-
mia cahuchu; In Nicaragua and Brazil
Siphonia clastica produces It: In India
Fic'.s eldstica;> while among tho Pacific
Islands gutta percha from Diehopsis 0Htta
aud Isonandra Owtia takcs the place ~
caoutchouc or rubber. In other parts OF the
world Clsti,ioa elastica. Hcped brasilicnsis.
and the bullet tire furnish the rubber. Is
we'll rs variouo vines. Cryptosteoid ovtwdi-
fora. Lanttolphia florida. and others.
Except In British India tho milk Of Che
rubber troe Is gathered In a most wastefnl
manner. Generally the trec 10 cut down.
and the milk obtained by cutting channels
in the bark: at other times the bark Is
tapped In many places: sometimes again
the bark is scraped of the tree for several
feet. and q gutter Of clay built around tbs
lower edge Of .he scraped part. The second
way is theoretically the least injnri-
Gus: hut III practice 1t does ~ much
damage d The other woye. for tho
slightest injury Tn the wood Of :he trunk
ccu,es tbs death OF tho entire tree. and the
gath srers are not overcarefIl IN :naking
their incisioDs. Tho milk. or emulsion as It
Is called. kolds the caoutchouo In suapeI-
ston. and must bs coaSulated TO extract the
rubber. Sometimee this coagulotior IL pro.
iuced by leaving the milk In the sur ct
other times tho milk Is heatsd ard
mixed with a decoction Of the leaves
OF some Of the oonrolrulace6s or morn
iug-glory tribe Of plants; assin 1t Is
heated little at time on q paddle
coated with clay. Tho best rubber Of course
Is the purest: rubber made from the milk
that has overlooked the cutters or cups and
has been scraped up from the ground Is
mixed with sticks. leaves. stones. dirt. and
bark. and may be OF second or third quality.
OF the lower grades If East Indian rubber
our Consulin Calcutta writes:
1.-THE rubber brought from the region bordering on
Ch.ns 10 wrethed looking stua. consisting OF chunks
dark tufa balls 80 per cent OF which 10
Gand bark AM clay Many OF the dirty stringy giobes
tas natives have to sell remind one Of bali made BY
thrifty othsr OF different azes OF wiue that has been
payei With h the muddy streets by her scampish
These interruptions collectors always concsai
lump OF mud ~ the centre OF the gutinous mass. i'm
assine sncs 10 sold nomiuaiy by weight that their
cheating has net been :oreknown and provided for.
Tho jungle psope also mig with tie produce OF The
Tet' elea rdbbers derived from two large creepers
:be botanical names Of which 'CAoseme,,Aa .nae,s
phy'a and R'sreodta uqiieAfk"
Except Ia British India and Australia, few
systematic attempts have been made to
grow rubber plants ON . commercial scale.
Our Consul-General in Mexico reports that
the trees IN that country yield milk when
six years old. and that various experiments
have beeRmade. showing the feasibility Of
rubber farming. and various isolated at
tempts at,cultivating the local rubber tree
have been made In various parts
Of Central and South America and tho
Pacific islands. In India the Government
has undertaken toprcserve the rubber trees
already standing. and is making careful
efforts to cultivate the trees. especially In
Assam. Tho only successful plantation Of
any Size however. Is In the Durrany dis
trict in Assam; this contains 1858 acres
planted With fine trees. about $50 to the
acre, whihh. however. will not be tapped for
some years yet. In Australia tho Queens
LAID Government Is considering the subject
Of rubber cultivation. but has not. "a yet.
mr. IA IN, oLon ~
Mr.. KERBEY. our Consul at Para. Brazil,
makes several suggestions In hls report
that deserve consideration. Ho writes:
ut has occurred to that It might b worth while
to attempt experiment In rubber culture In the ever
gisdea of south FLORIDA. where tho conditions OF
moisture heat. and soil seem to he about on . par
with my observation hero. The overhowed lands OF
south forida below the frost lns The necessary
conditions d rubber growing sesm to b. hest and
moisture, no cultivation being required.
The but the eternal objection is always raised
thu: the rubber tree does not produce suhciept milk
to Justify pu cultvatlonl until after long time of
growth.
'The Siparin ea~i''. grown here spontaneously. 10
the best ruBrr reo In the world Tie sees are
abundant. rhey some what smaller than horse
chestnuts which they resemble In shape. and grow
three In sApsue. which bursts with n sound reseu.
bling recmcker throwing tho nuts to some distance
In one day Anan could gather enough Of them to plant
quarter section OF land. They Sarminate easily and
grow rapidly; they need plenty Of moisture and beat
but not too much direst sunlight while Young.
The youiy rubber trees be found In the and
trausplantS with facility. being careful not 10 plant
them too dssp spreading out the roots horizontally
and shaiInsthem until ;hey have reached certain
height. Buit IL less labo! TO plant the nuts 10
garden bed taking protect them from the auts
and the sum rays until they ready 70 transplant
whea six ottight Inches high they should BE- removed
to ANAL hAtbushei baskets Of earth. In which they
nay grow Antil they two OF three feet In height
They arc ths ready to DO planted where they are In
teaded rs9aIn. The basket. which costs but fev
cents tito ground with the plant Just Ia
and the works done.
.rhe treeSwii, never crowd each other planted IL
feet apart That will sive S3S trees to an Of
ground. The land needs no PREPARATION The young
trsex will dove II planted In The original Forest but
It would be Aii better to plant them smoAs second
growth OF Siast years clearing The second growth
would give 10 necessary shade to tho young rubber
trees and tbsse would shoot above H. Al the end
Of the nrst vtar tho yoang trees will be from 10
feet in hsiet and from ~ to Is at tho end Of the
.ttos