The evening times., 1901-09-10
PROBLEMsIN EUBBER CULTURE.
Canadian Expert Reports on Con-
ditiOnS in Nicaragua


dron, OF Canada, on rubber culture in
Nicaragua. The Consul says that judging
from the experience Of several persons
who have attempted rubber culture in the
immediate vicinity Of san Juan del NOTte
there would seem to be a reasonable doubt
Of universal success, notwithstanding the
fact that the experiments We're confined 70
localities where the wild rubber trees had
been most abundant both in number Of
trees and yield Of rubber. In two notable
instances, after the plants had obtained
from four to siKyeaTs' growth, the planters
became discouraged with the outlook, and,
cutting down the young rubber trees.
planted cocoa.
There is one rubber plantation remain
ing in this locality, Mr Sorsby adds. IN
which the trees are about eight years old.
but the little bleeding attempted thus far
has been unsatisfactory. He continues by
saying:
Taking the consensus of opinion Of
those indigenous to the soil. who have had
an opportunity to observe the progress of
a planted tree-pIanted occasionally by
some one as novelty would say that
while there is no apparent reason why
India rubber culture in certain localities
Of Central and South America should not
be successful, it IS well for those Of limit
ed resources who may have invested in
rubber plantations TO be prepared for dis
appointment. if they rely upon getting
substantial returns from rubber trees Of
less than twelve or fifteen years growth. ."
The following is the text of Mr. Wal
dron's report:
Before 1885 there had been no rubber
planting beyond few fruitless expert
ments on the Atlantic coast Of Nicara-
qua. In 1898. the work began on what
may be called large scale. and each year
since the number Of planters has increas-
ed. 1t is safe to say that in this vicinity
$4,000 in gold value is now being expended
yearly in growing rubber exclusively
The method Of planting followed here
by all who have achieved any success has
been to grow rubber entirely without
shade. The best practice is to fell the
primevaI forest early in the dry season
namely, during March and April-tO lop
the branches and brush closely and when
the whole has become dry enough, to fire
it. with the result that everything is burnt
but the trunks and large branches. Stakes
are then set out at regular intervals over
the burnt field. From the 1st or 18th Of
May 70 the 18th Of June. the land is
stake, or, if seed is plenty. two seeds. SO
that If one fails there may still be a tree
Where two plants come up at a stake, one
Is removed and the other is left 70 grow
permanently.
There has not been uniformity Of prac-
tice as to the distance between stakes or
trees Some have planted as far as TWEEN
ty feet apart while others advocate five
OF six feet, the trees to be thinned out
by excessive Needing when they may be
found too close together to grow fast
Opinion seems To be fixing on ten feet as
the best distance for permanent planta-
tiQS. Land measure here is in manzanas
Of 100 vaTas square-that is to say. an
area Of 10,0i1 yards, or 800 square yards
more than two acres. The number Of
trees, therefore. which may be planted
ten feet apart each way on a manzana is
go. No further attempt is made at log
ging or clearing away the remains
Of the forest Decay is extremely rapid.
The land IS not plowed or cultivated in
any way, except By repeatedly cutting
down the weeds and vegetation. so as
20 allow he foliage of the young rubber
to be completely eSpOseG TO the agency Of
the sun
The trees planted IN 1895 are now three
enormous A large number Of trees grown
from seed planted in June 1895, measured
in August. 1850. on an average. seventeen
and a half inches in circumference A
few Of these trees measured in July 1901
show an increased diameter Of from one
10 two and a half inches. All the trees
here spoken Of are probably above the
average Of the whole As TO the average
size Of all the trees Of the same age on a
large area, il is enough 20 say that whore
there has been no difference Of soil OF at
tenti7n, they have a regular and even aD-
pearance- A few planters believe that
trees carefully grown and cared for viii
be large enough to bleed safely and
nrohtably at five years Of age At aIl
events. il is now established that the rub
rer tree can be grown TO a large size in
"a few years.
1T stiu remains for experience 10 prove
the yield Of the cultivated tree. That the
bark of the tree is full Of milk from the
time it is capped by half dozen leaves
is beyond question, and why it should not
yield as well as the wild tree neither
science nor ingenuity can suggest A few
months, or year al most, viii settle the
question in this locality
As TO cost. opinions naturally differ. Il
planter, working a large area. may bring
his trees TO five years for 80 cents each.
taking account Of land. administration.
labor. buildings. and equipment The
chief difficulty IN the way of the foreign
er planting rubber in this country is like
ly 70 be his inability to realize the need
and cost Of cleaning. This inability may
lose him his first years outlay. He may
also tumble IN trying 20 DO too much. All
the first planters suffered heavy loss be
Z
love or money, 20 plant the land they had
prepared The young cultivated trees are
now seed bearing, and in this locality
there is now, in this respect no trouble
In 1855. 81 .gO0C C00 would not have avaiIed
/ 10 plant successfully 2p0 acres Minor
troubles (Which may become ma iOr if
UECs 3 temper be not SCTCueJ are the labor
! question and the disposition to leisure
which affects all natives.
A word of warning TO the United
. States public, which seems to be now
/ eagerly taking the rubber bait. may not
be out Of season
sane and modest planting enterprises
promise well bat weather eye should
be kept on stock lObbcrS who have out
pruspectuses for the development Of large
tracts Of forest land. on which Wild rub
bor trees Of great value are said TO be
growing.
This warming is based only on knowI-
edge Of this coast. and fl is not pretended
to make IL apply beyond. though IL would
not be bad Judgment to conclude that
similar conditions prevail all over Central
America
Tine bleeding OF rubber began here i'm
1850. From the mountains to the Atlantic
there existed vast numbers Of rubber
trees. A man coHld go out IN the morning
and come back at night with TOO pounds
Of rubber. The wealth and commerce of
the coast was built up on rubber. bur the
rubber tree was practically DESTROYED by
the ignorant and greedy huICro Com
parauv,ly speaking, but a few scattered
0 All az