The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-07-22
The CEARA RUBBER
TREE IN HAWAII

classical were amenable to cutiva- |
I'm. tropical planters have only re-
ceftly awakened to the enormous pos |
sibilities of cultivated product which |
in its raw condition commands price
of $4,000 a ton or more. There is now
apparently a race among countries
having lands availaDe for rubber pro- ,
duction to see which can get the larg-
est acreage of rubber t1,eeb into bear
ing in the shortest time, lin order to
harvest the marvellous profits which
seem almost absolutely certain.
The present acreage Of cultivated
rubber probably exceeds half a million
acres and every year sees additional
tens of thousands of acres planted.
One Of the uncertain factors has been
the time which must elapse between
the first investment in land, seed, and
ip'ants and the realization of the plant
ers golden dreams. Hundreds of rub
ber-plantation companies have been
formed and hoated in Europe the
United States, Mexico, and the East
Indies, some to operate concessions
containing areas of wild trees, Others
seeking in all haste to plant as large
an acreage as possible of one or the
other species of Ihbber-producing
plants.
While the uses of rubber are capa-
BILE of almost indefinite extension, and
while new purposes to which this ma
terial may be put are discovered every
day, the very large areas, which have
been and viii be planted will undoubt-
eddy seriously affect present prices as
soon as, large areas have commenced
to bear. At the present cost of pro-
! duction and at the present market re-
turns the profits are enormous. II
prices fall to a third OF those of the
present day, plantations already IN OPP
Grafton will be able to continue to pro-
duce rubber at profit of at least 100
per cent 1t will doubtless be with
rubber as it has been with all other
raw products-that the cheapening of
price will increase the consumption.
| The profits already obtained from the
lcultivation of rubber have been re-
sponsible for much extravaganza in
management and operation. No one
can predict at what period the fail in
prices will begin, but it will probably
not be for another ten years at least
and may not be in twice that time.
The best way to keep up the price
is to produce only rubber of the best
quality or of as good quality as is COM
patibe with normal rather than extra
VACANT management. When prices
begin to go down, the plantations
which will first feel it will be those in
locations least suitable to the growth
of rubber trees, or those which are
overcapitalized or mismanaged.
The Ceara variety of rubber tree
grows in Hawaii better than in it's ma
tive habitat The rapidity and vigor
of growth on our plantations Is re-
markable Many trees show a growth
of from 10 to Is. feet or more during a
single season, with girth measure
ments in proportion. While the trees
on the Hawaiian plantations are more
or less subject to fungus diseases and
insect attacks, no specially destructive
disease and no insect pest peculiar to
this plant alone has as yet gained en-
trance to this Territory. The diseases
and pests are those affecting forest
trees in general.
The methods of tapping which this
station has developed and the prelim-
mary experiments already made indi-
cate that healthy average trees of the
Ceara variety, which have attained a
trunk diameter of to 8 inches at
feet from the ground, will yield from S
to 10 or more pounds of crude rubber
each per annum. AS most OF the Ha-
waiian plantations have made their be-
ginnings on the prospect Of securing
pound of rubber per tree per annum
at the end of five years, it is our san
guine belief that the cultivation Oh
, rubber trees OF this variety is on as
sure and firm a foundation in Hawaii
: as in any other part of the world
3 Furthermore, the Ceara variety seems
? better adapted to Hawaiian climate
' soils, and conditions than any othel
= rubber-producing tree which has al
e vet been introduced. It's extreme rap
idity Of growth and its adaptability t
1 widely varying conditions of soil ant
: climate, it's large yields, and its earl!
a maturity indicate that it's cultivation
s will be the NOSE advantageous.
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