The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-12-16

Up to January, 1908. 100000 rubber
trees had been planted IN Hawaii, up
wards Of 30 per cent. being the species
known as the Ceara rubber tree
There are now FIVE large plantations
in operation. and rubber trees are be-
ing planted by many independent
farmers and planters. The Oldest
plantation is one of those at Nahiku.
A first tapping will be made on some
of the trees Of this plantation during
the summer Of 1908. OF as soon as
they have reached a circumference Of
20 inches, which is considered to be
the smallest size at which it is safe
or convenient to tap.
The natural home of the Ceara rub
ber tree is in the dry regions of
Brazil. In former years it was very
abundant in the state of Ceara and
derives its name from this fact. II
is also known as the Manicoba rub
Der, this having been its native name.
The whole tropical world is entering
into the cultivation of rubber on
wholesale scale Rubber is practical
" the only staple crop the supply of
which has always come from what
may be called natural sources. Even
with the increase in the number Of
plantations during the last ten years
90 per cent. Of all of the rubber of
commerce has been procured by the
Il ma n
DDS from natural rubber forests The
rubber gatherer has preceded the tax
collector in searching the unexplored
and unknown forests in the Interior
Of South America and all over the
African continent. He has destroyed
forests and exterminated species in
a relentless effort to secure enormous
returns without the investment Of
proportionate capital Wherever the
rubber collector has gone no other
need follow.
The cause of this frantic search for
rabber-producing trees is TO be found
in the mutitudinous uses to which
this valuable material may be put.
Because of its increasing scope OF
usefulness the rubber consumers have
never been able to procure enough Of
the raw material to satisfy the yearly
demands, SO that the end of every
decade has Witnessed a marked in
crease in its value.
While it has been long recognized
that certain species of ruhber-produc-
ing trees, notably the Para and As
sam rubbers (Hevea brasiliensis and
Ficus elastica), were amenable to cul-
tivation, tropical planters have only
recently awakened to the enormous
possibilities Of a cultivated product
which in it's raw condition commands
a price Of $4,000 d ton or more. There
IS now apparently race among
countries having lands available for
rubber production to see which can
get the largest acreage of rubber
trees into bearing in the shortest time,
in 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
plants and the realization OF the
planters golden dreams. Hundreds OF
rubber-plantation companies have
been formed and tioated in Europe,
the United States. Mexico. and the
East Indies, some toa operate conces-
sions containing areas Of wild trees.
others seeking in all haste to plant
as large an acreage as possible Of
one OF the other species Of rubber
producing plants.
While the uses Of rubber are capa-
Bile of almost indefinite extension. and
while new purposes to which this
material may be put are discovered