The Hawaiian gazette., 1908-09-18
TAPPING THE
RUBBER TREES

One of the interesting items of the
regular report of r. s. Hosmer, Super
intendent of Forestry, presented to the
members of the Board of Agriculture
yesterday afternoon, was one pertain.
ing to the rubber tree tapping tests at
Nahiku, and another item referring to
the introduction of Mocha coffee here.
He stated:
Two years ago during an investiga-
ton by this division of the planted
forest on Kauai, there was brought to
public attention the existence of two
groves of rubber trees on the island of
Kauai. Arrangements were at once
made to conduct experiments in tap
ping in these groves. AS the Federal
Experiment Station had a man avail
able for the work, which this division
then did not, the investigation was
turned over to that office. The results
of the investigation have just been pub
lished as Bulletin No. 10 of the Federal
Experiment Station. This bulletin con-
tains much valuable information and is
an important contribution to our
knowledge of rubber in Hawaii. Much
however still remains to be done before
the rubber industry can be regarded
as firmly established. Especially Inn
portant at present are accurate figures
on the cost of collecting the latex and
putting it into shape as market prod
net at profit To secure data ON
those points this division has under
taken cooperative experiments with the
Federal Experiment Station and with
the four rubber companies at Nahiku,
The Federal Experiment Station fur
nishes the agent in local charge, the
rubber plantations furnish laborers TO
do the actual work, and this division
pays the salary of the agent in charge
and the incidental expenses.
The four main points to be invests-
gated are:
First-The cost of tapping
Second-The best methods of tap
iping.
Thiird-Methods of chemical control,
especially in dealing with scrap rubber,
and
Fourth-The effect of cultivation and
fertilization on the growth of the trees
and the yield of latex. The tapping
will be carried on on sufficiently largo
number of trees and for long enough
time to give results that shall have
direct commercial bearing. The chem
Iieal work will be carried on by the
chemist at the Federal station in the
Laboratory bf the station at Honolulu,
there being a sufficient number of trees
on the experiment station grounds te
yield the necessary quantity of later
for this work. One of the most strik-
ing things about the plantations at Ma
hikn is the way in which the trees
have responded to cultivation. One OF
the objects of the experiment will DO
to ascertain how cultivation and fer
tilization may most judiciously be en-
J ployed to hasten the growth of tho
trees and to increase the flow of latex
during the tapping season.
Some little time ago Mr.. g. r. Ewart
brought from Mexico the seed of tho
Mocha coffee. This shipment has been
propagated at the government nursery
the first time this plant has heeh
successfully grown in Hawaii. Over
900 plants have been sent out to per.
sons interested in coffee growing.
selected by Mr.. Ewart. A limited
number of plants remain which will be
retained by this division, planted in the
MakilSi garden, and used to produce
seed which in due time will be given
out. At the present time the division
has no more Mocha coffee plants for
distribution.