The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-12-26

trees had been planted In Hawaii, up
wards of 90 per cent. being the species
known a. the Ceara rubber tree.
There are now i've large plantations
in operation. and rubber trees are be-
ing planted by many Independent
farmers and planters. The Oldest
plantation il one Of those at Nahiku.
A first tapping will be made ON some
of the trees of this plantation during
the summer of 1908. or as soon a.
they have reached a circumference of
20 inches. which il considered to be
the smallest size at which 1t IL safe
aE se1AxonIei& 70 TAP:
The natural home Of the Ceara run
Der tree is in the dry regions Of
Brasil. In former years 1t was very
abundant In the state of Ceara and
derives its name from this fact. 1t
is alse Known as the Manicoba rub
Der, this having been its native name.
The whole tropical world is entering
into the cultivation of rubber on q
wholesale scale. Rubber is practical
ly 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
most wasteful and destructive meth
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
rnbber-producing trees is to be found
in the multitudinous 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. 20 that the end of every
decade has witnessed q marked In
crease in its value.
While 1t has been long recognized
that certain species Of rubber-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 . cultivated product
which in its raw condition commands
. price Of $1,000 q tor or more. There
ID now apparently . race among
countries having lands available for
rubber production to see which can
get the larEeat acreage Of rubber
trees into bearing in the shortest time.
In order to harvest the marvellous
profits which seem almost absolutely
certain.
The present sersaes a cuitiv.Asa
rubber $500, goods half ntuIoo
acres, asd svssy yeax sses aAAftjoaal
tens q thoasanAe u aes0s plaAtsd. |
o.e Of tie unesetaAa factors has been
fh4 tine which must saapss bstweea
the arst invsstmsnt h Land. seed, and |
plants and the realization OF the |
S'satsrs' golden dreams. Hundreds Of |
.plantatIou companies have
Horned and Aoated IN Europe,
limited States. 4e1ico. and Tie |
indies, some to operate enoess-
coataining areas q wild tfssa,
4 seeking in all hases to plaat |
es IN acreage ~ possible Of
Nor The other species q rubssg.
Ak5ducing plants.
Whils the uses Of rubber efe capa-
bic Of almost inisAnite sxtsas3oa, and
while nsw purposes to which this
material nav b pat n, discovered