Evening star., 1925-10-18
RAISING Of RUBBER
! IN FLORIDA URGED
Department of Agriculture
Experts See Chance to Aid
Auto Industry.

increas sed rubber prices and the ne
cessity for complete dependence on re-
mote sections for this product so es-
sential to the automobile industry may
be combated by it's production in
Florida or in tropical America. ac-
cording to experts of the Department
Of Agriculture who have been study
ing the sources Of supply.
They point to earlier failures with
rubber plantations in tropical Amer
lea, however, and stress the need for
caution before taking part in such en-
terprises. Because of such failures, II
was stated at the department. there
Is no reason why production there is
not practicable If methods which are
adapted to local conditions are de-
veloped and applied.
Cite Source of Rubber
At present the remote East Indies
constitute the important source of
rubber. Higher prices already have
stimulated further production de-
velopment in the East Indies under
the system of Oriental contract labor.
In some districts the natives are re-
ported 10 be planting rubber. 4 seri-
Gus shortage may he felt within the
next few years. according to students
OF conditions, should the use of rub
ber in other parts Of the world in
crease as rapidly as in the United
States.
The outlook in tropical America. in
the event an attempt is made to culti-
$ yate a supply of rubber more acceSSi-
Bile to this country, is better for un-
dertakings by resident land owners,
says the Department of Agriculture,
! than for the more costly projects OF
nonresident land owners because sue
cess depends so much on adjustments
to meet economic conditions peculiar
to the locality.
Grow Well in Two States.
Some Of the tropical species of rub
Der producing plants are said to grow
we'll in Florida and some Of the dry
country species in California. but no
assurance is held out by the Depart
ment of Agriculture that commercial
cultivation would be profitable in COM
petition with the East Indian rubber
Industry. Experiments are being
made now with Hevea, or the Para
rubber tree of Brazil. in southern
Florida, Haiti and the Canal Zone by
the Bureau Of Plant Industry to de-
termine the range Of adaptation of the
various species The northern limit
for Hevea still Is unknown. A small
planting near the north coast IT
Haiti now about 20 years old, has
grown well and produces good rubber.
the department says. Correspondents
in Mexico, Cuba or Porto Rico are en-
couraged by the department to make
small paintings Of Hevea in sheltered
places where the native vegetation
does not suffer too severely from
drought.
The Department Of Agriculture tried
some experimental tapping recently in
Haiti. Its report Is that the produc-
ton Of individual trees recorded for
several months shows yields like those
Of tho East Indian plantations. but
with q shorter tapping season. Tests
are said to have shown the rubber to
be Of good quality. Labor is abundant
in Haiti and production OF rubber Is
possible, but areas are limited because
the fertile districts are densely popu-
lated. Agriculture Department spe-
cialists report that smaller units might
be organized and production by native