PAGE
[SEEDS, SHOWING VARIABLE SIZE, SHAPE, AND MARKING]2
[FELLING LIGHT (SECONDARY) JUNGLE]3
[SEEDLING, SHOWING ROOT-SYSTEM WITH SEED STILL ATTACHED]4
[NEW CLEARING]5
[TYPICAL YOUNG CLEARING, AGED ABOUT THREE YEARS, PLANTED ON VIRGIN SOIL. ORIGINAL JUNGLE TIMBER SLOWLY ROTTING]6
[LIGHT JUNGLE]7
[DENSE JUNGLE]8
[CLEARING READY FOR PLANTING]9
[NEW CLEARING: SLOPES “HOLED” FOR PLANTING; FLAT AREA BEING DRAINED]11
[TYPICAL YOUNG CLEARING, WITH TIMBER]15
[TYPICAL YOUNG CLEARING, WITH TIMBER]17
[TYPICAL YOUNG PLANTED AREA]20
[ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A RECENTLY PLANTED AREA]21
[WIDELY PLANTED YOUNG AREA, JUST READY TO BE BROUGHT INTO TAPPING]24
[FIELD OF OLD RUBBER TREES IN WHICH THINNING HAD BEEN DELAYED TOO LONG]25
[TWO CUTS ON A QUARTER CIRCUMFERENCE, ON AN OLD TREE]31
[THE SINGLE CUT ON A QUARTER CIRCUMFERENCE, ON AN OLD TREE AND ON RENEWED BARK]33
[SINGLE CUT ON HALF CIRCUMFERENCE (HALF-SPIRAL)]35
[A V-CUT ON HALF THE CIRCUMFERENCE]37
[SINGLE CUT ON TWO-FIFTHS OF CIRCUMFERENCE]41
[EFFECTS UPON RENEWED BARK OF PREVIOUS TAPPING]44
[ANOTHER EXAMPLE SHOWING THE EFFECTS OF PREVIOUS TAPPING]45
[1. SHOWING EFFECT OF “WINTERING”]48
[2. NEW GROWTH OF YOUNG LEAF ON SAME TREE]49
[EFFECTS OF DISEASE—“MOULDY ROT”]50
[EFFECTS OF DISEASE—“MOULDY ROT”]51
[EFFECTS OF DISEASE—“MOULDY ROT”]52
[EFFECTS OF DISEASE—“MOULDY ROT”]53
[RAISED VERANDAH FOR RECEPTION OF LATEX; LIKEWISE EQUIPPED WITH FACILITIES FOR CALCULATING INDIVIDUALDAILY “YIELD PER COOLIE“BY SAMPLING OF LATEX]66
[END-SECTION SKETCH OF VERANDAH, ETC., SHOWING A GOOD METHOD FORRECEIVING LATEX AND FILLING TANK]70
[RAISED VERANDAH FOR RECEPTION AND HANDLING OF LATEX]71
[ANOTHER SET OF DILUTION TANKS ON RAISED VERANDAH]72
[TWO VIEWS OFDILUTION AND MIXING TANKS]81
[UNIT MODERN COAGULATING TANK (TWO VIEWS)]91
[ANOTHER BATTERY OF TANKS, WITH DILUTION TANKS, RAISED, ON THE RIGHT]92
[CLOSER VIEW OF FOREGOING]93
[ANOTHER BATTERY OF TANKS, WITHOUT DILUTION TANKS OR MEANS OF GRAVITATING LATEX]95
[A SHEETING TANK CONTAINING COAGULUM FOR CREPE PREPARATION]96
[A “BATTERY” OF SHEETING TANKS (PATALING ESTATE).DILUTION TANKS, RAISED, ON THE LEFT]97
[THE OLD METHOD OF “DRIPPING” FRESHLY ROLLED SHEETS WITHIN THE FACTORY]108
[THE NEWER METHOD OF HANGING IN THE OPEN AIR]109
[THREE GRADES OF CREPE RUBBER]111
[A WASHING SHED]112
[DRYING GRAPH. PALE CREPE (THIN)]140
[A SHIPMENT OF RUBBER, PACKED AND READY FOR TRANSPORT]155
[ON ITS ROAD TO THE RAILWAY: BULLOCK-CART TRANSPORT]157
[A BATTERY OF MACHINES]165
[“THIRD MILE” TYPE; HORIZONTAL DRUM]190
[“THIRD MILE” TYPE OF FURNACE, USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH “THIRD MILE”SMOKE-HOUSE]190
[SIDE SECTIONAL ELEVATION (PATALING TYPE OF FURNACE)]193
[PATALING TYPE OF FURNACE]193
[LARGE SMOKE-HOUSE OF ORDINARY CONSTRUCTION, WITH SHIELDED VENTILATORS PERMANENTLY OPEN]194
[BRICK AND CEMENT SUPERSTRUCTURE OF FURNACE INSIDE THE BUILDING, BUT FED FROM OUTSIDE]195
[GENERAL VIEW OF SHELTERS COVERING APPROACHES TO FURNACES]196
[NEAR VIEW OF SHELTER]197
[“THIRD MILE” TYPE OF SMOKE-HOUSE]199
[GENERAL VIEW OF DOUBLE “DEVON” TYPE OF SMOKE-HOUSE]201
[GENERAL VIEW OF DOUBLE “DEVON” SMOKE-HOUSE AND FACTORY BUILDINGS]202
[VIEW OF PLATFORM OF “DEVON” SMOKE-HOUSE;DOORS OF COMPARTMENTS OPEN, AND ONE RACK PARTIALLY WITHDRAWN]203
[DOUBLE “DEVON” SMOKE-HOUSE OF BRICK,WITH ROOF OF CHINESE TILES, SHOWING LOADING PLATFORMS WITH RACKS WITHDRAWN FROM SMOKING CHAMBERS]204
[SIDE-VIEW OF PRECEDING PHOTOGRAPH, SHOWING EXTERNAL ARRANGEMENT FOR STOKING FURNACES]205
[FRONT VIEW OF DOUBLE “DEVON” TYPE OF SMOKE-HOUSE]206
[SIDE-VIEW OF DOUBLE “DEVON” TYPE OF SMOKE-HOUSE]207
[THE NEW “BARKER” TYPE OF SMOKE-HOUSE: A SMALL UNIT]210
[SUGGESTED ARRANGEMENT OF BUILDING]218
[THREE SPECIMENS OF FINE PALE CREPE SUFFERING FROM “SPOT” DISEASE]237

THE PREPARATION
OF PLANTATION RUBBER

PART I

FIELD OPERATIONS

CHAPTER I

PLANTING

To criticise the methods of the pioneer planters of Hevea Brasiliensis presents no difficulty in the light of present comparative knowledge, and to be “wise after the event” is a failing which is not confined to those interested in modern planting methods. Looking at the matter broadly, however, it must be acknowledged that the pioneers, wrong though they may have been on some points, did remarkably well, considering that there existed no real knowledge on the subject and that the methods employed were perforce of an empirical nature. Although we know a little more concerning the scientific aspects of rubber planting, the sum total of that knowledge does not justify any drastic criticism of the methods employed by our predecessors. In fact, although we may be of opinion that on general lines there is little now to be learned regarding the planting of Hevea Brasiliensis, our present knowledge does not preclude the possibility that future investigations may bring against us charges similar to those sometimes levelled at the earlier planters.

The main theme of the present volume is that of the preparation of rubber for the market. Hence it is not proposed to deal in detail with the work attaching to the opening and development of rubber estates. For this the reader is referred to the literature dealing specifically with rubber planting. Certain points in connection with planting may advantageously be treated in a general way according to modern knowledge, and of these it is proposed to discuss a few in the following pages.