The Structure of the Industry

RUBBER is produced from the latex which occurs in the bark of the tree Hevea brasiliensis. The latex which issues when the bark is cut is collected, coagulated with an acid (generally formic or acetic acid) and the coagulum is washed and dried to produce crude rubber. All the processes are essentially simple. Tapping is the opening of the latex vessels in the tree by an incision in the bark. The flow of latex is generally affected less by the thickness of the cut than by its length, and satisfactory amounts can be obtained by a very thin cut. Some bark removal is, however, inevitable, and this naturally varies not only with the skill of the tapper but also with the frequency of tapping and with the tapping system adopted. If a tree is left untapped bark reserves will be greater, with the possibility of higher yields later; where bark removal exceeds bark renewal it will eventually be necessary to suspend or slow down tapping, or else to tap on imperfectly renewed bark. The drying of the coagulated latex consists of passing it through a series of rollers, and is conducted in a very simple plant known on the estate as the factory. On smallholdings the ‘ factory ‘ is a shed housing one or two hand-mangles; the water is often eliminated simply by pressing with hands and feet. Final drying is done by placing the rubber in a hot chamber (usually termed smoke-house), or simply by exposing it to the sun.