The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, May 07, 1943, Image 7
*
THE SUN, NEWBERRY, S. C„ MAY 7, 1943
South American Jungles Throb With
New Rubber Boom; Scientific Methods
Are Used to Protect Native Harvesters
IMPROVED
UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
S UNDAY I
chool Lesson
By HAROLD L. LUNDQUIST, D. D.
Of The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.
(Released by Western Newspaper Union,)
Old Industry Revived in Neighboring Tropics; Transportation Biggest Problem as
Countries Lack Rails and Roads; U. S. Grows Rubber in Miami.
In this crucial year of 1943, Latin America will have contrib
uted more than 50,000 tons of natural rubber to the United States
war industry stockpile, according to estimates compiled from
official sources. In 1944, natural rubber production south of the
Rio Grande will have doubled, or perhaps exceed 100,000 tons. At
the same time U. S. horticulturists announced success in growing
the Hevea rubber tree in the experimental station at Miami, Fla.
Fourteen Ameiican republics, besides British Guiana and Trin
idad, have signed agreements with the United States, calling for
a substantial increase in the cultivation arid collection of natural
rubber. These nations are Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica,
Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nic
aragua, Panama, Peru and Venezuela. In Brazil alone, about
50,000 workers have been recruited for the purpose of extracting
the milky sap from wild rubber trees.
In order to get natural rubber out^
of trackless jungles and remote
places, new transportation systems
making use of donkeys, canoes,
steamboats, airplanes, human car
riers, etc., have been organized.
Medical stations along the routes
have lessened, but not eliminated,
the hazards which threaten every
man who works in the jungles.
The natural rubber needed by
United States tanks, airplanes,
jeeps, artillery, etc., must be ex
tracted from wild and cultivated
trees scattered over an area en
compassing hundreds of thousands
of square miles.
In order to protect rubber har
vesters against fevers, animals, and
insects, the Latin American coun
tries, aided by United States govern
ment health officials, have created
modern sanitary centers, where pre
ventive medicine is taught and treat
ment given to rubber collectors and
their families.
Once Rubber Center.
Brazil forests, of course, yield
most of this hemisphere’s present
supply of natural rubber. There, in
the Amazon valley, natives first
found the gummy substance that
plays such an important part in
modern war. Before seedlings of
“Hevea Braziliensis’’ had been ex
ported from Brazil and exploited
commercially in the Dutch East In
dies and the British Malay Straits
Settlements, the Brazilian industry
enjoyed a heyday. In order to mar
ket their natural rubber, Brazilian
promoters had built the costliest
railroad in the world. When rubber
was a Brazilian monopoly, it fetched
as high as three dollars per pound.
However, not even in its balmy
days did Brazil produce as much
rubber (42,400 tons) as it is con
tributing in 1943 to a United Na
tions victory. According to the co
ordinator of Brazilian economy,
Joao Alberto Lins de Barros, Brazil
in 1943 will produce 45,000 tons of
natural rubber; and 1944’s estimates
call for 75,000 tons.
The future holds even greater
promise for rubber from South
America’s largest country. That is
because commercial plantations,
similar to those in the Orient, are
well on their way to production, and
it is anticipated that by 1945 these
plantations will yield more rubber
than the millions of wild rubber
trees in the Amazon valley produce
at present.
Some Brazilian rubber is trans
ported by airplane from jungle de
pots to the Atlantic port of Belem,
whence it is shipped northward.
With the exception of eight or ten
thousand tons which Brazil requires
for domestic industry, the entire
production is exported to the United
States.
Among South American rubber-
producing nations, Ecuador ranks
second. The figures of 1942 pro
duction have not been announced,
but in 1941, when Brazil produced
17,500 tons, Ecuador yielded 1,500
tons.
Indians Want Beads.
The Yumbo Indians, a source of
rubber workers in the Ecuadorian
forest, are not attracted by money
in any form. On the other hand,
they covet colored beads and ma
chetes. v The Ecuadorean Develop
ment corporation understands native
tastes and is now supplying the
Yumbos with trinkets and useful ar
ticles, like scissors, razors, salt, mir
rors, and even rifles.
Colombian forests are already
yielding two tons of rubber daily,
all trans-shipped by the same air
planes which supply the workers
with their needs.
In Colombia, rubber exploitation
is supervised by a committee made
up of representatives of the Colom
bian government, the United States
embassy, and the Rubber Reserve
corporation.
A service of floating hospitals and
dispensaries has been organized to
look after the rubber workers in the
Colombian jungles. This is in co
operation with the Institute of Intef-
American Affairs in Washington
which aids local authorities in the
work of hygiene and sanitation. The
same procedure has been followed
in other countries.
Last February an agreement be
tween the United States and Peru
provided that South American re
public with an airway system for
transporting rubber from the forests
to river and seaports.
By the end of 1944 it is expected
that Haiti will be producing 10,000
tons of aatural rubber per annum,
which will be marketed by SHADA
(Societe Haitiano-Americaine de De-
veloppement Agricole), an organiza
tion set up by the governments of
the United States and Haiti. One
hundred thousand acres have been
sown with “cryptostegia,” a rubber-
producing plant that grows very
rapidly. Thousands of Haitians have
J
Proof that progress has been
made was demonstrated recently by
the Bureau of Standards in Washing
ton, D. C., which produced a pair
of rubber heels from the latex of
“Hevea Brasiliensis” trees growing
in Florida. The experiment cost
the department of agriculture 17
years of research and thousands of
dollars but government chemists re
ported the quality of the latex com
pared favorably with East Indian.
In this promising test-tube rubber
plantation are growing more than
2,000 Hevea from Haiti, Puerto Rico,
Mexico and the East Indies. It is
the only rubber project on planta
tion scale ever attempted outside
the tropics. Some of the trees are
35 feet high and ten inches in di
ameter.
Tree Survives Florida Clime.
For a tree whose natural habitat
is in the region of the equator, the
Hevea’s endurance and adaptabili
ty to temperate climate has amazed
scientists. Periodic measurements
have shown that its early growth has
been as rapid in Miami as in Haiti
and Mexico. Its resistance to cold
weather has been incredible, sur
viving temperatures as low as 28
degrees. Like many northern trees
it has been found to shed its leaves
in winter, reducing frost danger and
making it particularly well-suited to
Florida cultivation.
The entire rubber reserve has
sprung from seeds, many of which
were sown nearly two decades ago.
After sprouting from seedbeds the
young trees were transplanted into
deep depressions near the water-ta
ble so the tap roots could find per
manent moisture. The creamy.
Workers tap the Hevea rubber tree at the U. S. agricultural experi
mental station at Miami, Fla. The U. S. has experimented with 2,000
species, and satisfactory results have been obtained.
been engaged to attend the planta
tions.
“Cryptostegia’’ originated in Mad
agascar and reached Haiti in 1912 as
a decorative plant. Since then it
has spread without assistance over
many parts of the island.
Combat Leaf Blight.
Dr. E. W. Brandes of the U. S.
department of agriculture is enthu
siastic about the progress made by
the Americas in combating rubber
plant diseases. The South American
leaf blight, he said, is being con
quered by development of disease-
resistant trees. These hardy trees
in turn are being crossed by hand
pollination with high-yielding Orien
tal rubber trees further to improve
yields.
Victory over the leaf disease is a
great forward step in the hemi
sphere’s rubber expansion program,
said Dr. Brandes.
On one of the Ford plantations in
Brazil, a million trees fell victim
to its ravages, but it was observed
that a few full, leafy canopies of
healthy trees stood out sharply
against a background of pest-ridden
neighbors. This meant that the
blight, carried from tree to tree by
wind-blown spores, had not infected
them. They were immune.
Scientists then bud-grafted the im
mune tops to other trunks and pro
duced a high-yielding, disease-resist
ant plant. The work of developing
the resistant tree by the system of
cross pollination is an arduous task,
but it is ultimately the best solution
to the problem. It is being done on
a large scale in Brazil, where lies
the hemisphere’s greatest potential
supply of latex.
Meanwhile horticulturists at the
Federal Plant Introduction Garden,
Miami, Fla., have been experiment
ing with “home-grown” rubber
trees.
whi'.e latex tapped recently was a
welcome sight to the botanists who
had cared for them so long.
Experts have found that trees
grown from selected East Indian
seeds in the Florida garden has pro
duced a higher yield of latex in
general than miscellaneous Hevea
from other tropical lands. Experi
ments in hand pollination have been
tried with marked success to deter
mine its possibilities.
Two methods of tapping have been
tried—the half spiral every other
day, and the full spiral, every three
or four days. The half spiral has
proved most desirable, enabling
workers to retap over the old scars
every seventh year. As in most
rubber trees a purer and slightly in
creased flow of latex is found to
ward the lower trunk.
Technicians do the tapping here.
Two grooves are cut into the tree
with a regulation tapping knife—an
oblique cut to start the flow of la
tex and a vertical channel cut tc
guide it to the spout which empties
into a glass receptacle held to the
tree by a wire holder. In the well-
equipped laboratory of the Introduc
tion Garden the chemist coagulates
the latex with ascetic acid. It is
then rolled, washed and dried, and
the samples sent to Washington for
study.
Operation of the station at Miami
has been generally overshadowed by
other steps taken to relieve the rub
ber shortage in the United States.
Much publicity has been given to
the effort to bring the guayule shrub
into cultivation in the Southwest.
A variety of chemical compositions
have been exploited for their rub
bery characteristics. And, of course,
there is the government’s vast syn
thetic rubber program, utilizing oil
and grain.
Gardener Should Only Cultivate to Kill Weeds
Some of the grief in gardening can
be escaped if the gardener realizes
that cultivation is needed only to
kill weeds, break soil crusts, and to
permit water to enter the soil. If
the garden is cultivated or hoed
often enough to kill the weeds, the
other two factors will be automati
cally accomplished.
The weeding job can be done with
less labor if cultivation begins when
the weeds are small. The ground
should be disturbed little near the
plant rows, but the cultivation may
go deeper between rows where
tramping is likely to pack the soil.
Pulling a garden rake lightly across
plant rows will help eliminate weeds
but some hand work will be required
to get all of them.
The frequency of cultivation re
quired is determined by the rate of
weed growth. In periods of frequent
rains and in warm weather, more
cultivation is needed. No result oth
er than exercise is obtained from
stirring dry, weedless soil. Cultiva
tion should not begin too soon after
a rain because moisture will evapo
rate faster, and lack of water often
is a limiting factor in plant growth.
Any one of several types of hoes
is satisfactory for garden work, and,
sometimes it is an advantage to have
more than one type. Heavy hoes
are best for chopping weeds out of
heavy soil, and the pointed hoes
are better adapted for opening fur
rows for planting seed.
Lesson for May 9
Lesson subjects and Scripture texts se
lected and copyrighted by International
Council of Religious Education; used by
permission.
PETER AND JOHN LEADERS
IN THE EARLY CHURCH
LESSON TEXT—Acts 2:37-41; 3:1-8: 4:13;
18-31.
GOLDEN TEXT—Now when they saw the
boldness of Peter and John, and perceived
that they were unlearned and ignorant men,
they marveled; and they took knowledge of
them, that they had been with Jesys.—
Acts 4:13.
Does the Church have a message
for our dayT Sometimes one won
ders a bit, but a little thought indi
cates that if it does not, it is not
because Christianity has failed, but
because Christian people-have failed
to declare the eternal and powerful
truth of God. The primary respon
sibility for any such failure must
rest upon the leaders of the Church.
It is instructive to see the qualities
which made the leaders of the early
Church effective for the Lord. In
our lesson we find Peter and John
doing three things.
I. Declaring God’s Word (Acts 2:
37-41).
Peter had just finished the first
sermon preached in the Church,
which was delivered at Pentecost.
The declaration of God’s truth in the
power of the Holy Spirit brought
conviction of sin. It always does,
although the outward indication of
its working may not be as marked
as it was on that day. Three thou
sand souls were under conviction
and asking what to do to be saved.
What an opportunity for the
preacher and his fellow worker,
John. How did they meet it? By
faithfully declaring the need of re
pentance and faith, and then of fel
lowship with others in the Church.
One mark of a real leader for God
will always be that he preaches and
teaches the message of God without
adulteration, without modification,
and with plainness and simplicity.
The kind of leadership which is
often magnified in the Church today
and which is largely made up of
personal magnetism, “pep” and fast
talk, is not real leadership at all.
Test your leaders by their faithful
and intelligent declaration of God’s
Word. ,
II. Conveying God’s Power (Acts
3:1-8).
■/‘Channels only”—that is the func
tion of the worker for Christ, the
leader in His Church. As Mary
Maxwell well put it:
Channels only, blessed Master.
But with all Thy wondrous power
Flowing through us. Thou canst use us
Every day and every hour.
Silver and gold was a scaice com
modity with Peter and John, as it
has been with many, yes most, of
God’s servants through the centu
ries. But they, did have the blessed
privilege of being channels through
which the healing, cleansing, re
deeming power of God could flow—
and that was infinitely better.
The lame man had long since
given up hope of anything better
than the few coins he could beg at
the temple gate. He was like many
in our hard and practical age who
see only the values that money can
give, and thus miss the real blessing
of God.
God has for men today, as He had
for this beggar, that which is far
better than gold—deliverance from
sin and liberation from the limita
tions of spirit which make them con
tent with the paltry alms of men.
Peter and John were ready to be
used of God because they were men
who were not too busy to pray
(v. 1). Knowing the compassion of
God they sought out the one in need,
and by faith put the unlimited power
of God to work on his behalf.
God healed this man’s body, but
what is more important, He healed
his spirit (v. 8). We need that kind
of healing for the weak-kneed, lame-
ankled, spirit-darkened individuals
in our communities and our
churches. We will have it only as
our leaders are men and women
who are cleansed—ready to be chan
nels for the conveying of God’s pow
er to a needy world.
HI. Doing God’s Will (Acts 4:13,
18-21).
The way of life of God’s leaders
is not an easy one, but it is a simple
one. They do God’s will—nothing
less, nothing more, and nothing else.
Wiat could be more delightful?
Peter and John had spoken the
truth and declared salvation to be
only in the name of Jesus (v. 12}
Certain easy talkers within the
Church who tell us that we must not
be narrow but broad enough to see
salvation in all religions, had bet
ter read that verse again.
Because they had preached Christ,
and for no other reason, they were
imprisoned, then released on condi
tion that they would not mention
Him again? What a splendid op
portunity for a smooth and comfort
able compromise! They could preach
but just leave out Christ. Did they
do it? No! (vv. 19, 20).
Obedience to God was paramount
with them, and it must be with every
genuinely Christian leader in the
Church. Nothing else will do, nor
will it have the blessing and ap
proval of God.
Versatile Suit
V ERSATILE costume . . . with
jacket, a good-looking casual
suit ready for everything . . .
without jacket, first rate for ev
ery active sport.
• • •
Barbara Bell Pattern No. 1775-B, de
signed for sizes 10, 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20.
Corresponding bust measurements 28, 30,
OUSEHOLD
HITS®
Butter will spread more smooth
ly and go further if a little hot
milk is creamed with it.
• • •
Use a stiff wire brush to re
move crumbs and other particles
from the burners of a gas or elec
tric stove.
• • •
To remove a stain left by ad
hesive tape, apply kerosene, then
wash the spot with warm suds.
» • •
A paper plate glued to the bot
tom of a paint can will catch all
drippings from the can and serves
as a rest for the paint brush be
sides.
• • •
An old pair of curling irons
makes an excellent gripper to use
in dyeing garments. You can grip
the material firmly and swish it
about in the dye bath and it will
not slip off as it sometimes does
when a stick or something of that
sort is used.
• * •
Worn bath towels may be cut
in squares or circles for wash
cloths. Either crochet an edge
around them or bind with wash
able cotton tape.
• • •
When washing a coat sweater or
cardigan, sew up the buttonholes
to prevent stretching.
• • •
A variety of play materials is
essential for a child’s all-around
development. Toys are needed for
vigorous physical activity, for ma
nipulative and creative play, and
for dramatic play.
32, 34, 36 and 38. Size 12 (30) ensemble
requires 4>,4 yards 39-inch material.
Due to an unusually large demand and
current war conditions, slightly more
time is required in filling orders for a few
of the most popular pattern numbers.
Send your order to:
SEWING CIRCLE PATTERN DEPT.
530 South WeUs St. Chicago.
Room 1958
Enclose 20 cents in coins for each
pattern desired.
Pattern No Size
Name
Address
Perhaps It's Best to Tell j
Other Side of Story First
“Yes,” said the lawyer to the
grocer, who had come to consult
him, “undoubtedly you’ve got the
best case that I’ve ever heard.” i
“Thanks,” said his client, quick
ly grabbing his hat and making
for the door.
“Here, what’s the rush,” asked
the astonished lawyer. “Where
are you going?”
“I’m going to settle this case
out of court and that right away!”
the other informed him.
“But I told you it’s the best
case I ever heard.”
“Maybe so,” said his client,
“but not for me. I’ve told you
the other fellow’s story.” ,
TAME Give It that wen groomed
look. Add lustre. Keep your
UNRULY hair lying flat. Always use
lie, r% Morollne Hair Tonic. Large
H AIK bottle 25c. Sold everywhere.
City on Seven Hills
Newton, Mass., is a city built on
seven hills, as was ancient Rome.
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Wltk s Rsdlcisa ths* sill Prsvs Itssll
If you suffer from rheumatic pain
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Caution: Use only as directed. First
bottle purchase price refunded by
druggist if not satisfied. Get C-2223,
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i P. O. Boa 30, Cranford, New Jersey |
Get Your War Bonds ★
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SHAVE w^SHELBYt
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any time of day!
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■ 04i'final
— Midrtv? —