Rubber

The book surveys the natural history and industrial production of rubber, tracing its discovery and historical uses, methods of collecting wild latex in forest regions, and regional varieties such as gutta-percha and balata. It explains tapping and coagulation techniques, contrasts wild rubber with plantation cultivation, describes establishment and daily life on plantations, and outlines processing at raw-rubber factories and the manufacture of finished goods. Photographic illustrations and practical observations accompany discussions of market developments and the economic boom that transformed supply and cultivation practices.