Rubber

Rubber seed was originated from Brazil and it was brought to the Krew Garden of London
during the year of 1876.1 During this time commercial of potential rubber was largely ignored
by Malayan Planters who were enamoured with coffee. H.N Ridley, who arrived as Directors
of the Singapore Botanic Garden in 1888 convinced that there was a bright future for rubber
as a plantation crop. One of the earliest person who planted rubber tree is Tan Chay Yan, In
1896 Ridley received a request for seedling from Malacca resident, Tan Chay Yan who
planted 40 acres of Ficus Elestica or indian rubber tree on his plantation2. The first rubber
tree in Singapore was planted in the final two years of the 19th century. Hundreds of hectares
were put under cultivation, stretching right across the northern part of Singapore. The new car
invention by Ford makes the rubber price increasing3 and The pace of plantations soon
quickened, stimulated by the invention of the pneumatic tyre.

1
James C.Jackson, Planters and Speculators Chinese and European Agricultural Enterprise in Malaya 1786-
1921, Kuala Lumpur: University of Malaya Press, 1968, pg.212
2
Ibid pg.218
3
Sheela Abraham, Sejarah Perkembangan Negara, Fajar Bakti Sdn.Bhd, Kuala Lumpur, 1994, pg.56