Welcome to another bonus episode of Calm History, an extra treat for my Soak Plus members.

If you liked my episode about the history of Rubber and Charles Goodyear in Archive

episode number one, then I'm confident you're going to love this episode also.

Today, I'll take you on an immersive journey on how the sap of a rubber tree in 1910 was collected,

cured, shipped, and converted to consumer goods by factories throughout the world.

We'll begin by visiting a rubber plantation deep in the jungles of Brazil.

You'll meet the local workers and learn how they are hired, how they harvest the rubber

trees, how they dress, where they live, what they eat, how they get paid, and even

what they do in the off-season.

I will also be posting some real photos on the Silk Plus message board that were taken

around 1910 of some rubber plantations, some rubber trees, and some workers as they harvested and cured the rubber sap.

All right, let's climb inside my time machine of tranquility

to learn all about the journey of rubber from tree to consumer.

I hope this episode distracts and relaxes your overactive brain squirrels.

A Visit to a Rubber Plantation.

The year is 1910, and you've joined me on a trip into the Brazilian forests.

We're walking along a small path, carefully etched into the floor of a dense jungle.

Look, I say, this is a rubber yielding tree.

I place my hand on a large tree on the edge of our path.

I can tell by your face that you are doubtful because this tree looks like most any other tree that you'd see in a jungle.

I take out a small pocket knife and I make a small cut through the bark of the tree.

I encourage you to touch the thick white substance that oozes from the tree.

...