Early in a plantation’s life cycle, death and disease were widespread among workers and managers; planters often viewed labor as expendable and saw little reason to invest in their physical well-being. But as the trees came to maturity, more highly skilled workers became a priority, and the yearly production of rubber depended on a content, trained workforce that could consistently tap latex without destroying trees. Companies gradually sought ways to retain workers, and the reproduction of the workforce became a bigger concern.
