BY J. H. MAIDEN. 431 



Following are some remarks on Xanthorrhoea resins by the 

 expert appointed to report on such substances at the Colonial and 

 Indian Exhibition (Reports, p. 286). Coming from such a source 

 they carry weight, and are an encouragement to endeavour to 

 properly place grass-tree " gum " on the market. The complaint 

 as to the unequal quality of the commercial article should be taken 

 to heart by those concerned. 



" One may regard the resinous element of the Xanthorrhoea 

 gums as the constituent more immediately to be utilised indus- 

 trially, as one would suppose the European markets to be open to 

 receive a very large amount of this material, if sold in such a form 

 that the average consumer could see it readily. The crude gum 

 does not look very attractive to the purchaser in the European 

 market, as it contains a large — and what is worse, a very variable — 

 percentage of matter insoluble in alcohol ; and its purchase would 

 involve an assay of each consignment, together with the attendant 

 inconveniences, and the possibility of misunderstanding. Apart 

 from this, it must be remembered that manufacturers — especially 

 small manufacturers — have a rooted, and not altogether unreason- 

 able, objection to use a variable article, as it disturbs the routine 

 of their operations. All these considerations — to say nothing of 

 the saving of freight — point strongly to the desirability of roughly 

 purifying the resin before sending it to Europe. A sufficient 

 purification is a very simple matter, and could be well carried out 

 on the spot where the material is found, thus saving expense in 

 land as well as ocean transit. It would suffice to soften the crude 

 gum by heat, and to squeeze the softened resin through cloth or 

 through a fine iron wire netting, such as is used for straining gutta- 

 percha. The heat of boiling water is sufficient for the purpose. 

 The separated resin could well be put on the market as an approxi- 

 mately constant article — varying mainly as regards colour — and 

 one which numberless small producers could use in their trades. 

 The water in which the crude gum is boiled dissolves out more or 

 less colouring matter, and also astringent or tanning substances,* 



* These products are only present in insignificant quantities, and utterly 

 unworthy of commercial notice. — J. H. M. 

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