34 



small sample of Castilloa rubber from a tree lour years old which is 

 dealt with in Part 1 of this report, is considerably greater than has 

 been hitherto recorded for Castilloa rubber obtained from trees of the 

 same age growing in other countries. Thus Weber in some experiments 

 conducted at Las Cascadas on the Isthmus of Columbia found that the 

 rubber obtained from the trees of Castilloa elastica 4 and 5 years old 

 contained 26*47 and 18T8 per cent of resin respectively, which is about 

 half the amount found in the present case. The much higher per- 

 centages of resin found in the specimens from Trinidad may possibly 

 be due to differences of climate, soil, &c. The different methods of 

 preparation followed in the three cases has not influenced the compo- 

 sition of the rubber to any appreciable extent, the only striking 

 difference being that No. 4. which was prepared by creaming, contained 

 very little foreign matter and ash as compared with the other two 

 specimens. 



The two samples of Castilloa rubber, Nos. '•» and 12, which were 

 obtained from trees 12 years old and upwards, were of much better 

 quality than the preceding, though the amount of resin present. 13*8 

 and 8*3 per cent., is still higher than is usually found in the best 

 qualities of this variety of rubber. Specimen No. 12 is the best of 

 the series both as regards chemical composition and physical characters. 



Both specimens of Funtumia rubber. Nos. 2 and 5, are presumed 

 to have been obtained from Funtumia elastica though this is only stated 

 definitely of No. 5. The samples were derived from trees of the same 

 age. viz : 4| years, the only difference being in the method of coagu- 

 lation employed ; in chemical composition they were very similar. 

 The rubber was rather soft but was of very fair quality, the amount of 

 resin present in the dry material being I l"2and lO'O per cent, respectively. 

 Both samples were very wet when received and No. 5, which had been 

 prepared by heating, contained a considerable quantity of uncoagulated 

 latex This defect could, however, be easily remedied in which ease 

 the market value of the rubber would probably be increased. 



It appears from these experiments that the trees of Funtumia 

 elastica under cultivation in Trinidad will yield a marketable rubber 

 at the age of 4^ years, whereas the product obtained from Castilloa 

 elastica trees of the same age would possess little commercial value. 



COMMERCIAL VALUATION. 



Samples of the four rubbers suitable lor commercial valuation, viz : 

 the two Funtumia rubbers. Nos. 2 and 5, and the two Castilloa rubbers. 

 Nos. '.• and 12, were submitted to brokers who were informed of tin- 

 results which had been obtained by chemical examination. The brokers 

 report that at the present time the "rubbers would have the following 

 values in the London market : — 



No. 2 Funtumia ... ... ... .. 2/6 per pound. 



No. 5 „ ... ... ... ... 2/2 



No. 9 Castilloa ... ... .. ... 2/4 



No. 12 „ ... ... ... ... 2/9 



They observe that there has recently been a considerable scarcity 

 of medium qualities of rubber in the London market and that con- 

 signments of similar quality to these samples would command a ready 

 sale at tlie present time. 



