646 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



(September 1, 1914. 



acetone, gave a small quantity of black, soft rubber, destitute 

 of strength. The cheese was composed of : 



Water 33.06 per cent. 



Rr.bher 3.99 per cent. 



Resin 62.95 per cent. 



Working up this cheese of the plant in the usual manner with 

 solvents, straining through gauze to remove dirt, evaporating, 

 with low heat, the excess of solvent, adding an excess of precipi- 

 tant, washing the precipitant and dissipating the precipitating 

 agent, gave a good grade rubber. 



The rubber obtained in this manner is black, firm, not tacky, 

 odorless and strong. In quality it is much better than the prod- 

 uct obtained from its neighbor, milkweed. The qualities of this 

 rubber conlirm the old adage that "blood is thicker than water, 

 and prove a more apt one, that "Apocynaceous rubbers arc- 

 good rubbers." 



Milkweed latex, however, is richer in rubber than that of In- 

 dian Hemp, but in both cases is entirely too small to be profit- 

 able. Of the total rubber present in the latex, 96 per cent, of it is 

 won in the cheese formed by the natural coagulation of the latex 

 Ninety-six per cent, of the total rubber found ranks as Grade .'\, 

 and four per cent, grades as C. 



The resin is mahogany red, transparent, medium hard, witli 

 slight characteristic odor and tasteless. 



Two Specimens of Indi.an Hemp {Af'ocynuin cannabiu)n) — A 

 ■ Very Co.mmon Weed. 



During this investigation we have found that the soil condi- 

 tions under which the plant was grown exert an influence upon 

 the amount of rubber in the latex. Plants grown upon dry, 

 sandy soil of West Akron gave a latex containing 2.27 per cent. 

 rubber and 20.69 per cent, resin. The latex of plants grown 

 upon the wet swamps of South Akron contained 1.12 per cent. 

 rubber and 15.04 per cent, resin. Rubber from dry grown plants 

 is of better quality than that of wet grown plants. 



Natural latex from dry Apocynum contains : 



Water . . . . .v 72.20 per cent. 



Solids ...... .'. ; . . .' 26.21 per cent. 



Ash 1.59 per cent. 



Fruit of the Os-i^ge Orange. Does Not Cont.mn Rubber, but 

 Juice Is Extremely Sticky. 



This rubber content in fresh latex is 2.36 per cent. 



The above figures refer to late.x taken from plants near the 

 end of the growing season. 



Apocynum also gives apocynine, a drug having a similar action 

 to digitalis and, according to Biddle, being an efficacious remedy 

 in dropsy. The bark of this plant gives a strong, tough fibre, 

 at one time much esteemed by the American Indians for bow- 

 strings and fishing nets. 



trade opportunities from consular reports. 



.•\ European firm is in the market for gutta percha rosin, 

 used in the manufacture of sealing wax. A special quality only 

 will be considered, in quantities up to 1,500 tons per annum, and 

 quotations should be c.i.f. Danzig, Germany. Report No. 13,482. 



An American consul reports that the largest firm of auto- 

 mobile dealers in his district desires catalogs and prices — in 

 Spanish or French — from makers of automobile tires, cushions, 

 curtains and accessories. Report No. 13.487. 



.•\n European firm enjoying a good reputation desires to rep- 

 resent an American manufacturer of India rubber hose for wa- 

 ter, gas and other purposes, also other kinds of rubber goods. 

 Report No. 13.548. 



A European business firm has requested the assistance of an 

 .\merican consulate in securing connections with first-class Am- 

 erican concerns, to handle rubber goods, etc. The firm has re- 

 cently determined to devote particular attention to American 

 goods. Report Xo. 13.562. 



.■\n English manufacturer of dry battery ignition coils, etc., for 

 motor cars, motor boats and motorcycles, desires to communicate 

 with American manufacturers of rubber impregnated insulation 

 tape for electrical purposes. He is ready to place a large con- 

 tract and states that the matter is urgent and that he would 

 like as quick a response as possible. He also states that he is in 

 a position to supply first-class references. Report No. 13.568. 



BOLIVIA ANl) COSTA RICA SEEKING A MARKET FOR BALATA AND 

 RUBBER. 



Telegrams have been received by the Bureau of Foreign and 

 Domestic Commerce, Washington, from .American consuls at 

 Panama. San Jose (Costa Rica) and La Paz (Bolivia), with 

 information regarding, respectively, balata and rubber for which 

 a market is desired. 



AUSTRALIAN RUBBER COMPANY RESUMES ORIGINAL NAME. 



The company originally known as The Colonial Rubber Co., 

 Ltd.. rubber manufacturers and merchants, of Sydney, New 

 South Wales, and which later changed its name to The John- 

 ston Tyre & Colonial Rubber Co., Ltd., announces that it has 

 resumed its former title. 



