354 THE BOOK OF USEFUL PLANTS 



was converted into rubber, in the districts now 

 forming the countries of Brazil and Guiana. 



What real good is there in a substance that can 

 be pressed out of shape, but returns when pressure 

 is removed? That is capable of being stretched 

 and of flying back to its original length ? At first 

 the new product seemed more interesting than 

 useful. The growing European demand for the 

 rubber stimulated the Indians to go on gathering 

 "wild rubber." 



The vast number of uses to which rubber is put 

 to-day make it seem a necessity of life. We smile 

 at the grave scientist of the eighteenth century 

 who gave out as his judgment that the new sub- 

 stance would attain some popularity as an eraser 

 of pencil marks, but, as for him, bread crumbs 

 were very satisfactory for that purpose. Not 

 long afterward, Samuel Piat discovered a process 

 of waterproofing cloth by treating it with India 

 rubber dissolved in turpentine. Our raincoats 

 take their names from a Mr. Macintosh who im- 

 proved upon the original patent. Then came the 

 invention of Goodyear, who, by the addition of 

 sulphur, hardened rubber, and adapted it to 

 many uses. 



In one form and another, we can count a dozen 

 rubber articles in daily use by us, and not one 



