276 RUBBER 



thin creped or crisped strips, which are dried without smoke 

 in large well- ventilated rooms. It is Amber in colour and is 

 called Crepe Rubber. 



Ceylon also has large plantations, and the method of prepar- 

 ing the rubber is practically the same as in Malaya, though in 

 both countries improvements in the methods of cultivation 

 and manufacture are constantly being made. 



SOURCES or SUPPLY. Though the bulk of our supplies comes 

 from Malaya and Ceylon, rubber is also exported to us from 

 British India, the Gold Coast, Nigeria, and British Borneo, 

 besides small quantities from other British countries. 1 



Doubtless in the future its cultivation will be greatly 

 extended in other parts of the empire, especially in British 

 Guiana, 2 where both climate and soil are almost exactly 

 similar to the climate and soil of the Brazilian forests. 



Uses of Rubber. It seems almost impossible to produce 

 too much rubber, considering the great variety of uses to which 

 it can be put. It is required for the great rubber tyres for 

 motors of all kinds, and for the smaller tyres of other vehicles ; 

 even perambulators nowadays have rubber tyres. Rubber- 

 soled shoes of various kinds use up large quantities. It is 

 used in electrical, and scientific, and medical, and surgical 

 apparatus. In electrical appliances it is especially valuable, 

 as it is a non-conductor of electricity. In the future it is 

 most probable its use will be greatly extended ; floors will 

 be covered with it, and footpaths paved with it. 



Rubber Tree Oil. In addition to rubber produced from the 

 juice of the tree, Oil produced from its seeds is a valuable 

 product. It can be used in many cases instead of linseed 

 oil. 



Three seeds are contained in each pod, and in the Brazilian 

 forests these are greedily devoured by all the animals who 

 can secure them. On the plantations, as a result of numerous 



1 And we still import a good deal from Brazil. 



2 * The balata collecting industry ... is the third most important industry 

 of British Guiana.' 



