126 



At the time of my visit to the plantations, the coa- 

 gulation trough was divided up by strong partitions, each 

 section being filled with latex. It was intended to make 

 an improvement in the system by replacing the fixed 

 partitions by movable ones, so that they could first fill 

 the pan, then sprinkle the latex with acetic acid, and 

 then divide the mixture by means of the partitions in 

 this way, effecting with certainty a thorough admixture 

 of latex and acid and obtaining thereby a completely 

 homogeneous product (see figure 39). 



\ 



FIGURE 39. 

 Pan for coagulation. 



Coagulation jinn with loose pariiiiniis 

 Cock 



The latex is left for a few hours ; during which perfect 

 coagulation is effected. The block of freshly coagulated 

 latex is then loosened from the edo-es of the trouo-h but 



r> o 



still remains floating in the liquor. A frame is laid 

 on it which keeps the white mass under water. The 

 water is changed as often as possible. 



On another estate, I saw coagulation taking place in pots. 



In this case a cup full of 8 % solution of acetic acid 

 was added to 25 gallons of latex ; the cup would contain 

 about half a pint which is the equivalent of i part of 



