131 



e. Smoking. 



Para rubber gathered in the wilds of Brazil brings 

 higher prices on the market than plantation rubber, that 

 is, having regard to the proportion of pure water-proof 

 rubber. That the quality is better, may result from several 

 causes. The trees in the forests of Brazil are older; 

 the manner of tapping is different, and there exists quite 

 a series of other differences. One of these, which can 

 be avoided, without any great difficulty is the manner 

 of preparation. 



In the forests the latex is coagulated by smoking 

 over a fire. In the Botanic Gardens at Singapore. I saw 

 some experiments made by Mr. RIDLEY, who imitated 

 the smoking process in a very simple way. In order to 

 obtain the smoke, a small furnace is used entirely open 

 at the top. A stick on which the latex is smoked, hangs 

 with one end in a loop and the other part rests on a 

 horizontal beam. Firstly, the stick is gently warmed 

 above the fire, and care is taken that it is not caught 

 by the flame; a slinging movement is given to the stick 

 and it is always turned a little so that the stick is well 

 warmed. Then taking it off the fire, a little latex is 

 is poured over it. A pan is placed beneath so that none 

 of the latex is wasted. The end of the stick having been 

 well covered with latex, it is held in the smoke and 

 turned gently round until coagulation is effected. Then 

 more latex is poured on and the smoking process repeated. 



There is a little difficulty in starting the operation 

 the wood must not be too smooth and the latex must 

 be rubbed on it. Once, however, the first layer has been 

 obtained, the rest is easy. In this way a ball of hard, 



