COMMERCIAL VALUE OF THE OIL IN HEVEA SEEDS. 1/3 



the decorticated seeds, the residual cake could be utilised as a 

 feeding material, as is shown by the above comparison between 

 the calculated composition of such a cake and the compositions 

 of such commercial feeding cakes. 



These figures show that a cake prepared from Para rubber 

 seed meal would compare favourably with other cakes as a 

 cattle food, and that it contains a particularly low proportion of 

 indigestible matter (fibre). 



Specimens of both the seeds and oil have been submitted to 

 leading brokers. They report that the oil could probably be 

 used as a substitute for linseed oil, and would be worth at 

 present about 20 per ton, but that oil merchants would not 

 take it up unless they first had an opportunity of testing it in 

 bulk. The brokers consider that it would be more profitable to 

 ship the seeds themselves to this country, as is done in the case 

 of most other oil seeds. They value the decorticated seeds at 10 

 to ,12 per ton, and add that they would be prepared to take 

 two or three tons at the lower price in order to introduce them 

 into the market. 



The Para rubber seed meal was not commercially valued, 

 since in its present condition it could not be utilised in any way. 

 Para rubber seed " cake " of the composition already given should 

 be almost as valuable as linseed cake, which at present sells at 

 from ,5. 155. to 6. 155. per ton. 



As a final result, this investigation leads to the conclusion 

 that the seed of the Para rubber tree is a valuable economic 

 product, and likely to become one of considerable commercial 

 importance. The oil could probably be employed for the 

 purposes to which linseed oil is applied, whilst the residual cake 

 would be of value as a cattle food. The oil should be expressed 

 from the kernels before these have been ground, and for this 

 reason the seeds should, if possible, be decorticated and the 

 kernels exported unground. 



Para rubber seed oil possesses properties very similar to those 

 of linseed oil, and should therefore be suitable for the preparation 

 of paints and oil varnishes, and for the manufacture of rubber 

 substitutes, linoleum, and water-proofing materials. 



It could probably also be used like linseed oil for the manu- 

 facture of soft soap, but its colour would preclude its employment 

 for the preparation of hard soaps except in cases where there is 



