95 



RUBBER PREPARATION. 



Demonstration of Experimental Vulcanizino Plant, etc. 



A VISIT was paid on the 26th April to the experimental paper- 

 making factory and visitors were shown the plant employed 

 for the complete manufacture of paper from vai*ious raw products 

 and the methods of manufacture were explained briefly. The fibre- 

 making machinery for the manufacture of clean fibre from sisal, 

 agave, etc., which is housed in the same building was also inspected. 

 A complete unit of plant on a commercial scale for the extraction of 

 oil from oil seeds of all kind, including copra and Para rubber seed, 

 which is also erected in the same building, was shown and explained. 



Visitoi'S then inspected the experimental retort and condenser 

 for the distillation of crude acetic or pyroligneous acid from various 

 local woods, including rubber wood, which was being distilled at the 

 time. 



Subsequently a detailed inspection of the experimental vulca- 

 nizing machinery and apparatus employed for the testing of 

 vulcanized rubber was made. A demonstration of the methods 

 employed was given, including the mixing, calendering and vulca- 

 nizing of the rubber and the subsequent testing of the vulcanized 

 product. Messrs. B. J. Eaton (Agricultural Chemist) and F. W. P. 

 Day (Assistant Agricultural Chemist) explained the processes to 

 visitors and the former gave a brief account of the nature of the 

 variability of plantation Para rubber and showed numerous 

 specimens of the raw rubber, which behaved differently during 

 vulcanization owing to the method of preparation. Numerous 

 questions were asked by members of the audience and replied to. 

 A very keen interest was taken in the demonstration, the plant and 

 methods of testing being quite new to many visitors who had not 

 visited the experimental vulcanizing factory before and had not seen 

 a rubber vulcanizing factory. 



Finally visitors were shown the chemical laboratory and took a 

 keen interest in the chemical apparatus and methods employed for 

 the chemical examination of rubber, soils, oils, and other agricultunil 

 products. 



