CHAPTER XXVII 



PACKING AND PACKING-CASES 



ON several estates the wooden cases for packing the rubber 

 are made from their own timber and by their own native 

 carpenters. The cases are, in such instances, usually turned 

 out a good deal under the cost at which they could be purchased 

 from local agencies. There are, however, not so very many 

 estates doing this as formerly. Timber is not so plentiful as it 

 was at one time, and the demand is for a better-finished case 

 than planters at one time were contented with. 



Venesta, Acme, Cochin and Momi cases are in general use 

 and are supplied at reasonable prices. It is important that 

 cases, besides being as light as possible, consistent with suffi- 

 cient strength to stand rough usage during transport, should be 

 smooth inside, free from all small splinters of wood and from 

 dust, and of regular weight. It is an important thing that 

 where freights and port dues are high the lightest case con- 

 sistent with strength should always receive the preference. 

 If one figures out these costs and weighs one case against 

 another it will frequently, if not generally, be found that the 

 rough, cheap, heavier case is much the dearer in the end and 

 gives less satisfaction. 



Mr J. Ryan, who is well known outside Ceylon, where he 

 has long resided, in a letter to the Times of Ceylon, points out 

 that the cheapest case is not necessarily the best to purchase. 

 He says: " Where, as in an account sale before me as I write, 

 freight from Port Swettenham amounts to 755. per ton and the 

 port rates to 375. 6d., a saving of 10 per cent, on H2s. 6d. per 

 shipping ton is a factor not to be neglected." 



Sheets or other forms of rubber should never be packed in 

 cases till these have been first well dusted out. Three bands of 

 hoop-iron round a case are not too many to bind it together 

 after it has been filled with rubber. When only two are used 



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