122 RUBBER AND 



industry, since the kernels contain about 40 per cent, 

 of an oil which is similar to linseed oil, and has been 

 favourably reported upon by chemists at home. The 

 suggestion to lease out the right of collecting the seeds 

 does not appear a very happy one, owing to the 

 opportunities for thefts of rubber which such an arrange- 

 ment would afford. But at times of abundance the 

 collection could be readily carried out on the estate by 

 children too small to take part in the tapping and other 

 regular work. 



Hevea seeds weigh about 7 Ib. per thousand, and 

 the cost of collection last year was given by the 

 Superintendent of the Peradeniya Experiment Station 

 as under half a cent a pound. As the kernels represent 

 approximately half the weight of the seeds, a ton of 

 kernels will not cost more than Rs. 22.50 to collect 

 under these circumstances. To this must be added the 

 cost of decorticating the seeds, and for this purpose 

 machines are under trial, with which it is hoped to per- 

 form the operation at a comparatively small expense. 

 It is possible that the development of this subsidiary 

 industry will form an appreciable addition to the value 

 of rubber estates in the future. 



Labour. 



In densely inhabited countries like Java and South 

 India, where the native population is obliged to work 

 hard in order to obtain a meagre living, efficient labourers 



