156 RUBBER AND 



require to be specially well screened from light, either 

 by curtains or by painting the glass of the windows. 

 It is usual to begin with a factory of moderate size, 

 which is capable of expansion as the crops of rubber 

 increase ; and it should be borne in mind when drawing 

 up the original plans, that provision may ultimately have 

 to be made for dealing with a crop of more than two 

 pounds of rubber daily from every acre of the planted 

 area. Another essential point is the necessity for the 

 utmost cleanliness at every stage of manufacture. Any 

 carelessness in this respect is liable to lead to the pro- 

 duction of discoloured or even tacky rubber, with a 

 corresponding diminution in the value of the product. 

 It is worth while to copy from modern hospital buildings 

 the method of rounding off all corners where walls and 

 floors meet. Internal surfaces, wherever possible, should 

 be of smooth cement. Floors should be sloped so 

 as to drain into cemented channels for greater ease in 

 washing. A plentiful supply of clean water is essential. 



Transport of Latex. 



The latex is generally brought in from the field by 

 coolies in enamelled iron buckets. On very large 

 estates wheeled tanks are sometimes employed, and in 

 some cases a system of small tram lines or monorails 

 has been resorted to. Where the bulk of latex to 

 be dealt with is very great, coagulation is often carried 

 out in sheds in the rubber fields, and the wet rubber 



