RUBBER PLANTING 175 



and storing rooms must be carefully guarded from 

 excessive light. According to Fetch, the assertion that 

 tackiness can also be caused by the action of bacteria 

 has not been conclusively proved. It is quite possible 

 however that tackiness exists in different forms, and may 

 be due to different causes. The use of too strong acid 

 in coagulation may lead to tackiness, and it is generally 

 believed that the condition arises more readily if the 

 acid employed in coagulation is not thoroughly washed 

 out of the rubber. Heat has also been mentioned as a 

 cause, although the softening due to a high temperature 

 is usually temporary, and passes off when the rubber is 

 cooled. The fact is that the conditions which lead to 

 tackiness are by no means fully understood, and further 

 study is desirable. 



