156 



THE CEARA RUBBER TREE 



Composition of Ceara Rubber. — As a general rule the 

 latex of the Ceara tree contains considerable quantities 

 of resin, protein, and mineral matter, and in consequence 

 the rubber obtained by the coagulation of the latex on 

 the stem, and collected in the form of scrap or balls, is 

 usually characterised by the presence of large percentages 

 of these constituents. Even if the rubber is carefully 

 prepared in biscuits, sheet, or crepe it generally contains 

 much larger amounts of resin, protein, and ash than 

 plantation Para. The rubber, however, possesses ex- 

 cellent physical properties, and the best qualities realise 

 prices equal to those of fine plantation Para. 



The following analyses made at the Imperial Institute 

 show the composition of a number of samples of Ceara 

 rubber from different countries : 



For comparison with these figures the analyses made 

 by Bamber of the prize specimens of Ceara rubber at 

 the Ceylon Rubber Exhibition in 1906 may be 

 quoted : 



