97 
noticed that the material in this jar no. 3, in part sinks, namely 
the fibrous bagasse, and in part floats, the rubber, or rather the 
chief portion of it and cork bagasse. It is thus that in the skim- 
ming tank the major portion of the ground shrub is separated 
from the rubber, which floats and is accompanied by flakes of cork 
(cork bagasse). This is shown in jar no. 4, while the fibrous 
bagasse, which sinks because of being water logged, is shown 
in jar no. 5. e fibrous bagasse is then discharged, the float- 
ing material (rubber and cork bagasse) is boiled for one hour 
and then allowed to remain one or two days in a settling tank. 
The material which remains floating is then placed in a compres- 
sor with water and subjected to a pressure of 250 pounds, with 
the result that the cork bagasse is water logged. The result of 
this cane is the practically complete separation of the rubber 
from bagasse. is rubber is shown in jar no. 7, while the cork 
bagasse ae accompanied it is shown in jar no. 8. The practi- 
cally clean rubber, illustrated in jar no. 7, is then further pe 
by being passed through a beater-washer. This is merely an 
iron tank, with an undershot paddle-wheel with a great many 
blades. he wheel is rotated rapidly, thus causing the circula- 
tion of the whole mass an Yy agitation, the separation of the 
rubber and bagasse, which still remains associated with it. The 
now entirely clean rubber is finally run through a pair of finely 
corrugated steel rollers, which sheets it. In this condition it is 
ready for the market and is shipped in 200-pound sacks. The 
rubber in condition ready for ee is illustrated in jar no. 9. 
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIMENS.* 
I. Guayule plants (‘‘shrub’’) as they come in from the field. 
2. Ground quiet throug L two nat iat 
¢ dea ht 
3. After p 
4. Skimming tank surface: rubber and floating beeee ae flakes). 
a Sinking bagasse from 
o. 4 after one hour boiling and one to two days in settling tank to prepare 
ve compressor 
7. Rubber aici after forty minutes in compressor under 250 
8. Water logged “floating bagasse” of no. 4, after forty minutes in compressor 
9. No. 7 after beater-washer and sheeted ready for the market. 
RANCIS E, Lioyp. 
os 
ALABAMA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE. 
* Specimens on exhibition in case 20 of the Economic Museum. 
