146 
As it was the desire of the Government of Lagos to obtain an 
es 7 
Mr. Millson, the good offices Sd ought of Mr. S. W. Silver, 
F.L.S., who already has most obliginaly assisted -— establishment 
in the investigation of specimens of rubbers obtained from various 
sources. Mr. Silver was kind oa to fo AU the samples of 
* Abba " rubber to the wy o aA Gnd percha, and Telegraph 
Works Company, Limited, at Silvert 
The report received on the isst is as follows :— 
REPORT on FIVE SAMPLES of INDIA-RUBBER received from 
S. W. SILVER, Esq., 6th July, 1888. 
The samples are numbered in accordance with the report of 
Mr. Alvan Millso 
No. 1 in pe was dark in colour, almost black, with a bluish 
fringe, tint gradually vanishing towards centre, which is nearly 
white. It was strongly alkaline in Lucie evidently due to a 
little. original moisture, other portions neutral. 
No. 2, light (white) colour in vemm shania cl about i inch in 
depth, reddish fringe, very faintly ac 
No. 3, pink colour, blackened oim 4 inch in depth, contains 
much wood ; slightly acid, especially in neighbourhood of woody 
particles. 
Nos. 4 and 5. No. 5 is softer than No. 4, and lighter in colour ; 
both samples have a pink tint and are distinctly a alkaline. 
Samples marked No. 1, No. 3, No. 4 were treated in detail; the 
yaio of the others be eing too small. Washing and drying, 
No.11 E x pn cent. moisture, No. 3 lost 5 per eei. and No, 
lost 7 por e 
The Pc of the drying room was that used for the usual 
etum s rubber. If the samples had been hung u = 
adop 
usually ted, ie want of strength and become would ha 
caused iré PUN ther means of drying would have to HS 
devised. en dry, No. 1 was very clammy, No. 3 was firmer 
than No. 1, but sin pira 80 good as No. 4. No. 4 might be more 
easily handled in dryi 
They were all very short, with very little elasticity ; “ees might 
have been expected from appearance of the original samples. 
They were kept in the drying room no longer than weak be 
required if working on a practical scale. 
Mixed with a suitable proportion of sulphur and vulcanised, 
they cured soft and short, but were not blistered. With pigments 
it may be made firmer and slightly tougher. It can evidently not 
be used by itself in any form. All the samples were troublesome 
to work in the mixing machines. It would not be right to assume 
that this behaviour is in ens ay a a barrier to its usefulness. 
been introduced in DRM cd certain African and Asiatic varieties 
of rubber, manufacturers must feel She the praiseworthy efforts 
of Mr. sein Seine to mca sources of supply are in the 
h 
