36 



Then, again, tapping coolies are sometimes regarded 

 as being very skilful, and, therefore, deserving of a higher 

 rate of pay than the average coolie on the estate. A case 

 in point was where tapping coolies were paid at the rate 

 of 45 cents, though the coolie average over the property 

 was only 35 cents. On another property, where the 

 average rate of coolie pay was the same, the cost per 

 day for tapping coolies was below the average, viz., 30 

 cents, on account of boys and women only being em- 

 ployed for such work. 



It is absolutely impossible to compare the items of 

 expenditure on different estates owing to the absence of 

 agreement on any one system. The standardization of 

 monthly accounts would be a boon; it is to be hoped that 

 the suggestions recently made in London will be adopted 

 as largely as possible. It would be to the advantage of 

 the planting community and would certainly greatly assist 

 directors and secretaries of companies in Europe. 



Drying with and without Vacuum Driers. 



While in Ceylon several instances were noted where 

 planters, with very few appliances, were able to effect 

 very rapid drying of the rubber and conversion of the 

 same into crfipe without the use of any vacuum driers. 



At one factory (Gikiyanakande) the freshly coagulated 

 rubber was cut into worms, dried on trays in a small 

 chamber well supplied with fresh air and maintained at 

 a temperature of about 85 degs. F. In less than twelve 

 hours the finely-cut, small pieces of worm rubber were 

 dry. They were then passed through ordinary horizon- 

 tally-fluted iron rollers, which were perfectly dry. The 

 worms were by this means united to form one continuous, 

 fine, even sheet of hot, dry crepe. 



A somewhat similar result has, I believe, been obtained 

 in the Matale district by rapidly drying thin lace rubber 

 and subsequently passing the material through rollers, to 

 bind the rubber together. 



On other estates the sheets of rubber are dried 

 without any heating apparatus in ordinary rooms, but 

 such a method involves a waiting' period of weeks or 

 months. On tea-cum-rubber plantations the sheets are 

 placed in the withering sheds, maintained at 90 degs. F. ; 



