28o 



and hardened as at present. The idea is that this masticating 

 while soft dispels the albumen and restores the elasticity or nerve." 



" Secondly, that vacuum driers should be used, as it would greatly 

 reduce the space required for drying the rubber, also time required 

 for drying the rubber. A vacuum drier is supposed to dry the rub- 

 ber thoroughly in three hours — after it has passed through the 

 masticating and rolling machines. I believe that machines are 

 now being made in Germany for masticating, and drying the rubber, 

 and that the combined cost of both machines would be about £So 

 only, to those estates already having steam power." 



In his several interviews with the editor of the India Rubber 

 World, Mr. HOLLOWAY saw samples of rubber from all parts of the 

 world in every shape and form, rubber from the Straits being 

 nearest in shape, colour, and tenacity to our Ceylon rubber. 



"Ceylon men will have to look smart, as the Straits men arc 

 very keen indeed in rubber, and are also evincing the keenest in- 

 terest. 1 met two of them mvself in London, who were home for a 

 holiday," 



Para Oil. — Another subject, which, said Mr. HOLLOWAY, seems 

 to interest those concerned in rubber growing, is to utilize the Para 

 seed for oil, &c. This being quite a new idea, he had not made any 

 experiment, but would do so with some of this years' crop. 



f ' A query put by the editor, India Rubber World was : What 

 was the amount of seed produced by a single tree? 1 he figures 

 given by Mr. RUTHERFORD were, I believe, 400 seeds, but I would 

 give 2,500 as nearer the mark, judging by the seed sold and put in 

 nurseries, last year, off Kepitigalla estate." 



THE FUTURE OF RUBBER. 



SIR, — Surely a careful reading of the extract you give from the 

 India Rubber Journal will show what incorrect deductions you 

 have drawn from it in your leading article headed " Rubber may 

 fall to 2S.f6d. a pound " in yesterday's issue. 



It seems to me abundantly clear "that the intention of the writer 

 was to show that supply and demand are so very close" that the 

 factor of stock may be entirely eliminated from any consideration 

 of prospects and prices, and that the sole cause of the fluctuations 

 to which you drew attention may be found in the immediate de- 

 mand of the manufacturers who can pay the prices asked. In 

 other words the present price of rubber is an artificial one for the 

 reason that there is not enough of it excepting for special purposes 

 which are able to bear the burden of the high rates. Under such 

 conditions is it any wonder that prices fluctuate to the extent 

 they do ? 



What is of interest is to learn that the average price per year 

 has, as a rule, shown an upward tendency — here we have proof of 



