4i6 



quantity, some doubts have been cast upon its quality, it appears 

 to differ essentially from the best Para rubber, but whether this is 

 an inherent peculiarity due to the soil or climate, or age of the 

 trees, or merely to the treatment it receives in preparing it for 

 the market, has yet to be determined." As a matter of fact, 'Para' 

 rubber from the Malay Peninsula fetches prices equal to the best 

 Ceylon, and about 10 per cent, over '-Para' rubber from the Ama- 

 zon. Last month cultivated rubber from the Bukit Rajah Rubber 

 Company's estate in the Malay Peninsula fetched the wonderful 

 price of $\j\d. per lb., a price which it is believed has never been 

 reached by rubber from uncultivated trees from any country in the 

 world. If any doubts have been cast upon the quality of rubber 

 from the Straits, as the " Field " correspondent indicates they 

 should be set at rest by the opinion of Dr. WEBER, the greatest 

 living authority on rubber. The following is his analysis and 

 opinion of this rubber, which sold for ^\y\d. per lb., and \ may 

 here say that in my opinion all the plantations of cultivated rubber 

 in the Malay Peninsula are likely to give equally good results : — 



This rubber was prepared from 6^-year old Hevea trees on the 



Sungei Bengai division of the Bukit Rajah Company's estates. 

 The sample contains : — 



India Rubber ... ... 95*37 per cent. 



Resinous extracts ... ... 3*02 



Albuminous matter ... ... 1*24 ,, 



Mineral matter ... ... 0*37 „ 



100.00 



The sample was free from moisture. The rubber is extremely 

 strong, and its vulcanising properties are fully equal to those of 

 pure 'Para', indeed the vulcanised product is nearly 10 per cent, 

 higher in tensile strength than a sample of commercial line Para 

 cured side by side with it. 



I have, etc., 



H. K. RUTHERFORD. 



(The Tropical Agriculturist Vol. XXIV, p. 366. J 



CEYLON RUBBER, ITS PREPARATION AND 

 IMPROVEMENT. 



The Consumer's View. 



Mincing Lane, London, E. C. 

 joth August, 1904. 



To the Editor. 



Dear Sir, — We are duly in receipt of your favour of the r 2th 

 instant, respecting Ceylon-grown Para Rubber and its preparation, 

 &c, by Ceylon planters. In the first place this rubber has not 

 come yet in sufficient quantities to prove what it is worth to the 



