4-7 



manufacturers compared with fine Para, and the small lots that 

 have been sold at extreme prices, usually $d. to 6d. per lb., above 

 the price of fine Para have been bought for a special purpose and 

 not tor manufacturing purposes generally. It is quite a question 

 whether it will realise any more than fine Para when it comes in 

 large quantities, and it has yet to establish its character before its 

 relative value can be ascertained. As long as it is only in very 

 small supply it will bring anything like ^d. to 6d. per lb., over fine 

 Para, as the present users of it could not take very much of it for 

 their special purposes, and we expect to see the price in the near 

 future about the same as fine Para— some say below it. With 

 regard to the preparation and the use of acids, its purification from 

 resin, etc., we can only say that the less acid or chemical treatment, 

 the better — and, of course, the purer the rubber is and the less 

 resin it contains, the more valuable it must naturally be to the ma- 

 nufaoturers. 



Manufacturers hate the idea of any chemical treatment, and are 

 very shy of buying any rubber that has a suspicion of acid, or 

 having been specially treated. They prefer to receive the crude 

 article and treat it for themselves. Using acid is very dangerous, 

 as it may spoil a manufacturer's goods. All the manufacturers 

 want is a good, pure article, and the one that loses least in manu- 

 facture will command the best price. 



As to colour, this is of no importance, and in trying to make it 

 pale, you may spoil it altogether. The thickness of the biscuits is 

 also of no importance, and if thick biscuits can be cured and dried 

 as well as thin, which we very much doubt, thev would fetch as 

 much as thin. 



As to vulcanising the rubber and colouring it, we should say no 

 action could be thought of more fatal to the industry than for plan- 

 ter to treat their produce in such a manner, and nothing would be 

 more resented by the manufacturers : it would be very unwise and 

 suicidal experiment. 



In conclusion, we do not think any possible improvement can be 

 suggested to surpass the splendid quality of among others, such 

 estate as Culloden, Tudugalla and Heatheiley, which are as near 

 perfection as possible. Let those in doubt take these marks as their 

 example. 



I have, &c, 



LEWIS & PEAT. 

 (The Tropica! Agriculturist November jst, J()oj. p. JO-S.J 



Analysis of "3s. He/." Ceylon Rubber. 



95$ Per Cent Caoutchouc. 



The samples of Ceylon cultivated Para rubber, which obtained 

 the record recently of $s. y{ci. per lb., have been analysed at home 

 This analysis shows the true worth of the rubber which was re* 



