i6o 



seems to have soon disappeared, as it will doubtless do in the same 

 way in the rubber estates. It has quite disappeared from the^ Bota- 

 nic Gardens now, except an occasional nest in the Gardens' jungle. 



Editor. 



NOTES ON SOME SAMPLES OP RUBBER. 



We have recently received a small series of samples of rubbers as 

 sold in England, from M. PoBLOTH, and some notes on the appear- 

 ances of these may be interesting. 



Fine Para smoked. The best rubber imported. This is a dense 

 firm rubber, the outside black, inside it appears of layers of different 

 shades from a light smoky brown to darker brown and black. It 

 has evidently been prepared by the Amazon's method so often des- 

 cribed, and has the peculiar smoky smell that one is accustomed to 

 in prepared rubber. Except for the smoky odour and the different 

 colored layers, it appears very similar to the unsmoked rubber former- 

 ly made in the Gardens 



Para entre fine showing alternate layers of smoked and virgin. 

 The smoked layers resemble the dark ones of the previous rubber, 

 but contain some spaces, apparently water bubbles, which are much 

 more abundant in the pale colored virgin rubber, of which more 

 than half the piece consists. This has a fish-like odour, and its ap- 

 pearance suggests that it contains still a good deal of water. 



Both of these are apparently free of extraneous matter. 



West India ball in sausages, probably smoked, ranks next to Para 

 in quality. This is a black, rather sticky, rubber apparently made 

 into rolls of bits coated with layers. It is full of bits of bark and 

 dirt. The texture is firm and strong. 



West Indian sheet is similar, but very irregular, more like masses 

 of scrap joined together by dipping in latex. It is full of holes and 

 bits of bark. These rubbers are eastilloa elastica Peruvian sheet 

 equal in quality to best West Indian is somewhat similar in colour, 

 full of holes but with less dirt. It is sticky and has a rather un- 

 pleasant smell. This is apparently Castilloa elastica rubber. 



Congo i, from upper Congo, loses 7 per cent, less water in drying 

 than fine Para, but is worth only 3/9 as against Para at 5/, 

 The piece is made up of irregular bits stuck together. The bits 

 are clean, but there is a certain amount of earth/ etc., adhering to 

 them and between the pieces. The rubber is black, firm and sticky. 



Congo 2, from upper Congo, known as Red Marsai consists of 

 irregular bits and layers pressed together, reddish grey with a good 

 deal of red bark mixed in. It has a faintly smoky smell, but does 

 not appear to have been smoked. 



Congo bale, the commonest kind, inferior to the last two, from 

 the Lower Congo, seems to be a mixture of at least two kinds ; a 

 red or grey kind and a black one, apparently made in bits and layers, 



