5 



themselves, however, with the increasing production of the planta- 

 tions and the better care in the preparation of the rubber. But 

 there is something for the manufacturer to do as well as for the 

 planter, in arriving at the best possible results from the new class 

 of rubber. For instance, the manufacturer here quoted is of the 

 opinion that the Ceylon rubber is not safe to use in making rubber 

 thread. But the nature of his tests is not indicated. The fact that 

 this rubber has not given good results for thread under the esta- 

 blished practice in his factory is by no means conclusive. Possibly 

 with a variation from his practice, for instance in regard to vulca- 

 nization, a thread equally as good as any other in market might be 

 produced. The whole industry will recall the variations from any 

 former practice which were rendered necessary after the introduc- 

 tion of Africans before satisfactory results were obtained, but now 

 the consumption of Africans has become very large, and for many 

 purposes with as good results as from the best Para sorts. In fact, 

 there are uses for which some of the Africans are preferable to Para 

 rubber." 



A firm of London rubber brokers write to the " India Rubber 

 World" as follows in regard to plantation rubber in the Far East : 



" At present the quantities have not been sufficiently large to be 

 taken generally by manufacturers, and it has yet to be ascertained 

 for what purpose these new plantation rubbers are most suited, and 

 how results compare with ordinary fine Para. There is no doubt 

 that for some special purposes the pancake and sheet rubber both 

 from the Malay States and Ceylon have been found very suitable, 

 and a very convenient form of preparation, but it will have to come 

 in much larger quantities before it can establish its proper place in 

 competition with fine Para, and be generally used by manufacturers 

 who must have regular supplies. Up to now we have found very 

 few consumers to look with, favour upon the washed and crepe 

 rubber, and they nearly all say they prefer the biscuits or sheets, 

 and will do the washing themselves. The crepe and washed rubber 

 is liable to heat en route, which is against it." 



India Rubber World, December ist, 1Q05, p. 72. 



THE ENGKALA. 



A New Fruit. 



The Engkala fruit seems to have been long known in Sarawak 

 by the Dyaks and Europeans but is apparently quite unknown out- 

 side that country. BECCARI mentions it in his travels in Borneo, 

 but had no flowers by which to identify the species, and gives no 

 description of the tree. I found it beautifully in flower in Sarawak 

 in September, 1905, in the town of Kuching, and later Mrs. ELLIS 

 and Mr. HEWITT sent me seeds and fruits of it. 



The fruit is rounded flattened at both ends about \\ inch through, 

 and of a pink colour. It contains one large rounded flattened seed. 

 The pulp round the seed is of the same consistency and colour, 



