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PLANTATION-GROWN RUBBER. 



{Issued by Lewis and Peat, 6, Minc'iHg Lane, London, E. C, on January, 



1 6th 19 II.) 



LEWIS & PEAT have had so many questions and inquiries regard- 

 ing the preparation of Plantation Rubber and as to the most 

 approved form, that they have gathered as much information as 

 possible from various sources and put together the followink, 

 hoping it may be useful to Planters and help to promote the 

 best interests the Industry generally, and they will be pleased 

 to value samples for Planters or answer questions with regard 

 to Plantation Rubber when desired. 



DETAILS FOR PLANTERS— REVISED JANUARY, 1911. 



Shape and Form. 



A great improvement in the preparation all round has been 

 evident during the past year and the prices obtained at the fortnightly 

 auctions, have undoubtedly proved that the two most popular forms 

 of preparation are : — 



" Smoked Sheets " and " Blanket Crepe " 



(Sheets should be ribbed, thereby allowing a free passage of air 

 on the voyage). 



Highlands and Lowlands may be taken as the best example of 

 Smoked Sheets and Rosehaugh of Blanket Crepe but many other 

 marks run these two very close. 



The lower grades in Crepe form, especially the thick and gristly 

 lots, have commanded a ready sale and at times the demand for both 

 brown and black has been extraordinary, Buyers greatly appreciating 

 the improved preparation. The Scrap Crepe should be thoroughly 

 freed from bark and any pieces shewing signs of heat kept separate. 



Methods of Preparation, Coagulation, &o. 



There seems to be some uncertainty still as to the best metliod of 

 preparing Plantation Rubber for the market, but the aim of the pro- 

 ducer of course is to put on the market the purest possible article in 

 the most convenient form and prepared at the lowest possible cost to 

 the estate. The coagulating agent in more or less general use in 

 Acetic Acid, and though other coagulants have been put on the mar- 

 ket, Acetic seems the best. The aim is to produce rubber containing 

 the smallest quantity of foreign matter and coagulants of all 

 descriptions should be used with the utmost care, and the smallest 

 quantity sufficient to bring about a satisfactory coagulation used. 

 Excessive use of Acid in coagulation generally results in a weak and 

 very often unsightly sample. 



The question as to whether an estate should manufacture Crepe 

 or Sheet rubber greatly depends upon the facilities at hand. 



