328 



Journal for Aug. I2th, that nine samples were tested in the series of 

 experimental tests and only Glenealy sheet and smoked rubber from 

 the Singapore Botanic Gardens were comparable with Fine Para. 



The smoked rubber from Singapore cured by the Brazilian me- 

 thod was part of the same experiment referred to in the Agricultural 

 Bulletin of the Straits, July 1910 (Vol. IX) p. 277-284, which was the 

 first successful attempt, I believe, made in the East in coagulating 

 latex by smoke and consequently could not be regarded as an ex- 

 ample of up to-date smoked rubber, although furnishing highly satis- 

 factory results. 



The tests furnished Mr. Wray by the Continental Rubber Com- 

 pany of New York are interesting as supplementing the analysis 

 published in the Agricultural Bulletin last July. 



July 22nd, igil. 



Mr. Wray writes:— 



At the recent Conference, held during the International Rubber 

 Exhibition, doubts were cast by Dr. J. Huber, Commissioner for th^ 

 State of Para, on the quality of the Para Rubber seed obtained by 

 Mr. H. A. Wickham, it being contended that in the locality from 

 which the seed came, practically all the trees yield what is known as 

 weak Rubber. The inference was that the vast area of land v^hich 

 has been brought under cultivation in the Mid-East, at a cost of 

 many millions sterling, has been planted up with the seed of an in- 

 ferior variety of Hevea, incapable of yielding anything but a low- 

 grade rubber. 



If true this is a most serious matter, not only for the numerous 

 shareholders, but also for the Governments of British Malaya, 

 Ceylon, India, and the Dutch Indies. It may be a fact, that at the 

 present time the locality contains only an inferior species of tree, 

 yet all else may be erroneous, for it is 35 years ago since Mr. 

 Wickham collected the seed, and during that period it is quite possi- 

 ble that tlie better variety may have been exterminated by the ruth- 

 less methods of tapping in vogue up to the last fev^r years, while the 

 inferior trees may have survived through being neglected by the rub- 

 ber collectors until recently. This view was, however, unsupported 

 by direct evidence, except for the assertion of Mr. Wickham that he 

 obtained the seed from trees which were yielding the best quality 

 rubber, until some tests, made at the Exhibition, were completed. 

 The results appear so important that I take this early opportunity of 

 communicating them to all interested in plantation rubber. 



There was an exhibit sent from the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, 

 of a piece of plantation ru^^ber prepared by Mr. R. I:erry, in the 

 Brazilian method; that is coagulated on a rev^olving stick by means 

 smoke. . A portion of this sample was niost kindly vulcanized and 

 tested by the Continental Rubber Company of New York, together 



