333 



characteristic of Hard Fine Para. The curing seems thorough and 

 satisfactory in most respects, but the rubber is somewhat soft in 

 character and not as strong as would be expected. Value about that 

 of F. A. Q. Smoked Sheet, viz. 5/8. per lb. 



Sample Descjibed by you as Biscuits, Light Smoked and Second 

 Quality. The former are amber coloured small sheet and biscuits, very 

 similar to a previous consignment received from you. Although the 

 rubber has been carefully prepared, is in excellent condition and of 

 good strength, the smoking is rather too slight for the market. Very 

 thorough smoking is at present looked for and most appreciated, 

 The smoke smell on many of the above samples has almost dis- 

 appeared at the time of writing. Value Id. to 2d. per lb. below 

 F. A. Q. Smoked Sheet. The second quality is rough rejected sheets, 

 partly cured, part mouldy and in unsatisfactory condition. 



Samples Referred to in your Letter of 17th November just to hand, 

 viz., about 6/ lbs. — The landing weight of this parcel is about 60 

 lbs,, showing apparently about / lbs. loss in transit owing to moisture. 



Case No. 2. Light yellowish roll, consisting of sheet tightly 

 wound up. On being unwound the rubber is very wet and of a very 

 light grey colour. It has a nice smell of smoking, but this is hardly 

 pronounced enough. The rubber seems to be very strong, but the 

 winding appears to have had a stretching effect on the sheet, and it 

 somewhat resembles thin Balata sheet in appearance and character. 

 This stretching seems to have an effect on the physical properties of 

 the rubber, and it lacks some of the nervousness and resilience found 

 in ordinary sheet, the effect of the winding \\'ould appear to be differ- 

 ent from that obtained in the Hard Fine Para method, this may be 

 due to temperature. 



Case No. 2. This is narrower sheet than the above, the outsides 

 of the roll darker in colour, otherwise very similar in appearance, 

 there being hardly any difference between the colours of the surfaces 

 of the sheets when unwound. The rubber in this roll, however, does 

 seem a little drier, and the sheet is more even in texture and thinner. 

 Both this roll and the above are very hard. The strength of the 

 rubber in this case also is excellent and seems to compare with that 

 of Hard Fine Para ; on the whole we are inclined to give this the 

 preference as the curing seems more thorough, in the first case we 

 would describe the rubber as distinctly under-cured. Value about 

 that of Soft Fine Para, viz., 4/6. 



Sample Referred to in your Letter of 17th November described 

 as about 3 lbs. sent by mail via Brindisi. Wound sheet,— this is 

 somewhat similar to the above, rather rougher and not so carefully 

 rolled O'lt or so attractive in appearance. There seems to be more 

 interstitial moisture; the rubber also has free water on the surfaces 

 when the sheet is unwound. Smoking does not seem to be nearly 

 thorough enough. Value about Id. to 2d. per lb. less than the above. 



