352 



which this out growth started, which is in one of the upper tapping 

 marks. The wood and even the abnormal roots seem free from 

 disease, but a portion of the bark sent previously with a mass of 

 these abnormal roots beneath it has produced the typical fructifica- 

 tion and spores of Diplodia. It is possible that this fungus has 

 invaded one of the tapping cuts and set up an irritation in the stem 

 which has caused the extrusion of roots, though there is no signs of 

 discoloration or death at the point at which this accident has taken 

 place. 



The tree, though spoilt for tapping purposes on the side where 

 the abnormal growth has taken place — as there is no latex in the 

 bark, is by no means dead and produces plenty of latex on the other 

 untapped side. 



The planter who sends it says he has several trees resembling it. 



They are quite valueless, as they practically produce no latex. 

 The monstrosity is, a very curious and interesting one. — Ed. 



UTILIZATION OF PARA RUBBER SEED. 



From the time of the introduction of the plantation rubber, 

 suggestions have been put forward for the possible utilization of the 

 seeds as a by-product of the rubber industry. Up to the present 

 these suggestions have possessed mainly an academic interest, owing 

 to the demand for seed for planting purposes and the consequent 

 high prices obtained for it. This has rendered it distinctly unprofit- 

 able to attempt to utilize the seeds for industrial purposes. With 

 the large acreages now coming to maturity it is evident that the 

 demand for seeds for planting will not supply a sufficient outlet for 

 the quantity that will be produced. Some other outlet will have to 

 be found, unless a product with possibilities of value in it is to be 

 wasted. At present practically the only use made of the rubber seed 

 is as a fuel in smoke houses. 



An article in the Bulletin of the Imperial Institute'^ deals with the 

 possibilities of utilizing rubber seed as a source of oil. It is pointed 

 out that the kernels contain about 42 per cent, of a liquid drying oil 

 very similar in its properties to linseed oil and capable of being used 

 in the manufacture of paints and varnishes, oil cloth, soft soap and 

 many other important industrial products. There can be no doubt 

 therefore of the existence of a large and steady market for the pro- 

 duct, the only question being whether the product can be placed on 

 the market at a profit. 



It is just on this point that available figures are so contradictory 

 that it is distinctly difficult for any one interested to come to any 

 definite conclusion. It was decided therefore during the present 

 season to make a sufficient number of tests, weighing and measure- 

 ments on a sufficiently large scale to leave no room for any large • 



Vol. ix No, I, p. 35 



