8 4 



Rubber Preparation. 



A Trinidad note remarks : — In pursuing experiments with the 

 view of ascertaining the most economical method of coagulating 

 rubber fluids, some of these were allowed to stand forgotten in a 

 large receptacle where they had been creamed. When again 

 handled the whole mass was putrid, but the rubber was still on the 

 surface and easily coagulated or Ci coalesced " on being handled, 

 and the quality produced is stronger and therefore of a higher 

 quality, than rubber prepared in other ways. The specimen was 

 shown to a noted American manufacturer of rubber goods who 

 readily recognised its quality from among numerous other speci- 

 mens. There were, however, evident signs of loss of weight in rub- 

 ber material by the decomposition set up by the fermentation of 

 the proteids. 



Proposed Extension of the Bandong Quinine Factory. 



Since the introduction of the co-operative working arrangement 

 between the Bandong Quinine-works and the Java Cinchona 

 Planters, the factory has been fully employed, and is now even 

 working day and night to keep pace with the deliveries of bark. 

 The total quantity of bark worked up in one year comes to about 

 30,000 to 40,000 tons, and is equal to about one-eighth or one- 

 tenth of the total annual production of Java, the remaining seven- 

 eighths being exported and sold to the European Quinine factories. 

 The low grade bark, which, as a rule, was not exported, is now 

 also worked up with advantage, as contracts have recently been 

 made with American firms for the sale of such by-products of the 

 quinine industry as cinchonine and cinchonidine. 



It is said that the opinion prevails in Europe that if about three- 

 quarters of the annual production of Java bark is exported to 

 Europe, and the remaining quarter manufactured into quinine in 

 Java, the situation would be satisfactory to all parties concerned. 

 But in view of the growing output of other countries, and notably 

 the increasing production of high-grade bark in British India, and 

 the possibility that this may ultimately have an unfavourable effect 

 on the quinine market, it r \s advocated in Java that a large pro- 

 portion of the bark grown there should be worked up in that 

 country. With this view, it is recommended than the works of 

 the Bandong Company should be extended by the erection of a 

 second factory, and that the required capital, which is estimated 

 at about .£20,000 should, at least in part, be subscribed by the 

 Java planters. It is further considered essential for the success 

 of the undertaking that the cinchona planters who agree to send 

 their output to the new factory should undertake to continue to do 

 this for a period of not less than five years. 



