ii4 



separate the caoutchouc from the watery part has been tried, but 

 has not proved successful as regards the latex of the Hevea, though 

 good results have been stated to have been attained with the latex 

 of the "castilloa." 



Another means of separating the caoutchouc is to add chemical 

 reagents which cause the latex to coagulate. Of these acetic acid 

 and corrosive sublimate have been found to give the best results. 

 The latter owing to its antiseptic properties would appear parti- 

 cul trly suitable. A solution of alum is used to a small extent in 

 the State of Matto Grosso, to prepare rubber from the latex of the 

 Hevea. 



The following analysis of the latex of the Hevea Brazilicnsis is 

 given by SEELIGMAN : — 





Analysis. 



• 



Per cent. 



Caoutchouc 



32 



Nitrogenous matter 



2 "3 



Salts " 



97 



Resinous matter - 



- traces 



Water 



55 to 56 



THE TRANSPORT OF TROPICAL FRUIT. 



From time to time the possibility of exporting tropical fruit to 

 temperate climates is spoken of and written about, and it is urged 

 that science has not yet been called on to assist in the consumma- 

 tion of this desirable end. At the present moment there are two 

 systems of transport suggested: — The first and best known being 

 cold storage, and the second a more vague and undefined one, but 

 which may be described as the antiseptic, that is being treated in 

 such away as to exclude all air from the fruit during transit. Now 

 as regards the first system we see it in operation to a certain de- 

 gree on all the more important lines of ships, not only for preserv- 

 ing fruit during transit in hot climates, but other comestibles as 

 well, such as milk, butter, meat, etc., it may therefore be regarded 

 as an already well recognized system, but wanting in some details, 

 which further careful experiment alone can solve. 



Turning for a moment to the alternative system, I may here 

 record an experiment I made when in Penang some three years 

 ago. It had often occurred to me to try and send home ripe fruits 

 of the mangosteeri, by coating the fruits with a substance which 

 would exclude air, for this purpose I gathered very carefully four 

 dozen fruits, and had a light shallow box ma'le with 4 dozen com- 

 partments similar to a box for the transport of eggs. The first 

 dozen fruits were quite ripe, and to exclude air I dipped them in 

 melted bees wax which instantly coated them with a glistening 

 layer of wax, they were then carefully wrapped in tissue paper and 

 put in the box. The second dozen fruits were selected, were not 



