305 



made by Professor HEINRIQUE to effect the removal of these resins 

 bv chemical treatment, with alcoholic soda. 



Indian Gardening and Planting, 



March / ?. ipa2. 



GUTTA RAMBONG IN MALACCA. 



In the February Bulletin Xo. 5, an account was given of tapping. 

 Some 5^ year old Rambong trees (Ficus elastica) the property of 

 Mr. Tan Chav Yan, of Bukit Lin tang Estate, Malacca. Mr. Tax 

 Chav Van's method of coagulating the rubber by boiling was also 

 explained. Specimens of the dry rubber obtained were submitted 

 to a local expert in Singapore who reported "I estimate it com- 

 " mercially as a good but not quite the best quality of ordinary 

 " (Borneo rubber) clean and well prepared; value 8:45 to 8160 per 

 u picul.*' 



A portion of the same sample was sent to Kew with a request 

 that the authorities would be good enough to get it valued com- 

 merciallv. Tt was submitted to the well known experts, Messrs. 

 HECHT LEWIS & KAHN, who reported as follows: — "It is well 

 cured and would realize in the market from 2s. lev/, to 35. per lb." 

 It will thus be seen that Mr. Pears writes (March 26) "1 have just 

 received a Mincing Lane valuation of Tan Chay Van's rubber as 

 follows: — 2s. 6a 7 . per lb. described as good clean fairly elastic and 

 dry." At the time fine lava was quoted at 3.?. jd. and Borneo is. Ha 7 . 

 to is. lod. It will be noticed that all the valuations are fairlv 

 approximate. The question, next arises how is it that the value is 

 so low especially when compared with the high one of 3s lod. paid 

 for a parcel sent home by Mr. Derry. The cause cannot be in 

 the curing because the reports all speak well of the condition of 

 the sample. It is probably due to the young age of the trees, the 

 latex beincr richer in Caoutchouc when the tree has attained its maxi- 

 mum growth. The fact should not be lost sight of that the two 

 samples, viz., Mr. Derry's and I an Chay Van's were sent home 

 at different dates, the first being as long ago as the end of 1899, 

 and the other early this year, so that allowance must be made for 

 fluctuations in price. But apart from this it would be as well for 

 planters, speaking generally, to wait at least until the trees have 

 attained half their maximum development before tapping. Of 

 course in thinnings and prunings any rubber exuded may be 

 saved, though it will probablv not fetch a very high price, it will 

 doubtless be saleable, and worth disposing of. 



As pointed out, however, in an article quoted from the Times of 

 Ceylon in this Bulletin, it is of the greatest importance to put good 

 first class rubber into the market as the reputation of the product 

 makes a great difference in the value attached to it. Hitherto 

 "Straits rubber" has only been jungle rubber [Willugkbeid] etc., 

 collected carelessly bv nativ es and naturally considered an inferior 

 product. The reputation of the Straits rubber as first class has 



