15 



Himalaya, Assam and bordering States to Upper Burmah, 

 the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra. In habit there is well 

 marked varietal types of this species ; 



(a) The Assam type has a straggling habit with 



pale green rather narrow leaves and the 

 yield of latex is only moderate. 



(b) The Malayan type is of compact habit with 



larger green leaves (on young trees) and 

 brilliant coloured stipules. The yield of 

 latex is considerable, provided the period of 

 recuperation is a lengthy one. 



(c) The Sumatra type resembles the Malayan 



plant but is a more ornamental form, the 

 leaves are deep shining green and more ellip- 

 tic, and like its Malayan congener the yield 

 of latex is large if not tapped too frequently. 



Formerly Rambong rubber appeared on the market in 

 the form of scrap only — as the bulk of it does at the present 

 time — but other forms of preparation are forthcoming and 

 improving prices are being obtained. With old trees there 

 is a short flow of latex, followed by a slower exudation 

 which coagulates in tears and strips by natural heat on the 

 incisions made on the tree. This if removed as soon as 

 agglutinated may be boiled and prepared in the form of 

 biscuit or sheet. On younger trees, there is, comparatively 

 a better flow of latex and this can be treated with liquid 

 ammonia, when the particles of caoutchouc, (after stirring) 

 gradually separate into a thin layer and can then be skim- 

 med, washed, rolled into biscuits, or passed through a 

 crepe machine and dried. 



A long period of rest is necessary owing to the thick 

 latex peculiar to this tree and the more concentrated form 

 in which the caoutchouc is obtained, despite this drawback 

 the average yield per tree is probably higher than Para 

 rubber, and considering the immunity of the tree to disease, 

 its simple culture and light cost of working, as well as the 

 fine grade of rubber when well prepared, Rambong has 

 many claims for more extended cultivation in British 

 Malaya. At the exhibition the Netherlands 9 section in- 

 cluded sheets, cakes— and in bulk, — crude Rambong balls, or 

 rolled scrap pickings bound up with Rambong ribbons ob- 

 tained by slicing pressed scrap. In the Malayan section 

 Rambong was exhibited in crepe form but only a few 

 estates were represented. The low price of 3/8 against 4/6 

 for ' fine hard Para ' is stated to be due to the small quantity 



