51 



annually exported — principally from Borneo and Suma- 

 tra.! The bark is medium thick, soft, and very easy to 

 excise, and new bark is formed much quicker than with any 

 other rubber tree, and with ordinary skill and discretion 

 there is not any reason why a single tree should be lost 

 through over tapping. 



The latex is coagulated by natural heat and evapor- 

 ation, pressed into balls and cakes and preserved with the 

 addition of formalin. In this form it has the appearance 

 of a white spongy cheese and a smell that is pungent. 



It is a huge mistake to suppose that these low grade 

 rubbers are only used for cheap varnishes or pasting wall 

 papers. I quote from Dr. Wermer Eschs' notes on manu- 

 factured india rubber at the recent exhibition. " To-day 

 Para rubber has had to be abandoned "as far as the manu- 

 facture of considerable part of our India rubber goods is 

 "concerned, and its place has been taken by cheaper rub- 

 bers. We have had to learn to renounce to a great extent 

 "the easy workable Para rubber, and to condescend to take 

 "up the wearisome study of the methods of treatment of 

 " "Guayule" many have been unsuccessful herein on ac- 

 " count of inability to fit themselves into the new con- 

 ditions and surroundings." 



This Dyera (Jelutong) rubber is similarly used — so I 

 was informed — in Germany, i.e. for compoundings and 

 fillings as with low priced goods the best rubber are pro- 

 hibitive and with some other goods it is claimed that the 

 article is improved by such addition or (qualified) adul- 

 teration.* 



Owing to the poor grade and low price obtained for 

 Jelutong rubber its cultivation would not attack private 

 enterprise , but considering the demands ; the simplicity of 

 conserving or fostering the present forest trees in the 

 Peninsula; the importance of this rubber is worthy of at- 

 tention. 



In Malaya jelutong grows readily everywhere from 

 naturally sown seeds. It may be profitable for reafforest- 

 ing certain areas if seeds could be obtained. These are 

 produced on old, tall, trees and are difficult to collect as 

 when the capsule bursts, the seeds which are flat and thin 

 and apt to be blown away.f 



t The Jelutong of Borneo is produced by Dyera Lowiaw. It is very 

 doubtful whether this is distinct from the Malaya Peninsula D. coslulata. 



* It will be understood that for compounding and fillings other ingredients 

 than low grade rubbers are used. 



+ Another species grows in Fiji and is described as D. Plumosa and the 

 rubber is stated to be of some value. 



