I 10 
the  bottom  of  a chair,  though  not  so  closely  woven.  After  the 
rubber  sheets  have  remained  on  the  trays  for  four  or  five  days, 
they  are  hung  to  dr),  on  wire  stretched  across  the  room,  after  which 
they  will  require  frequent  attention  to  prevent  mildew,  a man  being 
detailed  to  rub  off  all  mildew  spots  with  a rag.  About  two  months 
are  required  for  the  rubber  to  become  thoroughly  dry  and  free 
from  white  patches.  So  long  as  these  patches  appear,  it  is  an 
indication  of  dampness  and  further  drying  will  be  required. 
When  thoroughly  dry  the  sheets  of  rubber  are  ready  for  ship- 
ment, and  are  packed  in  boxes  about  1 8 x 1 8 inches  square  and 
8 inches  deep — usually  about  50  pounds  to  a box.  The  secret  of 
the  high  prices  obtained  for  rubber  from  Ceylon  lies  (i)  in  the 
straining  of  the  latex,  by  which  every  particle  of  dirt  is  kept  out 
and  (2)  in  the  thinness  of  the  sheets  of  rubber,  which  permit  any 
one  to  see  that  theyare  free  from  dirt,  sand,  &c.  No  chemicals  are 
used,  and  no  heating  is  required.  On  the  whole  this  is  the  simplest 
method,  when  one  knows  how,  that  could  possibly  be  adopted. 
The  rubber  from  most  countries  now  comes  to  market  in  large 
pities,  and  can  conceal  any  amount  of  impurity,  while  in  other 
cases  the  latex  is  allowed  to  dry  on  the  stem  of  the  tree  and  when 
pulled  off  contains  a large  percentage  of  bark  and  dirt,  which  mean 
loss  to  the  buyer  and  extra  work  in  the  factory. 
The  last  sales  of  rubber  from  this  estate  have  brought  probably 
the  highest  average  price  of  any  rubber  sold  in  tiie  world  during 
the  same  period,  and  this  is  saying  a good  deal,  narr.ely  : an  aver- 
age of  2^.  lid.  per  pound.  The  total  output  for  Ceylon  for  1903 
will  be  about  ten  tons,  of  which  this  estate  will  send  two  tons. 
Fr.ancis  J.  Holloway, 
Kepitiffolla  Estate,  Mata/e,  Cevlon 
Janunry  8,  igoj. 
Kepitigalla  Estate  and  its  PROorcr. 
The  Kepitigalla  estate  is  situated  in  the  Central  province  of 
Ceylon,  in  the  valley  of  the  Matale  riv^fr,  eight  miles  from  Matale 
town.  The  India  Rubber  World  of  December  i,  1902  (page  80), 
contained  some  details  regarding  the  extent  of  the  rubber  tapping 
on  this  estate,  to  August,  1902,  by  the  Manager,  Mr.  Hol.LOWAV. 
It  was  stated  at  the  time  that  the  trees  were  planted  at  the  rate 
of  150  per  acre,  at  a distance  which  fitted  them  for  shading  cacoa. 
His  experience  to  that  date  pointed  to  one  hundredweight  (112 
pounds)  as  the  average  yield  per  acre,  based  upon  a result  of  tap- 
ping about  4,000  trees  He  gave  then  also  an  estimate  of  the  cost 
of  preparing  rubber  and  forwarding  it  to  the  sea-coast,  which 
equalled  ejiy  per  acre.  .At  3V.  iid.  per  pound,  the  product  of  an 
acre  would  realize  106.73,  which,  after  deducting  freight  to  London 
and  brokers’  commissions,  should  allow  a very  good  profit. 
The  India  Rubber  World’s  report  of  the  London  rubber  auction 
of  November  14,  iyo2,  contained  this  item:  “Ceylon  14  cases 
offered  and  retired,  after  3.?.  w\d.  had  been  bid  for  fine  (from  Para 
