^ ' T 
192 
herring  bone  incision  for  8 days,  viz.,  from  Alarch  23  to  April  i 
(excluding  March  30)  and  with  two  similar  incisions  from  April  2 
to  April  16  (excluding  April  12). 
The  trees  ;Were  about  fourteen  years  oldj-apd’  of^he  following 
dimensions  : Girth  at  4 ft,  6 ins.  from  the  ground.  No.  1.,  38J  inches, 
No.  II.,  38,  No.  III.,  37,  No^. . IV.,  38^;  total  girth,  152  inches, 
average,  38  inches.  Total  rubber  obtained,  ten  pounds  and  two 
ounces,  scrap,  two  pounds  two  ounces,  average  per  tree,  three  pounds 
one  ounce. 
This  is  a very  fair  average  return  of  rubber  from  these  trees. 
The  product  seems  to  be  good,  though  the  preparation  of  the 
sample  was  not  perfect. 
VALUATION  OF  RUBBERS. 
(a)  From  the  Botanic  Gardens,  Singapore. 
1'he  following  report  on  the  samples  of  rubber  from  the  Botanic 
Gardens  has  been  obtained  through  the  Eastern  Products  Company 
of  Singapore : — 
“ The  samples  received  from  Singapore  have  been  submitted  for 
valuation  in  Antwerp  and  our  friends  quote  us  the  following  prices  : 
No.  I.  Pancake  form  4s.  to  45.  id.  per  lb. 
,,  2.  Scrap  3s.  to  3s.  3^.  ,, 
“ The  quality  is  said  to  be  very  good  and  we  are  sure  to  be  able 
to  realise  with  satisfaction  large  quantities  of  this  produce. 
“ The  moment  is  very  favourable,  as  the  price  for  Para  rubber  has 
gone  up  20  per  cent,  during  the  last  three  months.  It  is  preferable 
that  the  rubber  should  be  rolled  out  in  sheets  a little  thicker  than 
the  type  No.  i.  The  goods  must  be  very  dry.  It  can  also  be  sent 
in  the  form  of  pancakes  and  packed  in  cases  of  two  piculs.” 
Through  the  same  firm  the  following  additional  report  has  been 
received : — 
“ Your  samples  of  Malay  Para  rubber  to  hand  ; we  have  carefully 
examined  the  two  samples.  No.  i is  fine  quality,  we  cannot 
suggest  any  improvement  in  its  shape  or  cure.  It  is  exactly 
similar  to  Ceylon  grown  Para  rubber.  It  is  in  very  good  demand 
and  this  quality  is  selling  well  at  4s.  to  4s.  id.  per  lb.  No.  2 
is  the  scrap  rubber  from  No.  i.  It  is  fine,  clean,  strong,  and  we 
value  it  at  3s.  to  3s.  ^d.,  at  which  price  similar  lots  are 
selling  from  Ceylon.  The  rubber  need  not  be  in  quite  such  thin 
pieces  but  special  care  must  be  taken  to  have  the  rubber  properly 
dry  before  packing,  as  dampness  sets  up  heat  and  stickiness  which 
are  fatal  to  any  rubber  and  deteriorates  its  value  considerably. 
“ The  packing  must  be  made  in  cases  of  i to  3 cwt.,  I)ut  cases  of 
2|  cwt.  are  recommended.  If  your  Singapore  firm  starts  with  a 
trial  shipment  of  say  5 to  10  cwts.  they  will  soon  judge  for  them- 
selves the  importance  of  continuing  this  business.” 
Dr.  P.  H.  Ledeboer,  Ph.D. 
