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products,  and  notably  rubber.  All  grades  of  rubber  have  not 
depreciated  in  the  same  relative  degree  ; yet  the  products  of  the 
Congo  basin  have  been  particularly  affected  in  this  regard  because 
of  the  very  unsatisfactory  condition  in  which  they  arrive  in  the 
European  markets.  Please  notice  that  I use  the  word  condition 
and  not  (piality,  for  it  has  become  the  too  general  belief,  and  erro- 
neously so,  that  it  is  the  quality  of  the  Congo  rubber  that  has 
declined.  I am  free  to  admit  that  the  excessive  o\er  production  of 
some  two  or  three  grades  of  rubber  has  led  to  a shading  of  the 
quality,  but  this  is  by  no  means  general. 
When  I take  into  consideration  the  enormous  quantity  of  rubber 
produced  in  the  Congo  Free  State,  I am  still  of  the  opinion  that 
the  African  continent  will  yet  furnish  this  material  in  excellent 
qualities.  The  chief  defect  in  the  crude  product  lies  in  the  oxida- 
tion of  the  gum,  this  oxidation  being  fostered  by  the  long  detentions 
in  improper  housing  at  the  entrepots  near  the  places  of  collection. 
It  is  a fermentation,  in  fact,  which  renders  the  gum  viscous  or 
sticky.  In  most  cases  this  is  not  the  result  of  negligence  on  the 
part  either  of  the  black  collectors  or  the  white  receivers.  Let 
properly  constructed  storehouses  be  erected  and  placed  at  the 
disposal  of  the  receivers,  and  they  will  send  the  gum  in  the  best 
state  of  preservation  to  the  European  markets.  As  long,  indeed,  as 
the  raw  product  continues  to  be  subjected  to  the  present  irrational 
conditions  in  Africa,  we  need  not  hope  for  any  marked  change  in 
the  character  of  the  material  shipped.  True,  during  the  trans- 
portation from  the  storehouses  at  Leopoldville,  Matadi,  and  other 
places,  to  the  sea,  the  rubber  is  subjected  to  the  deteriorating 
influence  of  the  sun’s  rays,  yet  the  character  of  this  action  is  of  less 
grave  a nature  than  that  produced  by  defective  storage.  In  fact, 
in  the  former  ciise  the  package  is  affected  only  upon  one  side,  easily 
seen  in  spots  on  the  exterior,  while  in  the  latter  case  the  whole 
package  is  affected. 
Again,  if  the  balls  of  rubber  have  remained  long  in  a defective 
storehouse  where  they  may  have  contracted  noxious  germs,  their 
presence  for  a lengthened  period  in  the  hold  of  a ship  carrying  them 
to  Europe,  will,  of  course,  hasten  the  oxidation,  whereas  if  the  gum 
be  in  a perfectly  healthy  condition  when  shipped  it  will  not  deterio- 
rate from  a short  detention  in  the  hold.  But  should  a consignment 
of  even  healthy  rubber  remain,  let  us  say,  two  months,  in  the 
unventilated  hold  of  a ship,  especially  in  the  tropics,  it  is  certain 
that  it  would  I'e  seriously  affected.  Of  course,  during  the  months 
of  July,  August,  and  September,  even  the  repositories  of  Europe 
must  be  carefully  looked  after ; for  certain  soft  gums  become  bad 
during  this  season,  even  in  the  storehouses  at  home.  On  the  other 
hand,  if  a consignment  of  rubber  reach  the  European  markets  in  a 
slightly  damaged  condition,  its  lying  in  a defective  storehouse  at 
home  during  the  heated  term  will  undoubtedly  cause  an  aggravation 
of  its  viscous  character,  while  the  storage  in  the  cold  months  may 
be  prolonged  indefinitely  without  any  deleterious  results. 
In  Africa,  as  you  well  know,  there  are  two  sources  of  supply  for 
the  commercial  rubber,  viz.,  the  vines  {Landolphia)  and  trees  of 
•several  species.  The  gum  obtained  from  the  trees  is  less  liable  to 
become  sticky,  though  this  is  not  the  only  reason  that  rubber  from 
