222 
A second  sample  was  afterwards  received  which  was  very  similar 
in  character  and  appearance  to  the  first  except  that  it  had  a very 
slight  yellowish  tinge. 
Owing  to  the  small  amount  of  hbre  available,  a complete  chemical 
examination  could  not  be  carried  out,  but  the  following  determina- 
tions were  made  by  the  usual  methods.  For  comparison,  the  results 
furnished  by  the  examination  of  other  specimens  of  the  fibre  of 
Sanseviera  zeylariica,  by  the  Scientific  and  Technical  Department 
of  the  Imperial  Institute  are  also  quoted  : — 
Moisture 
Ash 
Cellulose 
Length  of 
per  cent.  ^ 
per  cent. 
per  cent. 
Ultimate 
fibre. 
.Selangor  ...  9.9 
0.7 
75-9 
1-3  mm. 
(irenada  ...  q.5 
1.4 
72-7 
1-5  mm. 
Assam  ...  • 9.4 
Colonial  and  India  Exhibi- 
7 
7.5-^^ 
I-5-3-5 
tion  fCrossand  Bevan)  9.7 
73-1 
1.5-3 
' From  these  results  it  appears  that  the  fibre  from  Selangor  is 
tully  equal  in  quality  to  specimens  obtained  from  other  sources. 
'fhe  fibre  has  also  been  submitted  for  commercial  valuation  to 
two  leading  firms  of  fibre  brokers  who  were  informed  of  the  favour- 
able results  which  it  had  furnished  on  chemical  examination.  One 
firm  reports  that  the  sample  is  a very  strong,  clear,  hard  fibre,  of 
good  colour  but  rather  short  and  tapering:  it  is  coarser  and  not 
quite  so  soft  and  pliable  as  is  usual  for  the  fibre  of  Sunseviera  zey- 
lanica.  Owing  to  the  want  of  re^^ular  supplies  the  libre  has  not  a 
recognised  position  on  the  London  market,  but  consignments  of 
long  staple  have  been  sold  at  very  high  prices.  The  value  of  the 
present  specimen  is  given  at  about  ;^^35  per  ton  (Sisal  hemp  being 
^37  per  ton)  but  if  long  and  ot  similar  quality  it  would  be 
worth  £40  per  ton  and  upwards. 
The  other  brokers  to  whom  the  fibre  was  submitted  value  it  at  ;^33 
per  ton  or  per  ton  if  bright  white,  at  which  prices  they  state 
it  would  mtet  with  ready  sale. 
It  would  appear  from  these  reports  that  these  samples  of  fibre  of 
Sanseviera  zeylanica,  are  of  good  quality  and  that  consignments  of 
similar  character  would  probably  meet  witli  a readv  sale  on  the 
London  market. 
WYNDH.A.Vl  R.  DUNSTAN, 
y^th  May,  190J. 
BORING  BEETLES  IN  PARA  RUBBER. 
Mr.  'fUNNiCLiFFE  sends  from  Port  Dickson  some  small  beetles 
found  boring  into  Para  Rubber  trees  and  writes,  I am  sending 
some  specimens  of  what  I take  to  be  a small  boring  beetle,  also 
bark  of  a para  rubber  tree  which  they  had  attacked.  Hundreds  of 
them  are  sticking  on  to  the  tree  in  their  small  holes,  those  that  are 
dead  having  killed  themselves  by  boring  into  the  tree  from  which  a 
v^ery  little  latex  formed  and  coagulated  holding  them  in  their  self 
