330 
‘‘Scrap”  rubber  were  sent  to  the  Agricultural  Chemist  to  the  Gov- 
ernment of  India  for  analysis  and  the  result  is  given  as  follows: — 
Report  on  the  composition  of  two  samples  of  Ceara  rubber 
‘Scrap’  and  ‘Prepared’,  sent  by  R.  L.  ProudloCK,  Esq.,  Govern- 
ment Botanic  Gardens  and  Parks,  the  Nilgiris,  Ootacamund,  i6th 
September,  1902. 
Water 
...  4.92 
3-64 
Pure  caoutchouc 
...  87.67 
90.09 
Resins 
...  2.86 
4.09 
Ash 
•••  4.55 
2.18 
Total 
...  100.00 
1 00.00 
“'Ihe  rubbers  are  of  excellent  quality  as  regards  colour  and 
texture,  and  the  analysis  shows  a high  amount  of  pure  caoutchouc. 
(Signed  David  Hooper. 
Offg.  Agricultural  Chemist, 
Annual  Administration  Report^ 
Govev7wient  Botanic  Gardens, 
The  Nilgiris,  igo2-igog. 
New  Tool  for  Tapping  Rubber  trees. 
A device  for  grooving  or  tapping  India-rubber  trees  in  the  sub- 
ject of  a United  States  Patent  (No.  730,299)  granted  to  FAYETTE 
S.  Robinson,  of  Boston.  It  has  been  designed  for  use  particularly 
on  plantation  of  Castilloa  elastica.  Briefly  described,  the  device 
comprises  a tongue-like  structure  having  jaws  to  embrace  or  par- 
tially embrace  a-tree,  and  an  adjustably  supported  knife  adapted 
to  cut  the  groove  in  the  tree.  When  the  device  is  in  position,  the 
movement  thereof  up  or  down  the  tree,  or  around  it,  causes  the 
knife  to  cut  the  proper  channel  in  the  bark.  The  construction  of 
the  tool  permits  the  jaws  to  widen  as  they  are  drawn  downward, 
to  allow  for  the  increasing  diameter  of  the  trunk.  A vertical 
groove  may  be  cut,  or  a horizontal  groove,  or  a spiral  groove 
around  the  tree,  as  desired.  While  it  is  supposed  that  a single 
grooving  knife  will  be  used  preferably,  the  plan  of  the  invention 
permits  additional  knives  to  be  inserted.  The  Patent  has  been 
assigned  to  Ferdinand  E.  Borgp:s,  Secretary  of  the  Consolidated 
Ubero  Plantations  Co.  (Boston). 
The  India  Rubber  World, 
August  I,  igog. 
