392 
diseased  the  root  was  quite  healthy:  experiments  had  been  made 
to  induce  the  canker  to  grow  on  the  root,  without  success.  Nectria 
affects  the  tissues  of  the  bark  but  not  the  root.  The  same  applies 
in  the  case  of  seed  in  which  there  is  absolutely  no  fungus. 
'Fhe  disease  was  more  likely  to  make  itself  apparent  in  low-lying 
damp  places  than  on  ridges  and  well-drained  land.  Swampy  land 
would  tend  to  encourage  disease  when  once  it  had  got  hold.  Rub- 
ber trees  were  not  more  liable  to  pest  attacks  than  other  trees,  in 
fact  the  proportion  of  diseased  trees  in  the  case  of  rubbeHs  very 
much  less  than  that  of  most  other  cultivated  products.  The  disease 
could  be  eradicated  by  cutting  out : a margin  of  two  inches  round 
the  diseased  portion  would  be  on  the  safe  side. 
Overland  Times  of  Ceylon,  November  2nd,  igoj. 
o 
RAMBONG  RUBBER  FROM  KLANG. 
8th  October,  igoj. 
Dear  Sir, — I have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of 
the  3rd  instant,  together  with  the  sample  of  Rambong  rubber  re- 
ferred to  therein. 
The  rubber  arrived  In  excellent  condition,  showing  no  signs  of 
deterioration,  and  it  is  of  very  good  quality.  Its  botanical  source 
is  presumed  to  be  that  of  ordinary  Rambong,  viz.,  Ficus  elastica. 
A chemical  examination  of  the  sample  gave  the  following  results: — 
Moisture 
Resin 
Caoutchouc 
Dirt 
5.9  per  cent. 
3-9  M 
897 ..  .. 
1-2  „ „ 
Ash  (included  in  dirt)  0.5  per  cent. 
The  amount  of  resin  present  is  very  low  for  this  class  of  rubber, 
whilst  the  percentage  of  caoutchouc  is  proportionally  high.  The 
specimen  is  much  superior  to  previous  samples  of  the  rubber  of 
Ficus  elastica  examined  here,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  consign- 
ments of  similar  quality  would  be  readily  sold  on  the  London  market 
at  good  prices. 
The  deterioration  which  this  rubber  is  liable  to  undergo  during 
transit  might  be  prevented  or  very  much  reduced  if  it  were  made 
up  into  small  flat  cakes  about  three-eights  of  an  inch  in  thickness, 
and  these  thoroughly  dried  before  shipment.  It  would  probably  be 
found  advantageous  to  pack  the  cakes  in  small  cases  each  contain- 
ing about  J cwt.  of  rubber. 
I am  add  that  the  Imperial  Institute  does  not  as  a rule  under- 
take investigations  unless  these  are  forwarded  through  official 
channels,  and  I would  suggest  therefore  that  any  further  samples 
which  you  may  desire  to  send  for  examination  should  be  forwarded 
