65 



taken regularly at about the standard price at each sale of No. I sheets 

 and biscuits. The lower grades of crepe, viz., the brown, mottled and 

 dark have been very popular, and the demand has increased enormously 

 during the twelve months. The relative prices have not been as good 

 as were obtained in 1906. There has been a greater increase in pro- 

 duction of this quality, it compares more closely to ordinary Amazon 

 Para, and is used by many who are not particular as to colour. Pressed 

 crepe has at times been most difficult to sell, and the long free or 

 rolled-up ribbons are much more sought after. 



Block. — Very few planters have succeeded in producing fine clear 

 amber block, which is wanted, and, with the exception of " Lanadron," 

 practically all shipments have been of uneven quality, and realised less 

 than if sent home in sheet or crepe form. Quantities of quite black 

 block, dull, opaque and sometimes heated and soft have been catalogued 

 and only disposed of with difficulty. Some very fine little lots of pressed 

 biscuits and sheets have been sold, but only in extremely small 

 quantities. Wet block has not been favourably received at all and 

 most difficult of sale. 



Worms. — Very high prices have been paid for the best quality, 

 and fancy prices are paid for almost white lots, such as the "Gikiyana- 

 kande," but even the produce of this estate shows a tendency to come 

 rather darker and mottled. 



Castilloa. — Very little sold here during the year, but shipments 

 are increasing from the West Indies, Central and South America. The 

 preparation has improved, and some lots have been very nearly equal 

 to ordinary plantation biscuits. A few lots from Java and Sumatra 

 have arrived in a very low heated condition, making them almost un- 

 saleable. Supplies from Mexico, which promised a few years ago 

 to come in large quantities, have up to now been very small and 

 unimportant, and many large estates 10 to 12 years ago so far seem 

 failures, and we hear of many estates being abandoned in certain 

 districts. 



Rambong. — Only small imports, but very fine lots of scrap, 

 and especially fine crepe have been readily taken. 



The closing quotations are: — 



For sheets and biscuits ... ... 3/9 a 4/- per lb. 



„ Crepe 3/9 a 4h 



„ Scrap 2/3 a 2/6 „ 



,, Fine Para (Amazon) ... ... 3/5 



. Worms 3/10 a 4/- „ 



ff Block 3/10 a 4/- „ 



The world's production of rubber during the past year was 

 about 69,000 tons (including 42,000 Para grades), against 65,000 tons 

 in 1906, showing an increase in production of 4,000 tons, but the con- 

 sumption shows no increase and is about same as in 1906, so that 



