2 



JAMAICA INDIA RUBBER. 



{Copy) Kew Gardens to Colonial Office. 



Royal Gardens, Kew, 26th October, 1888. 



Sir, 



I have the honour to forward herewith the accompanying papers* relating to an important indie 

 rubber plant, (G. Forsteronia floribunda Don) native of Jamaica which has been in course of investigation 

 by this Establishment. 



2. The inquiry in regard to this plant was taken up in 1883 and 1884 (see the Reports of the 

 Jamaica Botanical Department for those years) and recently at the request of Kew, theRev E Bassett 



who throughout has taken a warm interest in th» subject, forwarded here a bottle of latex for the 



purpose of determining the commercial value of the rubber. 



3. The Report of the India Rubber, Gutta percha and Telegraph Company of Silvertown, obtained 

 through %. W. Si her, Esq., F.L.S., proves that this native rubber of Jamaica is of high industrial value 

 *nd it anight give rise to an important local industry if it were found possible to increase the plant by 

 cultivation and to pursue the subject in a systematic manner. 



4. On this latter point the Government of Jamaica will no doubt consult Mr. Fawcett, Director of 



the Botanical Department. 



5. The oupply of India Rubber as a forest product is destined to fall far short of the demand, and 

 under theee circumstances the Government of Jamaica might be glad to be put in possession of infor- 

 mation as regards a native rubber plant which ctands so high in intrinsic value. Samples of rubber 

 manufactured from the Jamaica plant are enclosed. 



I am &c, 



(Signed) D. Morris. 



Edward Wingfield, Esq , Colonial Office. 



(Copy) Mr. Key to Mr Morris.. 



"Windsor Park, Balaclava, Jamaica, 4th June, 1888. 



Dear Mr. Morris. 



Some time ago I was asked by the Department here to put up for you for examination some of the 

 " Milk Wiihe" juice. 



As Mr. Pengelly i3 going home he has kindly consented to carry the parcel I should be glad to 

 hear the result of the Analysis. I hope to send you the Coco leaves also asked for. 



I am &c, 



(Signed) E. B. Kbt. 



D. Morris, Esq., F.R.S., Assistant Director, Royal Gardens, Kew. 



India Rubber, Gutta Percha and Telegraph Works Co. Limited. 



Silvertown, 17th October, 1888. 



The sample received with letter from Kew dated September 12th, 1888, consisted of a lactescent 

 juice, partially coagulated, with a strongly acid reaction ; fortunately it was contained in a stout glass 

 bottle, about 10 ounces capacity. 



The portion which had coagulated in the bottle could be removed only by fracturing the sams. It 

 was rinsed out so as to free it from adherent non-solidified milk &c, and treated subsequently by itself. 

 It will be referred to hereafter as A. 



The non- coagulated portion was mixed with about twice its volume of water, with about one ounce 

 (fluid measure) ordinary acetic acid British Pharmacopoeia strength, &c. After a few days, exposure the 

 coagulum rose to the surface in a fairly coherent form, and was collected and squeezed. This portion 

 will bo referred to hereafter as B. 



The reeicluul liquid was evaporated to complete dryness, so as to ascertain whether the juice itself 

 contuined any principle likely to produce a detrimental eflect on the product, by any subsequent process 

 of coagulation or inspiration. So far as we can see, ihe portion of the juice or sap which is rendered 

 insoliJfiMn by evaporation, would give the rubber a dark colour and render it short. 



The finest Para rubber ccntains the entire juice or sap of the tree ; the aqueous portion evaporates 

 during the process of coagulating. It is doubtful whether the juice of the Forsteronia florbunda could 

 ivith advantage be treated in this way. 



The juices of India-rubber producing plants are alkaline or neutral, never acid. By a process of 

 fermentation which soon sets in, the nitrogeneous or other constituents of the juice produce sufficient acid 

 to cause a separation of caoutchouc Whether the Forsteronia floribunda juice exposed in an open vessel 

 would part with the whole of the caoutchouc in this way, would be worth trying, with the recently col- 

 lected juice. 



It is quit3 possible that it would be an advantage to recover the caoutchouc as it was coagulated, 

 without using any artifical means ; the mother liquor should not be thrown away but should be continu- 

 ally worked on with fresh juice. 



The method recently given by Mr. Alvan Millson for the recovery of caoutchouc from the " Abba'* 

 tree is admirably adapted for the treatment of the juice of the Forsteronia floribunda. 



* Extract " Kew Bulletin" No. 15, March, 1888, p.p. 70, 71. Copy of letter from Rev. E. B. Key. Copy of Roport 

 from India Rubber, Gutta Percha & Co., Silvertown. Four samples of manufactured Rubber. 



