4 



lowing letter states the result of examination by Messrs. Silver, the great manufacturers of India 

 Rubber. 



I have made some experiments to determine the best mode of coagulating the caoutchouc when 

 fresh. I found that acetic acid which is useful in collecting some rubbers, bad no appreciable effect; 

 that the caoutchouc would slowly coagulate with the heat of the hands; and quickly and effectually 

 with fire heat. Mr. Bowrey, Island Chemist, has experimented with the liquor collected by Mr. Pen- 

 gelley, and kept in bottle for some months. He found that the addition of alcohol at once caused com- 

 plete coagulation to take place ; but he arrived at the same conclusion as myself that the best method 

 was to heat all that had been collected during one day in a pot over a fire. Careful watching is neces- 

 sary in order to remove the rubber, as soon as coagulation is complete, to prevent burning; and pro- 

 bably it would be well to add water as coagulation takes place. The rubber should be well washed in 

 water after taking from the pot. 



W. F. 



3, York Gate, Regents Park, N. W., 



24th October, 1890. 



Dear Mr. Morris, 



I attach at foot a copy of the Report received from Silvertown upon the milk of the Forsteronia 

 floribunda, which is accompanied by the following remark : — " The results are satisfactory, samples 

 enclosed, estimate of market value of the rubber obtained from this milk 3s. 2d. per pound." 



Yours, etc., 



(Sgd.) S. W. Silver. 



Report. 



The india-rubber had in this case coagulated similarly to the sample reported on October 17th, 

 1888. The yield of rubber was a little over 2 oz. from 3 bottles, which contained about one quart. 

 This is very small compared with what was previously found, viz., 22 oz. In the writer's opinion, 

 however, there is no cause to regret so small a yield as this, for it is not improbable that the time of 

 collecting as well as the condition of the plant, may help to explain this difference. 



The favourable opinion previously expressed on this rubber is fully supported by what was 

 obtained in the present case. 



Considering how easy it is to obtain rubber from this milk and the disadvantage of keeping the 

 same in an offensive and putrescent liquid, steps should be adopted to recover the rubber on the spot. 



Samples enclosed of washed and vulcanized rubber with a few small pieces for testing the strength 

 and thorough vulcanization of the product. 



Silvertown, October, 1890. 



CINCHONA BARK PROSPECTS. 



The following letters have been received from Kew, and are here published, as the information 

 they give of the prospects of the Cinchona Bark Market may be of interest to Cinchona Planters in 

 Jamaica. 



Copy. c/o S. Rtjcker & Co. 



12, Great Tower Street, E. C, 

 Dear Sib, 3rd November, 1890. 



I am in receipt of your favour of this day's date, enquiring about Cinchona propects. In London 

 the statistical position is better as these figures will show, viz : — 



Landings. 

 From 1st January to 31st October. 

 1890. 1889. 1888. 



48,563 packages. 55,964 packages. 57,127 packages. 



Deliveries. 

 From 1st January to 31st October. 

 1890. 1889. 1888. 



48,563 packages. 49,662 packges. 59,404 packages. 



Stocks. 



First of November in each year. 

 1890. 1889. 1888. 



52,631 packages. 63,105 packages. 57,237 packages. 



Last month the landings were 3,928 packages, and the deliveries 4,795 packages, an improvement which 

 if maintained would soon increase the value of Bark. Unfortunately we have not only to reckon with 

 the London market now, as nearly all the Java bark is sold in Amsterdam, and as you know the out- 

 put from Java keeps increasing. The falling off in the supplies from Ceylon has been quite neutralized 

 by the exports from Java. I do not see how any rapid improvement can take place in view of these 

 increasing exports of fine bark from Java, but that there will be a slow improvement in spite of these 

 I still think as the supplies of bark put on the market now are to my mind insufficient to produce the 

 quantity of quinine required for the world's consumption. Meantime it is to be hoped that some 

 absorption of the surplus stock of quinine is taking place. It seems unlikely in view of these facts to 

 expect any movement of importance in the bark and quinine trade (unless some new factor intervenes) 

 within the next year. 



