346 



[November, 1912. 



B. Model. 



Mr. Wickham has made three machines for mechanically imitating as 

 nearly as possible the methods of the Brazilian ; B. model now erected at 

 Peradeniya being the one he is disposed to favour most. It consists of an 

 upright revolving disc-cylinder adapted to carry the latex so that it can 

 be brought into contact with smoke issuing from a flue leading from a 

 small furnace charged with smoke producing fuel such as coconut shells 

 and husks ; the object being to generate hot smoke, not flame. On the 

 Amazon the seeds of the Maximiliana and other palms are used. We 

 have had MaximiWina regia at Peradeniya for forty years. A small tank 

 for the separation of the latex is mounted so that the latex can flow 

 through a tap at the bottom on to the flange of the disc-cylinder which, 

 as it revolves, brings it into contact with the smoke. It is very necessary 

 that the extremity of the flue should be set close enough so that the 

 smoke issuing from it shall not have cooled down below a temperature of 

 from 150° to 200° F.; heat being also an important agent in the process. 

 Objects of the Peradeniya Trials- 

 No opinion is expressed as to the suitablity of B. model for plantation 

 use or even of the practicability of imitating the methods of the Brazilian 

 curens to meet the needs of the market. The latex will be measured daily 

 as it is believed that the resulting weight of rubber will be proportionally 

 greater than that derived from the coagulating method. In the first place, 

 though a certain amount of moisture is evaporated by the hot smoke the 

 loss is probably not so great as that suffered by coagulation and sub- 

 sequent drying of crepe. With Mr, Wickham's process, as with hard 

 Para, the rubber is not dried ; decompositon being prevented by the anti- 

 septic oils absorbed in the smoke. This is an obvious advantage as much 

 factory space is saved. Another is a saving in expensive washing and 

 creping machinery. The rubber is taken from the smoker, put into a 

 press tor 24 hours and is then ready for the market. It is better perhaps to 

 keep it under pressure for a longer period though it is not necessary. It 

 has been questioned whether large quantities of latex such as a^e daily 

 collected on plantations of size could be dealt with and this is a point for 

 investigation. It would seem to be a matter of increasing the diameters 

 of the disc and arranging batteries of them mounted close together on 

 single shafts ; and of having them built in sections so that they could be 

 rapidly opened for the liberation of the rubber. 



In acknowledging a sample of hard cured he recently sent home from 

 Ceylon, a correspondent sent Mr. Wickham the followiqg observations : — 

 " It does not convey the impression to my mind at present as being equal 

 to tine up-river hard, but I don't state that this is so because the size of 

 the sample is insufficient for the purpose of a real test. That is the 

 impression ; at the same time the lines you are working upon are entirely 

 sound and if an economical process can be devised whereby our Rubber 

 can be turned out in large quantities under somewhat similar conditions 

 of manufacture to that in vogue on the Amazon, I believe it would be a 

 great step foward in increasing the tensile strength of the article pro- 

 duced. Many manufacturers have told me that good well-prepared 

 Smoked Sheet from the Middle East is as good if not superior to so called 

 Hard Fine, but the great point is that the latex produced from trees 

 grown in the Middle East is quite as good if not better than that produced 

 by the forest trees of the Amazon. This being so the question of improved 

 manufacture is only a matter of time, and I am of the opinion that the best 

 line of advance is in the direction in which you are working." The writer 

 is a well known London authority whose opinions are entitled to respect. 



