May 1908.] 



465 



Miscellaneous. 



Walker and Sons' extensive workshops, 

 where I was especially interested in the 

 various rubber machines in course of 

 construction and completed. Mr. Michie 

 kindly introduced me to Mr. Golledge, 

 owner of one of the largest estates in the 

 island. Ihus enabling me to see the 

 rubber machines actually at work. 



Mr. Golledge's estate is at Gikiyana- 

 kande, whence I proceeded by rail to 

 Kalutara, and thence by trap. This 

 estate had the most complete and up-to- 

 date machinery and appliances for 

 rubber manufacturing, and by Mr. 

 Golledge's kindness I was enabled to see 

 the complete processes, from tapping the 

 trees and collecting the latex to packing 

 the dried rubber for export to the Con- 

 tinent. The principal machines required 

 for proper rubber treatment are the 

 washing machine and the coagulating 

 machine. Matters relating to the con- 

 struction, working, prices, &c-, of which I 

 fully investigated, and in a separate 

 report propose to submit suggestions to 

 the Department regarding the obtain- 

 ing of either full-sized or reduced models 

 of which for use and demonstration in 

 this country. 



I may here note that while great 

 strides have been made in the matter of 

 culture and preparation of rubber, and 

 in connection with many other import- 

 ant tropical products, I was agreeably 

 surprised to find the Department's work 

 in tropical Queensland was in many res- 

 pects as advanced and up-to-date as I 

 found it there. Of course, in extent, 

 owing to Avant of labour infield culture, 

 and through want of room, machinery, 

 and financial support, it is on a far 

 smaller scale here. The line of work, 

 also, as was to be expected, in many 

 respects materially differed, as the ob- 

 jects aimed for in the experiments 

 varied, but in many directions similar 

 work, with but slightly differing results, 

 had been snmultaneondy carried out. 

 lu tapping rubber on the estate above 

 mentioned, the " Miehie-Golledge" knives 

 were, 1 found, universally used. 

 This knife is a collaborated invention of 

 the two gentlemen above referred to. 

 Many varieties of knives are used in 

 different parts, and some estates use 

 several different kinds. Messrs Walker 

 Sous and Company have a most com- 

 plete collection of tapping appliances, 

 including knives, among which is one— 

 the " P.isk-Hollow iv "— f he collaborated 

 invention of Mr. G. W. Pask, recently of 

 Melbourne, and one of the first to plant 

 rubber in North Q leenslaud (Castilloa, 

 at Stratford, Cairns), and Mr. Holloway, 

 a well-known aud large estate owner and 

 planter in Ceylon. 



The cultivation and production of 

 plantation rubber is, in the opinion of 

 the best authorities in Ceylon, going to 

 become a large and valuable industry. 

 The industry is receiving the most 

 careful consideration of experts in every 

 branch, and all possible assistance from 

 the Agricultural Department of the 

 Government. 



Space will not permit of my referring 

 in this report to many tropical industries 

 observed in their various aspects and 

 trials and experiments inquired into and 

 noted. I would especially remark, how- 

 ever, that experiments and trials of 

 North Queensland samples of cotton in 

 South India and Ceylon have not been 

 universally successful. 



A new product, called " Cocotine," was 

 noted, manufactured by a simple process 

 at Pondicherry from coconut oil, that 

 appeared to me might be of use in this 

 country, where but little use is made of 

 the cocoanut, and copra as a marketable 

 product is almost prohibitive, owing to 

 the high rates of labour. 



This " Cocotine " is in substance a thick- 

 ened oil, prepared by having certain 

 chemical elements in the natural oil, 

 which cause it more or less quickly to 

 become rancid, removed or counter- 

 acted. Cocotine is largely coming into 

 household use in India and Ceylon as a 

 cooking medium, being more satisfactory 

 than any of the ordinary cooking oils, 

 cheaper than most, and materially 

 cheaper than lard or butter. 



I obtained one sample tin, which I 

 submit herewith for the inspection of 

 the Department. I would suggest that 

 it be submitted to the Government 

 Analyst, with a view of ascertaining 

 the chemical treatment to which it 

 has been submitted or that may be 

 required to make it here, and the 

 probable cost of so doing. A large 

 market exists in the East for this com- 

 modity, ard, in view of the compara- 

 tively high cost of lard here, prooaoly a 

 large demand would soon result within 

 the Commonwealth. 



The tins, such as submitted, are sold 

 in Ceyl6n at 45 cents, equal to 7sd., 

 and in South India from 7d. to 8d. accord- 

 ing to distance from cities and cost of 

 transport. 



I found a new variety of tinned milk 

 to be largely taking the place of the old 

 Swiss condensed milk. The thickened 

 and sweetened condensed milk Uas a 

 flavour that is disliked by many, also the 

 mixing necessary before use can be made 

 of it— mixture possibly with impure, or, 

 at any rate, uusterilised, liquids, renders 

 it undesirable for many purposes. 



