Gums, Resins, 



the bark or round off the orifice so as to 

 leave it clean. Through this orifice will 

 the latex flow and deposit itself in the 

 cavity opened in the soil, coagulating 

 impregnated with earth, thus losing in 

 its value according to the greater or less 

 percentage of earth. 



Second Process. — In the same way as 

 the first, make the hole in the soil at the 

 side of the plant, clear the tap root 

 without making any mound so as to 

 avoid any falling of the earth ; this done, 

 place at the bottom of the hole a trough 

 or small basin made of clay or other 

 earthenware, putting same close against 

 the tap root ; having done this make one 

 or more scratches in the root, and the 

 milk will flow, accumulating in the 

 basin and coagulating without mixture. 



Third Process. — Extraction from 

 branch. Although we are against the 

 extraction from the branch, we explain 

 the process which we think is the most 

 Avise, it being left to practice to ascertain 

 which is the most profitable way. 



Make small holes in different parts 

 of the branch, and by the drip- 

 ping and running of the milk it is 

 easily seen where to place the cups, 

 then by means of a piece of string 

 (perhaps it would be better to use zinc 

 wire) hang the cups in such a way 

 that they will be close up to the branch 

 (when necessary), making a small cut in 

 the bark so as to immerge the side of the 

 small cup in such a manner that the 

 greater part of the bark covers it, then 

 make above the cup different furrows 

 (the less the better) in such a manner 

 that the milk will converge well there- 

 into. Cutting the tree unnecessarily 

 should be avoided as it spoils the tree 

 without giving any result. 



In the Manicoba (be it the root or 

 branches) the smaller the orifice made in 

 the bark the greater the production of 

 milk — great care must be taken not to 

 damage the wood. 



Other methods employed to improve 

 on the three descriotions given : — 



First Process. — The use of water as 

 a coagulator. In either of the processes 

 fill the basin with water which will 

 coagulate the milk in such a manner 

 that sand and heavy substances will 

 remain at the bottom of the vessel, and 

 the lignt ones will float without ad- 

 hering to the rubber, so that coagulating 

 in the water it becomes separated from 

 foreign bodies. 



Rubber coagulated in water presents 

 a splendid colour becoming pure and 

 fresh, separating itself from that which 

 gives the water a milky colour. 



522 [JUNE 1908. 



In spite of these good qualities we 

 notice that the rubber continues to fer- 

 ment, losing its fine natural colour, be- 

 coming dark and acquiring an unplea- 

 sant smell which obliges us to neutralize 

 the fermentation and preserving its ' 

 quali ties. 



Second Process. — In place of pure 

 water use a solution of alum and with it 

 fill the basins. 



In our experience, we made a solution 

 of alum in a glass vessel, and scratching 

 the tree we allowed the milk to fall drop 

 by drop into the solution ; on coming in 

 contact with the solution it coagulated 

 rapidly — making the same effect as the 

 drippings from a candle would make upon 

 water, without changing its natural 

 colour, producing a greater quantity of 

 coagulation, and giving a rubber of 

 the best quality and of orange colour. 



Third Process. — We also used chlo- 

 ride of soda (kitchen salt) making a 

 weik solution, and as in the second pro- 

 cess we allowed the milk to fall drop by 

 drop, this time instead of coagulating it 

 remained fluid, notwithstanding that 

 the percentage of milk had been raised. 

 Eventually it coagulated after a long 

 time had elapsed, producing an excellent 

 rubber the colour of sulphur. 



The mauner of adopting these two 

 processes. Having to adopt either of 

 these two processes you proceed as 

 follows : — 



Make a solution (if alum, sufficient to 

 make a weak solution ; if salt, it should 

 be saturated) with which the basins or 

 troughs must be filled to receive the 

 milk as in the other processes. 



The quantity of the salt solution used 

 may be used several times when the 

 basins are substantial, so that they do 

 not alloiv it to filter, they should also be 

 covered so as to avoid rapid evaporation 

 and the falling in of foreign bodies. 



Which of these processes are prefer- 

 able ? It is clear that it depends on the 

 form you desire to adopt in the prepar- 

 ation of the rubber. Should you require 

 to obtain the milk in great quantities so 

 as to coagulate and press it, the salt 

 solution should be used, but not having 

 the requisites then the alum process 

 may be used. One of the advantages of 

 these two processes is the paralyzing of 

 the fermetation, preserving in the 

 rubber all its natural qualities without 

 the disagreeable smell. They have also 

 the advantage that the rubber can be 

 taken to the press whilst fresh, forming 

 a homogenous body and of any size 

 required to be adopted. — (Bulletin of 

 the Department of Agriculture. Jamaica, 

 Vol. VI, January', 1908, Pare I.) 



(To be continue-* ,) 



