and Magazine oj the Ceylon Agricultural Society. 



607 



alcohol containing, however, 5 percent of creo- 

 sote. The amount of acetic acid-creosote solu- 

 tion required was again considerably in excess 

 of the formic acid used. The rubber which 

 separated was filtered off in eaih case, worked 

 up by pressure, while one portion of each was 

 washed on the rubber washer, dried and ana- 

 lysed, while the other was examined in regard 

 to physical and other properties. 



It was found that both the formic acid and the 

 acetic acid-creosote products in the raw state 

 and with about 8 per cent of moiaturo were quite 

 alike in physical qualities, " nerve " strength, 

 etc., while neither the one or the other showed 

 tho slightest tendency to decomposition, tacki- 

 ness, etc., when left exposed to conditions 

 favouraole to such changes. 



On analysis the following results were 

 obtained : — 



1: Product prepared 2. Product prepared 

 from Hevea brasil- from Hevoa latex 

 iensis latex by means by means of 10 per 

 of 10 per cent. Formic cent. Acelic acid 

 acid (yield 27.55 per with 5 per cent 

 cent.) Creosote (yield 



Analyses. 27.51 per cent.) 



Caoutchouc 94.21 per cent. 92.51 per cent. 



Kesins 2.47 do 2.26 do 



Nitrogen 0.657 do 0.61 do 



(as protein) 4.11 do 8.81 do 



Ash 0.185 do 0.199 do 



Insoluble 3.45 do 4.68 do 



These figures show that as regards compo- 

 sition the product prepared by means of formic 

 acid is quite as good as that prepared by means 

 of acetic acid and creosote. The formic acid 

 product was of a perfectly clear pale-yellow 

 colour in the dry state, the acetic acid-creosot9 

 product being dark-brown in colour. As regards 

 " nerve,' ! or resiliency, both products were aliko 

 and neither showed any signs of tackiness 

 on keeping. 



In conclusion, these results serve to show that 

 where the latex of Hevea brasilionsis has 

 to be coagulated rapidly in bulk formic 

 acid may be employed with advantage in 

 place of acetic acid. Furthern ore, it would ap- 

 pear to have the following advantages over 

 acetic acid : — 



(a) Much less formic acid than acetic acid is 

 required ; formic acid having more than double 

 the value of acetic as a coagulant, is more eco- 

 nomical from a practical point. 



(b) Formic acid is of marked value as an anti- 

 septic agent, preserving the raw moist samples 

 of rubber prepared by moans of it from putre- 

 faction and decomposition. It would appear, 

 indeed, that in this connection formic acid 

 combines the properties of acetic acid and 

 creosote, and could be employed, therefore, 

 with advantage where coagulatiion by moans of 

 ascetic acid and creosote is indicated (moist 

 block rubber.) 



In combination with centrifugal processes, 

 formic acid gave excellent results When the 

 latex of Hevea was first just acidified with this 

 acid and then eentrifugalised, complete sepa- 

 ration of the particles of rubber was brought 

 about within a few minutes. In separating 

 Hevea latex by means of tho Michie-Golledge 

 Separator, formic acid can therefore be em- 

 ployed with advantage, — India- Rubber \ Journal, 

 April 20. 



RUBBER RESULTS. 



It is still much too early to look for actual 

 commercial results from tho majority of rubber 

 companies, and most of tho annual reports so 

 far published for the past year deal principally 

 with development work. Out. of half a dozen 

 concerns only two have started profit and loss 

 accounts, but these, it is satisfactory to note 

 sh ow tangible benefits for the shareholders. In 

 an industry in which the producer has to wait 

 six or seven years before his stock-in- trade is 

 capable of making full remunerative return one 

 has to be provided with a considerable fund of 

 patience and also a good deal of faith in the 

 merits of a particular proposition. Generally 

 speaking, of course, the rubber industry is one 

 of no small promise, and the substantial success 

 of several undertakings is but an earnest of 

 what will undoubtedly bo accomplished. It is 

 this hopeful future which renders it an interest- 

 ing task to watch the career of rising companies 

 and to examine as far as may be their special 

 changes of prosperity. Speculations of this kind 

 must necessarily be somewhat vague and based 

 mainly on fluctuating factors ; but if this be 

 clearly recognised the investor will not bo misled 

 by what can only be approximate expectations. 

 The following table covers the proceedings of 

 the half-dozen companies referred to above, 

 and shows what progress has been made during 

 the past year as regards capital expenditure 

 and planting : — 



Capital , Area 

 outlay, cultivated. 



Rubber Output 

 1907 1906 



COM- 

 PLY. 1907, 1006. 



1907. 1906. 



£ Z acres acres lb s d lb s d 



Ci olden 



Hope 41,903 39,800 545 692 5,000 3 7 2-3 Not shown 

 Ilidd'n 



Str'ras 5,5 2,900 460 121 Not producing 

 Patlng 32,600 27,000 1,418 1,280 58,100 3 8$ 43,300 5 1 1-1G 

 Rubber 



Ests of 



Johore 33,760 11,300 1,915 250 Not producing 

 Seafild. 70,100 — 1,528 — Not producing 

 Tenom 

 (Bor- 

 neo) 21,900 18,400 600 100 Not producing 



Four of the undertakings, it will be noticed, have 

 not yet reached the producing stage. The Hidden 

 Streams Rubber Syndicate was formed less than 

 two years ago, and has not made as much head- 

 way in cultivation as the original programme con- 

 templated. It cleared and planted about 130 acres 

 in 1906 and 330 acres in 1907, leaving about 146 

 acres to be felled and planted this year. Thus far 

 tho cost has been equal to about £12 an acre, in- 

 cluding the purchase price, which seems a rea- 

 sonable enough average. The Directors do uot 

 venture on any estimate as to when output will 

 begin, but as the entire estate has to be 

 planted, some little time must naturally 

 elapse before the trees are sufficiently mature 

 to tap. The labour supply is good, and one of 



