THE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 



Tropical Agriculturist and Magazine of the C. A. 8. 



Compiled by A. M. & J. FERGUSON. 



No. 6,] DECEMBEE, 1909. [Vol. V. 



RUBBER IN THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



Countries of Origin.— India, Gambia, Sierra 

 Laone, Gold Coast, Southern Nigeria, British 

 East Africa, Zanzibar, Nyasaland, Rhodesia, 

 Transvaal, Cape Colony, Seychelles, West Indies, 

 British Guiana, Portuguese East Africa. 

 Number of rubbers received in 1908 ... 40 

 N umber of rubbers reported on in 1908 ... 94 

 The attention which has been devoted to rub- 

 ber and its cultivation during recent years in 

 nearly all the tropical Colonies and Protectorates 

 shows no sign of diminution, and the number of 

 specimens reported on by the Imperial Institute 

 during 1908 slightly exceeded the figures for 

 1907. In addition to the examination of samples 

 of rubber much information and advice have 

 been supplied to Colonial Governments, plan- 

 ters, and enquirers in this country on points 

 connected with the cultivation of rubber-yield- 

 ing plants or with the collection and preparation 

 of rubber. 



India.— Specimens of Para, Castilloa, Ceara, 

 and Ficus rubbers prepared in India were re- 

 ported on during 1908. 



Para rubber ( Hevea brasiliensis). The speci- 

 mens submitted for examination were prepared 

 at the Government experimental gardens at 



KULLAR AND BURLIAR, IN THE NILGIRI HILLS. 



The rubber from both sources was very satisfac- 

 tory in chemical composition, comparing favour- 

 ably in this respect with plantation Para rubber 

 from Ceylon, but it was rather deficient in 

 strength. The specimen from Burliar was much 

 lighter in colour than that from Kullar and was 

 consequently valued at a higher price, the quota- 

 tions being 5s 4d to 5s 5d per lb, and 5s to 5s 2d 

 per lb. respectively, with plantation Para bis- 

 cuits at 5s 3d to 5s 9d per lb. 



Castilloa rubber (Gastitloa elastic*). Speci- 

 mens of this rubber were also received from 

 Kullar and Burliar. The rubber from Kullar 

 was of inferior quality on account of the largo 



70 



amount (32-5 per cent) of resin present. The 

 trees from which the rubber was obtained were, 

 however, only six years old, and it is probable 

 that the quality of the rubber will improve as 

 they become older. The specimen from Burliar 

 contained much less resin than that from Kullar 

 (about 13 per cent) and was greatly superior in 

 physical properties. It was valued at 3s 6d to 

 3s 8d per lb in London with fine hard Para at 5s 

 Id per lb, whilst 3s 2d to 3s 4d per lb was quoted 

 for the specimen from Kullar. 



Ceara rubber (Manihot Glaziovii). A speci- 

 men of Ceara biscuit rubber from Kullar was 

 of good quality, containing 82'5 per cent of 

 caoutchouc and exhibiting very satisfactory 

 physical properties. It was valued at 5s 6d per 

 ib., with Para biscuits quoted at 5s. 3d, 

 to 5s 9d per lb. A sample of Ceara rubber from 

 South Arcot was much inferior in composition 

 to the preceding specimen, containing only 73"7 

 per cent of caoutchouc and a high percentage of 

 proteid. ft was valued at 2s 5d per lb when fine 

 hard Para stood at 3s 5£d per lb. 



Ficus elastica rubber. Two specimens of this 

 rubber, one in biscuit form and the other in 

 scrap, were forwarded from Mukkie in the 



KANOTH RANGE, NORTH MALABAR. 



Both samples contained a large amount of resin 

 and were somewhat deficient in elasticity and 

 tenacity. The biscuit rubber, which was almost 

 black, was valued at 2s 6d per lb and the 

 reddish scrap rubber at 2s lid per lb with fine 

 hard Para at 3s 5Jd per lb. 



Gambia. — The investigation of the rubber of 

 Ficus Voyelii from the Gambia has been con- 

 tinued, and during 1908 a small consignment was 

 received for technical trial. The rubber was of 

 resinous nature, containing from 30 to 35 per 

 cent of resin, but as the result of trials by manu- 

 facturers it was found to be suitable for certain 

 technical purposes. The washed rubber was 

 valued at from Is. 7d. to Is. lid. per lb., with fine 

 hard Para quoted at 2s. 9d. per lb. 



