PROPORTION OF SCHAP TO FINE 

 RUBBER. 



[The following letter should have appeared at 

 the beginning of page 573] : — 



November 30th. 

 Sir,— The subject your correspondent has 

 brought up is an interesting one, but a great 

 deal depends on the method of tapping and the 

 method employed in collecting the scrap. I don't 

 go in for pricking, and I believe the use of the 

 pricker induces a greater percentage of scrap. 

 With the use of a drip tin and plenty of water 

 in the channel, the quantity of scrap is very 

 little; and this avoids labour spent in collec- 

 ting scrap and keeps the channelsi quite clear. 

 There is also the question of time of tapping, and 

 the effect of sun on the trees. The earlier the 

 tapping is completed, the better. But I know 

 of tapping with the use of the drip tin which 

 resulted in almost no scrap in the channel. 

 There is, of course, the difficulty of latex run- 

 ning out of the channel anil over the trunk, 

 specially in wet weather and when the flow of 

 milk is very free. This generally forms a very 

 thin layer of rubber on the trunk which escapes 

 attention and is difficult to remove. This is 

 really w asted, and the action of the sun and air 

 soon causes oxidation and the rubber turns black, 

 causing the whole trunk to have that blackened, 

 burnt appearance so common in the Kelani 

 Valley, &c. 



The scrap in the channels if collected early, 

 before oxidation sets in, and at once run through 

 the washing machine will turn out excellent 

 crepe. But the bark shavings, if collected and 

 then passed through the washer, will give a 

 small, but paying, quantity of fair rubber, which 

 as "creped scrap" is really scrap. 



"Scrap rubber" in the trade at home is old and 

 refuse tyres, rubber shoes, hose, rubber mats, 

 &c, &c, which is purchased by the "reclaimed 

 rubber" workers, andafterthe rubberisgotback 

 and reworked it is offered for sale as "recovered" 

 or "reclaimed" rubber. It is a paying busi- 

 ness at present high prices of raw rubber. 



If your correspondent looks well after his tap- 

 ping, and insists on good work by the coolies, 

 and uses drip tins, he will get hardly any scrap. 



H. V. A. 



