and Magazine of the Ceyh 



touohed 5/5 per lb. and plantation 6/. With the 

 greatly enhanced values of fine para and the en- 

 ormously increased consumption shown by the 

 hoavy deliveries to all parts, consumers turned 

 their attention to medium grades, and the whole 

 of the enormous accumulated stocks disappeared 

 and went into consumption. These facts speak 

 for themselves and show the very healthy state 

 of the rubber trade generally, notwithstanding 

 the constant complaints of bad trade and slack 

 business. Nine months ago we had enormous 

 stocks and low prices; today we haveexceedingly 

 small stocks and excellent prices and a good de- 

 mand. One result of the very heavy decline in 

 the values early in the year of medium 

 grades and wild rubbers (other than para) 

 has unquestionably been to enormously decrease 

 the production and collection of a great many 

 sorts, and hence our stocks have not been re- 

 plenished by them, and it is very doubtful if 

 they will be, if supplies of Plantation are avail- 

 able and sufficient to meet the present largo and 

 ever increasing demand. It is impossible to 

 give any forecast as to prices in the future, but 

 we are of opinion that fluctuations will not be 

 heavy for some time to come, and we look for a 

 continued good demand both for Fine Para and 

 Plantation, a demand sufficient to take and cou- 

 sume at satisfactory prices all that the Amazon 

 and Plantations are likely to send us at present. 



Biscuits 



only come in small quantities now, and no doubt 

 this form of preparation will give way to sheets 

 or Crepe which are far easier to manufacture 

 and handle on the Estates. The very finest and 

 palest Warriapola biscuits have always sold at 

 fancy prices for special purposes. We have also 

 had good lots from Sorana, Tallagalla, Dens- 

 worth, Doranakande, Syston, Arapolakande and 

 Langsland. 



Sheets 



have come in increasing quantities and a regular 

 standard quality has been established, making 

 business easier both for sellers and buyers. 

 Consumers can now depend upon their purchases 

 and get larger and increasing quantities with 

 but a comparatively small variation in quality 

 and loss in weight. In this grade, colour has 

 made but little difference in the price, buyers 

 rather going by the strength and condition. The 

 best known marks came from Vallambrosa and 

 Highlands and Lowlands Estates, and their 

 shipmonts have been most regular in quality and 

 of considerable size. Amongst the best stan- 

 dards attained we may also mention Perhentian 

 Tinggi, Bukit Rajah, Jugraand Deviturai. Tho 

 Penang Sugar Estates have also sent some re- 

 markably good lots. 



Crepe. 



The bulk of the Plantation Crop now comes 

 in this form, and we think it can be taken as the 

 most satisfactory preparation. Now that the 

 quality and oolour is more even and the parcels 

 larger, buyers can repeat their orders and be 

 sure of what they are buying, and an order for 

 five or ten tons can now he executed for a single 

 grade with comparative ease. The quality 

 shipped during the year has boon excellent and 

 the colour has much improved. The very fine 



m Agricultural Society. 203 



pale, in some instances almost white, has realised 

 extremely high prices, and there is a large and 

 increasing demand for this quality for special 

 uses. The medium and mottled is always readily 

 saleable. As to the good dark grades, there are 

 many new buyers constantly enqurine, and 

 these qualities more than any other are being 

 used instead of tho better wild rubbers. Among 

 the many fine marks that call for special men- 

 tion the following have been specially notice- 

 able : Jebong Crepe, which is almost white, but 

 no longer stands alone, as several other estates 

 are now producing quality and colour equally 

 good. Rosehaugh, fine thick Crepe is most 

 popular and one of the best preparations we get. 

 Damansara, Matang, Malacca, Sungei Kapar, 

 Pataling, Linsum, Linggi, Tarentangand Ather- 

 ton are all coming to the front both in the quan- 

 tity and quality of their shipments. 



Block. 



Inthismodeof preparation Lanadron Estate 

 still leads, and the shipments have greatly im- 

 proved during the year, the colour being much 

 paler than it was in 19L»7. We are glad to notice 

 some nice samples from other estates quite as 

 good in quality, but only in very small lots as 

 yet. Very high prices have been paid, and 

 there are now large and regular buyers of fine 

 clean palish. 



Wokms. 



Very fiue pale still commands a very high price 

 but we regret to see that as the quantities 

 increase the quality as far as colour is concerned 

 is not as good ; only a small proportion turns 

 out almost white as wanted. Gikiyanakande 

 estate still sends the bulk of this grade, but 

 several other estates, including Talduwa, have 

 shipped some very fine though small lots. 



Scrap 



— has sold extremely well throughout the 

 year, both in ordinary crinkly scrap form 

 and in brown Crepe. In Crepe form scrap cer- 

 tainly realises a better price; we would strongly 

 recommend planters to prepare it in this way, 

 taking care not to roll too thin which makes 

 it weak and brittle. Scrap Crepe should be 

 hard, strong and gristly. 



CastilloA. 



Only small shipments from plantations are 

 coming as yet, but the sheets from Amban- 

 ganga estate in Ceylon show what can be done, 

 and the rubber from this tree properly pre- 

 pared is nearly oqual in quality to ordinary 

 Para sheets and biscuits. Nothing of any 

 note has come from Java and Sumatra bo far, 

 and we have only received small lots from the 

 West Indies. The improvement in preparation 

 of small lots from Tobago is most gratifying. 



Rambong 



(Ficus Elastica)— is now a most popular grade 

 and has realised splendid prices throughout 

 the year. It is most liked in Crope form. 

 Some very lino lots recently realised up to is 

 8id per lb. There ia a good and increasing 

 demand and any quantity will be welcome, 



