Gums, Resins, 



28 



" The growth of the trees out there is in many cases a year ahead of Ceylon ; 

 but in my opinion,"' Mr. Devitt remarks, "after the first year of tapping there is 

 very little difference in the yield of the trees, but I have no statistics to go upon. 

 It is in getting the trees into bearing a year younger that they have the pull over 

 there. But I saw many instances of backward trees (in girth) giving more rubber 

 than surrounding trees that had gone ahead." 



Herring-bone tapping seemed to be the favourite method of extracting 

 latex. While talking on this subject of tapping mention was made of the Seremban 

 estate, which has been under a bit of a cloud lately. The estate is now evidently 

 under the right man in Mr. Mansergh, and we are pleased to hear that he will no 

 doubt give the directors a different story to tell at the next annual meeting. 

 "Under great difficulties," Mr. Devitt remarks, " through mutilation of the trees 

 in tapping, he has put the first series of new cuts on most successfully ; and I think 

 that after the first two or three months of tapping they will get into order and 

 the trees give as good yields as any others properly tapped from the beginning. 

 The rubber turned out is of excellent quality and should hold its own with the best 

 marks on the market. Mr. Mansergh has a tight hand on the coolies who are 

 shaping well under him and the labour difficulty should now be at an end." 



Mr. Devitt went through a lar ge part of the Malay Peninsula, but unfortu- 

 nately was prevented by the quaratine regulations, owing to the cholera outbreak, 

 from visiting certain estates he would like to have seen in Perak, Province 

 Wellesley, etc: 



The Bukit Asahan estate was among those he visited. The estate was 

 somewhat famous recently on account of the bad report on it published in its 

 prospectus ; that report, Mr. Devitt thinks, was very hard on the estate. Mr. P. J. 

 Burgess in now pulling the place round, and under European control a very appreci- 

 able difference is already seen in the working of the estate, and it should prove a 

 fine paying property. 



Johore State pleased Mr- Devitt greatly. He thinks it a most promising 

 district with a beautiful soil. Lavadron estate is a very good example of what 

 can be done there. 



At Singapore Mr. Devitt visited the Botanical Gardens but was disappointed 

 to miss Mr. H. N. Ridley there. On Jugra estate he saw a plantation of the finest 

 coconuts he has seen, showing immense growth, and the success is encouraging 

 further planting of this product, which from all accounts should pay well. 



MOISTURE IN RUBBER. 



Regarding the recent letter to the Ceylon Observer on the marketing of Ceylon 

 rubber in a moist condition from Messrs. Lewis & Peat, (see T.A., May, 1905, page 272) 

 Mr. Devitt says the opinions in that letter were given as those of a private individual 

 —not those of the firm. Messrs. Lewis & Peat's desire was to have the matter 

 brought to the notice of planters and discussed, with a view to finding out the 

 best method of curing the rubber and marketing it ; and in this their letter was very 

 successful. 



" We know," says Mr. Devitt, " that Brazil Para Rubber will keep good for 

 60 years, whereas Ceylon will not keep like that ; and we want to find out why 

 it is, and how its qualities can be improved upon, and to get the planters to adopt 

 the best method of curing and packing." 



