358 



[Nov. 1906. 



GUMS, RESINS, SAPS AND EXUDATIONS. 



Rubber Shipment to London. 



By C. Devitt. 



A Lecture delivered at the Ceylon Rubber Exhibition, Royal Botanic 

 Gardens, Peradeniya, on September 22nd, 



One of the most important points in the packing of plantation rubber is, as 

 yon all know, to get it absolutely dry and quite free from surface moisture before 

 shipping, as any dampness, even if it is only on a few biscuits or sheets, is likely to 

 ruin thewhole case-full. We very often find where moisture has been left, the rubber 

 has turned white and decomposition has started, making it unsightly, weak and 

 evil-smelling. Another point of importance is not to put biscuits showing the slightest 

 trace of tackiness into the same case with fine ; it is better to throw them away. 

 We also very often find good scrap spoilt by tacky pieces, and rejected from the fine 

 being put in with it. Buyers do not like qualities mixed at all, and frequently 

 parcels are spoilt by the presence of a few pieces of inferior quality. Even if there 

 is only one piece, it has to be shown in the sample. Crepe is the worst offender. 

 Samples of a shipment come up from the wharf, fine pale stuff with one or two 

 inferior dark pieces. When the buyers see these they mark it down in their cata- 

 logues as fine pale crepe mixed with inferior dark and value accordingly, not know- 

 ing what proportion it is in, and to obtain which involves great expense and trouble. 

 Some planters grade their rubber aud mark it accordingly, such as No. 1, 2, and 3. 

 There may be the slightest difference in the quality and appearance of say No. 1 

 and No. 2 crepe, but a buyer having an order for No. 1 at 5/7 would perhaps be willing 

 to pay just a shade under for No. 2; but seeing it marked at No. 2 he would be 

 afraid to buy it as No. 1. 



THE SIZE OP THE CASE 



is qxiite unimportant now that the draft is uniform. 1J cwt. seems to be a popular 

 weight, but it really does not matter so long as you do not make them too heavy, 

 as it causes extra labour in handling them. To have good strong cases is essential, 

 the rubber is liable to contract in transit between the estate and London and 

 becomes a loose mass, bumping badly about inside, and an extra rough piece of 

 handling will knock the sides out. 



Paper must on no account be used in between the pieces. It does not matter 

 whether it is biscuits, sheet or crepe ; in nine cases out of ten it will stick and cause 

 great expense to have it removed. 



THE FORM OF RUBBER PREFERRED. 



It is impossible to say in what form the rubber is to be sent in the future, 

 but at present the block seems to be most popular among everybody. 2d. per lb. is a 

 big premium. We very seldom see a difference of more than \d. per lb. between fine 

 and extra fine. As a rule when the price is made, the rest go at the same, unless 

 there is anything wrong with a lot, and then a \d. or Id. is knocked off ; or there may 

 be a small order for very fine, and then you may get a \d. more. 



There is no objectiou to biscuits or sheet in London ; but it is for planters to 

 decide whether they can make them and dry them in their thousands. There still 

 seems to be a slight prejudice against crepe, as it is \d. per lb. below other forms; 

 but if it is the most convenient form for planters, manufacturers will have to get 



