Gums, Resins, 



10 



The Government have passed the following Order on the subject : — The con- 

 cession given for the cultivation of special products of established economic import- 

 ance, on lands held by planters on special leases, will be extended to all lands 

 on the Shevaroys, subject to the conditions referred to in paras 2 and 3, G. O. 604, 

 dated the 30th June, 1905. The assessment on land in the Shevaroys newly culti- 

 vated with special products will be remitted for three consecutive years from the 

 ■ date of first cultivation with a special product. Rubber and tree cotton (including 

 Caravonica) will be treated as special products eligible for the above concession. The 

 concession will not be applicable in the case of a mixed crop, part of which is in 

 bearing. The Government reserve to themselves the right to alter or cancel these 

 concessions on any abuse of them or for other reasons. — M. Mail. 



Manufacture and Machinery. 



THE PREPARATION OF RUBBER AT MERGTJI, TENASSERIM. 



The following notes upon the preparation of rubber at the Mergui 

 Plantations in Tenasserim have been kindly forwarded by the Inspector-General 

 of Forests. They are extracts from a letter from the Conservator of Forests 

 (Mr. F. B. Mansonj, Tenasserim Circle :— 



The term "wet process" for the preparation of the rubber is used in 

 contradistinction to the process of curing by hot air and smoke in Mr. Wick- 

 ham's machine. 



2. The wet process in use at Mergui Experimental Gardens is the 

 simplest possible method and yields very clean rubber. The fluid latex strained, 

 but without any admixture of chemicals but diluted with water, if too thick, 

 is set to cream in soup-plates. The rubber particles, which are of lower specific 

 gravity than sap, gum, etc., rise to the surface whilst the watery constituents 

 of the latex and impurities sink. After about 24 hours or less the rubber forms 

 a soft creamy white cake, which is removed by hand, pressed, stamped with 

 the plantation mark, washed and then placed on well-ventilated racks under a 

 shed to dry. I should mention that after the cakes of rubber are removed 

 from the soup-plates the residual liquor, which is usually slightly milky, is 

 collected along with the washings of the collecting cups in larger vessels, some 

 clean water is added, if necessary, and the mixture stirred. After standing for 

 24 hours or so a certain quantity of rubber rises to the surface. This is care- 

 fully washed and dried, and is sold along with the scrap. 1 contemplate treating 

 this quality of rubber eventually in a washing machine and exporting it in 

 the form of sheet-rubber. Manufacturers, however, seem to be quite content 

 with the "pancake" or biscuit rubber now sent from plantations. 



The quantity of latex at present dealt with is inconsiderable, being 

 derived only from the older trees in the Experimental Gardens. It is not sufficient 

 to warrant the purchase of expensive machinery, but I am of opinion that 

 some simple machinery and drying apparatus will be needed in a few years' 

 time as all labour available will be required for collecting the latex. I have 

 accordingly made enquiries through the International Rubber Planters' Associ- 

 ation, of which I have become a member, with a view to improving our 

 present primitive methods of preparation and hastening the drying process. 

 As this concerns our methods of preparation, I beg leave to enclose a copy of 

 my letter of enquiries, and to refer you for the sequel to the India Rubber 



