Jan. 1607.] 17 Saps and Exudations. 



As ordinary Ceylon plantation rubber contains less than 1 per cent, of 

 moisture, this price is evidently equivalent to 6s, a pound tor the actual rubber 

 contained in the sample. Now, the actual sales on the same day were " Culloden 

 5s. 9|d. ; seven other estates 5s. 7jd." Our rubber therefore obtaiued a price 3d. 

 better than the exceptionally good lot sent from Culloden, and the price thus 

 compares very favourably indeed with auy hitherto realized, though not yet up 

 to that of fine Para from South America. 



The following table shows the composition of this rubber after drying 

 ten days, and the average of good Ceylon biscuit * : — 



Creosoted Average 



Wet Rubber. Ceylon Biscuit. 



Moisture ... ... 7 06 ... ... 0"45 



Ash ... ... ... 0-18 ... ... 0-34 



Resin ... ... ... P92 ... ... 2*01 



Proteids ... ... 3-67 ... ... 2"37 



Caoutchouc ... ... 87-17 ... ... 94-83 



100-00 100-00 



Nitrogen 0-58 per cent, 0-37 per cent. 



This analysis was made after the rubber had been drying for ten days ; 

 the original moisture was 9'13 per cent. The portion of the same sample sent to 

 London was protected from loss of moisture, and contained about 9 per cent, 

 on arrival. It will be noticed that the proteid matter is higher than usual, and 

 the resin and ash rather lower. 



This experiment, though obviously incomplete and partial, points to the 

 conclusion that we were removing too much from our rubber, t especially in the 

 way of moisture, and that in future it will be advisable to block the rubber in 

 wet condition, provided that it is rendered antiseptic by the use of creosote or 

 other preservative. 



From this experiment it is evident that the erection of large factories for 

 the mechanical treatment and the drying of rubber would be premature, and it 

 would be advisable to wait while the experiments are being confirmed on a 

 larger scale, 



Such experiments are now in progress, the chief points to be deter- 

 mined b3ing— 



(1.) The minimum amount of creosote or other antiseptic to be used, 

 (2.) The best proportion of water for strength and quality. 

 (3.) The best means of ensuring a constant proportion of moisture. 

 (4.) The amount of resin and proteid matter that can be left in the rubber 

 to obtain the best strength. 



We have to thank the Rosehaugh Company and Mr. C. O. Macadam for 

 kindly allowing us to conduct these experiments on Culloden estate ; also 

 Mr. Spencer Brett for taking home the sample and cabling the valuation 

 and report. 



* " Rubber in the East," p. 192. f " Rubber in the East," foot of p. 87. 



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