4 
RUBBER PLANTING IN CEYLON 
ticity than recovered rubber. This irregularity I find in all the forms of 
pancakes, whether thick or thin, translucent or opaque, except those which 
have been smoked; which, whether owing to the smoke or some other 
reason, have in the lots (from three separate plantations) which I have 
tested, proved even in quality throughout. I have been favored by one 
plantation with unsmoked samples (separately treated and marked) from 
eighteen year old trees, and from young five year old trees. Each of these 
samples proved regular throughout, but the quality was verv different, 
that from the old trees being tough and very elastic, while that from the 
young trees was soft and green. It appears to me, therefore, probable 
that the irregularity 1 have noted in the quality of shipments may arise 
from the varying ages of the trees, and that until they have reached abso- 
lute maturity, the latex of one season's planting should not be mixed with 
that of younger or older trees, but that each year should stand on its own 
merits to attain regularity in quality. The smoked samples may have come 
from old trees only, and the smoke perhaps had nothing to do with the 
quality. This want of regularity utterly shuts out Ceylon rubber from 
fine work, such as thread, cut sheet, bladders, etc., and as the strength 
of a chain is but that of its weakest link, it cannot at present, for general 
work, be classed higher than the good mediums. For the special purpose 
of making cement, however, it has found a place for itself on account of 
its extreme cleanliness, and the very convenient form of the pancakes in 
which it is shipped, practically ready for the naphtha bath. I believe in 
a great future for rubber planting, properly carried out. It might be 
done by the government forest department, and the trees rented when 
old enough,” 
Thus the only “out” about the rubber, from the viewpoint of the 
user, seemed to be the presence of immature, or partly cured gum, some- 
thing to be expected when the fact is remembered that the plantations 
are young and the planters without long experience in gathering or pre- 
paring for market. The added fact that it brings the highest price 
in the market led me to believe that I had before me a most inter- 
esting series of plantation visits, once I should reach Ceylon and 
the Federated Malay States. 
As I said, therefore, I took train at Dover, crossed the channel, 
landed at Calais (so called from the way they handle one's luggage), 
shivered all the night in the absurd little French train de luxe, and finallv 
arriving at Marseilles, stepped aboard the steamer that was to be mv 
home for nearly three weeks. In due course we left the granite quavs, 
the shipping, and the splendid limestone cliffs of the French port behind 
