i86 
mentioned, In less than two minutes the whole of the diluted 
latex had run through the wire sieve into the bottom vessel, and 
so far as the object for which the machine was intended (i. e.) the 
separation of the globules of Caoutchouc that are held in suspen- 
sion in the latex was apparently a failure. Why it was a failure 
I am not quite sure. What appeared to us to be reasons were 
that either the blades did not revolve with sufficient rapidity, or 
that the meshes of the wire sieve were too large, which I hardly 
think could be the case, for they were as close as fine muslin; be 
that as it may, it seemed that before the revolving blades had time 
to act on the laiex it had all run through the sieve into the recept 
acle below. The appearance of the latex looked at from above 
was slightly frothy, but the consistence after an hour was appa- 
rently of equal density all through as tested by the feel of the 
water drawn off from the tap, and comparing it with the upper 
surface. Mr. BiFFEN who was the first to try and separate the 
rubber by centrifugalization says that some latices require a 
greater number of revolutions than others — 9,000 per minute for 
Para whilst Castilloa separates readily at 1,000 revolutions per 
minute less. Unfortunately we had no time to wait any longer, 
we therefore took the latex in the machine to Malacca, and coagu- 
lated it in a manner, I shall presently describe. One cannot say 
much from this single trial of the machine for or against it — the 
principle is alright and I have no doubt that after a few experi- 
ments one would be able to use it with practical effect. One must 
remember that it is a washer and separator, and not a coagulator, 
and the difference between the two processes is this: — In coagula- 
tion a mass of rubber is obtained which cannot be again mixed up 
with water. In separation on the contrary, the particles have not 
been fused together, but still preserve their individuality, and the 
cream they form can be again mixed up with water to produce as 
it were latex again. Further trials are necessary with the machine 
which can alone prove whether it is suitable for Rambong latex 
or not, for while it may be suitable for Castilloa owing to the 
globules of Caoutchouc being larger, and separating more readily 
than others; it may require some modification to make it suitable 
for Rambong and Hevea latices. 
I now turn to another interesting point, vis., the method of 
tapping; and the amount of latex produced from a certain number 
of trees. As regards the method of tapping, we tried a new kind 
of tapping knife invented by Mr. Tan Chav Yan, which consisted 
of a chisel-like blade being fixed at an angle into a brass socket 
head and regulated by means of screw nut, as to the depth of the 
incision. — The makers had not quite carried out their instructions, 
inasmuch as the blade was far too wide (about £ inch) and the 
cutting edge was not shaped properly, and so we had to fall back 
on ordinary pocket knives. The bark of these young Rambong 
trees is however, so soft, that a good knife is a very good tool for 
making the incisions. As regards the shape of the incisions we 
began by making the well known vertical grove with oblique 
shaped cuts running into it. It was quickly, observed that the 
