47 2 
Was coagulated by adding water while the latex was still in the fluid 
state, and then boiling the mixture for about i-j hours in an 
earthenware pot. This rubber has since been valued in Mincing 
Lane at 2 s. 6 d. per lb., and described as “ good, clean, fairly elastic, 
and dry. ” It is, of course, open to question as to whether the 
value would have been higher if some other means of coagulation 
had been adopted, but it would be interesting to know whether this 
sterilizing of the latex is likely to deteriorate it in any way, as 
otherwise it seems to be an effective, and handy method of coagu- 
lating. Some information on this point would be very useful. 
I trust I am not unduly intruding upon your valuable space in 
asking you to insert this letter, as I think a great deal of good could 
be accomplished if the manufacturer and planter had some means 
of communicating with each other and discuss this important sub- 
ject. — I remain, Dear Sir, yours faithfully. 
Francis Pears, 
Lanadron Estate , Mnar , via Singapore , 
April igth ) 1902. 
In our last issue the reader will have observed a letter from Mr. 
Francis Pears bearing upon the subject of “Rubber Planting in 
the Malay Straits. ” 
It is quite refreshing to read that the rubber planters themselves 
are waking up to the importance, or rather to the unique opportu- 
nity, offered by a rubber plantation of producing a crude rubber 
which, not rather more than ordinary accuracy requires, comes up 
to its description. Indeed, the rubber planter will miss a great 
opportunity if, at the very outset, he does not take steps to put his 
production upon the market in such a condition as to render all 
washing operations in the factory entirely superfluous. He has it 
in his own hands to produce a “crude rubber ” which, as a matter 
of fact, for manufacturing purposes is a rubber 99 per cent. pure. 
At the present moment fine Para loses from 12 to 18 per cent, 
in weight in the washing process, and by shipping his rubber in the 
above-named condition the planter would save, to begin with, from 
12 to 18 per cent, in freight, and the manufacturer could well afford 
to pay for such rubber, at the present price of fine Para, from 4'5 d. 
to 6 $d. more per pound, and save the cost of washing and drying 
into the bargain. But, as a matter of fact, the increased value of 
rubber shipped in the pure state would be rather more than these 
figures, for the simple reason that a dirty rubber, when washed, is 
by no means worth as much as the same rubber would be had it 
been prepared at the plantation free from all earth}' 1 or vegetable, 
as also free from all discolouring, fermentable, and deleterious 
matters. 
Of course the most obvious and the most easily attainable result 
for the rubber planter to aim at is to ship his rubber free from 
earthy matter, leaves, bark, wood and the lik^, and moisture. But 
an enormous improvement in “crude rubber” can also be effected 
by keeping it free from albuminous matter. It is not too much to 
