47 
has been largely decomposed. It is probable however, that if the 
oil were expressed from the decorticated seeds, the residual cake 
could be utilized as a feeding material, as is shown by the following 
comparison between the calculated composition of such a cake and 
the composition of some commercial feeding cakes : — 
Calculated com- 
1 s 
•+J 
a 
<u 
. u 
72 a 
B t 
4 -i 
e 
<u 
0 
cn • 
1 V c 
0 13 u 
_n iZ D 
■jj 
£5 . 
‘Z 
position of : — 
O 
s s. 
Ash 
per 
2 
■a u 
^ a, 
U-i p , 
b "O j_ 
+-> 3 
3 H 
z > 
Para rubber seed 
cake 
13-36 
5 -T 9 
26.8 
5. GO 
6.03 
43-64 
84.25 
Linseed cake (new 
process) 
94 
54 
35*6 
7.1 
7.5 
35 -o 
S7.85 
Linseed cake (old 
process) 
10.8 
5 *o 
28.6 
6.7 
10.6 
38.3 
91.28 
Cottonseed cake 
(new process) 
11.12 
6.10 
38.47 
9.78 
8.78 
25-75 
84.4 
These figures : 
shew that a cake pr 
epared 
from 
the Para 
rubber 
seed meal would compare favourably with other cakes as a cattle 
food, and that it contains a particularly low prop >rtion of indiges- 
tible matter (fibre). 
Commercial valuation.. 
Specimens of both the seeds and oil have been submitted to lead- 
ing brokers. I hey report that the oil could probably be used as a 
substitute for linseed oil and would be worth at present about £ 20 
per ton, but that oil merchants would not take it up unless they first 
had an opportunity of testing it in bulk. I he brokers consider that 
it would be more profitable to ship the seeds themselves to this 
country, as is done in the case of most other oil seeds. They value 
the decorticated seeds at £10 to £12 per ton, and add that they 
would be prepared to take two or three tons at the lower price in 
order to introduce them into the market. 
The para rubber seed meal was not commercially valued, since 
in its present condition it could not be utilized in any way. It may 
be stated however that a Para rubber seed cake of the composition 
already given should be almost as valuable as linseed cake, which 
at present sells from £5.15 to £6.15 per ton. 
1 he results of this investigation lead to the conclusion that the 
seed of the Para rubber tree is a valuable economic produce and is 
likely to become of considerable commercial importance. The oil 
could probably be employed for the purposes to which linseed oil 
is applied, whilst the residual cake would be of value as a cattle 
food. It must be pointed out however that the oil should be ex- 
pressed from the kernels before these have been ground, and for 
this reason the seeds should if possible be decorticated and the 
kernels exported unground. 
WYNDHAM R. DUNS PAN. 
21 si November , /poj, 
