28 
obtained from the two trees in these experiments, but previous 
investigations upon this point seem to indicate that there is no 
great difference in this respect between the two species. If this be 
so the establishment of extensive plantations of the trees yielding 
Gutta Taban Putih could not be recommended in any locality 
where the much more valuable Taban Merah trees can be success- 
fully 'grown, as there can be no doubt that the latter would give 
the best financial results. If the Taban Putih trees can be grown 
at higher altitudes than the other species, it would probably be 
advantageous to establish supplementary plantations of them in 
suitable districts. The trees yielding Gutta Taban Chaia may also 
be worthy of further experiments if they are suitable for cultivation 
in any districts where Taban Merah trees cannot be grown, since 
the gutta percha furnished by them appears to be slightly superior 
to the Gutta Taban Putih. 
EXTRACTION OF GUTTA PERCHA FROM 
THE LEAVES. 
About 50 lbs. of the dried leaves -of the tree yielding Guttah 
Taban Putih ( Palaquium pustulatum?) were forwarded so that ex- 
periments could be made to determine the amount of gutta percha 
they contain, and the possibility of extracting it upon a commercial 
scale. It maybe noted at the outset, however, that the examination 
of the gutta perchas obtained from the trees has shown that Gutta 
Taban Putih is very much inferior in quality to Gutta Taban Merah, 
and this is also likely to be true in the case of the product from the 
leaves of the two trees. The problem of devising a suitable pro- 
cess for the extraction of gutta percha from leaves is a difficult 
one, which has not yet been satisfactorily solved and at this stage 
it would be desirable in any experiments upon the subject to employ 
the leaves of the tree furnishing the best quality of gutta percha. 
The leaves were ground to coarse powder and were extracted in 
various ways by different solvents, with the result that they were 
found to contain about 2 per cent, of pure gutta, together with a 
large amount of resinous substance. The gutta thus obtained ex- 
hibited very good physical • properties. Since the sample of Gutta 
Taban Putih derived from the tree contained only 35-6 per cent, ol 
pure gutta, the above yield would indicate that the leaves contain 
5,6 per cent, of gutta percha of similar quality to that yielded by 
the tree. 
It is very probable, however, that the yield of gutta percha obtain- 
ed from dry leaves in Europe is much lower than would be obtained 
from the same leaves by treatment on the spot. The gutta percha 
in the leaves is in a very finely divided condition and is therefore 
extremely liable to oxidation with the formation of resinous sub- 
stances, so that owing to changes during transport, the quantity of 
gutta is likely to be considerably reduced. According to published 
statements on the subject, 9 or 10 per cent, of gutta percha can be 
