manufacturers compared with fine Para, and the small lots that 
have been sold at extreme prices, usually 3 d . to 6d. per lb., above 
the price of fine Para have been bought for a special purpose and 
not for manufacturing purposes generally. It is quite a question 
whether it will realise any more than tine Para when it comes in 
large quantities, and it has yet to establish its character before its 
relative value can be ascertained. As long as it is only in very 
small supply it will bring anything like 3 d. to 6d. per lb., over fine 
Para, as the present users of it could not take very much of it for 
their special purposes, and we expect to see the price in the near 
future about the same as fine Para — some say below it. With 
regard to the preparation and the use of acids, its purification from 
resin, etc., we can only say that the less acid or chemical treatment, 
the better — and, of course, the purer the rubber is and the less 
resin it contains, the more valuable it must naturally be to the ma- 
nufacturers. 
Manufacturers hate the idea of any chemical treatment, and are 
very shy of buying any rubber that has a suspicion of acid, or 
having been specially treated. 'They prefer to receive the crude 
article and treat it for themselves. Using acid is very dangerous, 
as it may spoil a manufacturer’s goods. All the manufacturers 
want is a good, pure article, and the one that loses least in manu- 
facture will command the best price. 
As to colour, this is of no importance, and in trying to make it 
pale, you may spoil it altogether. The thickness of the biscuits is 
also of no importance, and if thick biscuits can be cured and dried 
as well as thin, which we very much doubt, they would fetch as 
much as thin. 
As to vulcanising the rubber and colouring it, we should say no 
action could be thought of more fatal to the industry than for plan- 
ter to treat their produce in such a manner, and nothing would be 
more resented by the manufacturers : it would be very unwise and 
suicidal experiment. 
In conclusion, we do not think any possible improvement can be 
suggested to surpass the splendid quality of among others, such 
estate as Culioden, Tudugalla and Heatherley, which are as near 
perfection as possible. Let those in doubt take these marks as their 
example. 
1 have, &c., 
LEWIS & PEAT. 
(The. Tropical Agriculturist November rst , 1904. p. 308.) 
Analysis of “5 s. 7\dT Ceylon Bubber. 
95^ Pek Cent Caoutchouc. 
The samples of Ceylon cultivated Para rubber, which obtained 
the record recently of 5J. y$d. per lb., have been analysed at home. 
This analysis shows the true worth of the rubber which was re- 
