" Scrap” rubber were sent to the Agricultural Chemist to the Gov- 
ernment of India for analysis and the result is given as follows: — 
Report on the composition of two samples of- Ceara rubber 
‘Scrap’ and ‘Prepared’, sent by R. L. PROUDLOCK, Esq., Govern- 
ment Botanic Gardens and Parks, the Nilgiris, Ootacamund, 16th 
September, 1902. 
Water 
... 4.92 
3-64 
Pure caoutchouc 
... 87.67 
QO.oq 
Resins 
... 2.86 
4.09 
Ash 
4-55 
2.18 
Total 
...100.00 
1 00.00 
“'Ihe rubbers are of excellent quality as regards colour and 
texture, and the analysis shows a high amount of pure caoutchouc. 
(Signed David Hooper. 
Offg. Agricultural Chemist. 
Annual Administration Report , 
Government Botanic Gardens , 
The Nilgiris , 1902-1903. 
New Tool for Tapping Rubber trees. 
A device for grooving or tapping India-rubber trees in the sub- 
ject of a United States Patent (No. 730,299) granted to Fayette 
S. Robinson, of Boston. It has been designed for use particularly 
on plantation of CastHloa elastica. Briefly described, the device 
comprises a tongue-like structure having jaws to embrace or par- 
tially embrace a tree, and an adjustably supported knife adapted 
to cut the groove in the tree. When the device is in position, the 
movement thereof up or down the tree, or around it, causes the 
knife to cut the proper channel in the bark. The construction of 
the tool permits the jaws to widen as they are drawn downward, 
to allow for the increasing diameter of the trunk. A vertical 
groove may be cut, or a horizontal groove, or a spiral groove 
around the tree, as desired. While it is supposed that a single 
grooving knife will be used preferably, the plan of the invention 
permits additional knives to be inserted. The Patent has been 
assigned to Ferdinand E. Borges, Secretary of the Consolidated 
Ubero Plantations Co. (Boston). 
The India Rubber World , 
August /, 1903. 
