392 
diseased the root was quite healthy : experiments had been made 
to induce the canker to grow on the root, without success. Nectria 
affects the tissues of the bark but not the root. The same applies 
in the case of seed in which there is absolutely no fungus. 
The disease was more likely to make itself apparent in low-lying 
damp places than on ridges and well-drained land. Swampy land 
would tend to encourage disease when once it had got hold. Rub- 
ber trees were not more liable to pest attacks than other trees, in 
fact the proportion of diseased trees in the case of rubber is very 
much less than that of most other cultivated products. The disease 
could be eradicated by cutting out : a margin of two inches round 
the diseased portion would be on the safe side. 
Overland Times of Ceylon, November 2nd, igoj. 
o 
RAMBONG RUBBER PROM KLANG 
8 th October, igoj. 
DEAR Sir, — -I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 
the 3rd instant, together with the sample of Rambong rubber re- 
ferred to therein. 
The rubber arrived in excellent condition, showing no signs of 
deterioration, and it is of very good quality. Its botanical source 
is presumed to be that of ordinary Rambong, viz., Ficus elastica. 
A chemical examination of the saniplegave the following results: — 
Moisture 
Resin 
Caoutchouc 
Dirt 
5.9 per cent. 
3-9 )> >> 
89-7 .» ,, 
1.2 „ „ 
Ash (included-in dirt) 0.5 per cent. 
The amount of resin present is very low for this class of rubber, 
whilst the percentage of caoutchouc is proportionally high. The 
specimen is much superior to previous samples of the rubber of 
Ficus elastica examined here, and there is no doubt that consign- 
ments of similar quality would be readily sold on the London market 
at good prices. 
The deterioration which this rubber is liable to undergo during 
transit might be prevented or very much reduced if it were made 
up into small flat cakes about three-eights of an inch in thickness, 
and these thoroughly dried before shipment. It would probably be 
found advantageous to pack the cakes in small- cases each contain- 
ing about i cwt. of rubber. 
I am add that the Imperial Institute does not as a rule under- 
take investigations unless these are forwarded through official 
channels, and l would suggest therefore that any further samples 
which you may desire to send for examination should be forwarded 
