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prepare his rubber for the market as clean and dry and as free 
from nitrogenous matter as possible. The reasons for this are, 
that clean and dry rubber fetch a higher price in the market, 
cost less in freight and handling, and is less liable, to deteriorate 
in transit apd in store, than rubber which is collected by methods 
in common use at the present day. These remarks, however, 
only refer to the better qualities, as, with the commoner rubbers, 
say of West Africa, if it were not for the moisture contained in 
them, they would arrive in Liverpool in the condition of bird- 
lime ( or melted pitch. The best quality of Ceylon or Malay 
State rubber, is, so far as we can judge, no better tlmn fine Para 
rubber. It fetches a higher price solely because*! comes to 
market drier and cleaner'. It is impossible to say, if the planters 
were to wash and dry their rubber before sending it to market, 
whether it would save the manufacturer the cost of cleaning, 
until the experiment had been tried on a commercial scale, 
because a few small specks of sand or grit adhering to the surface 
of the sheets might spoil the articles made from the rubber, and 
few manufacturers would care to run the risk of using rubber- 
straight from the packing case. It is quite possible to imagine 
such a system of packing as w ould prevent the intrusion of dust, 
dirt, or moisture, but such a system would have to be invented 
before the manufacturer would venture to forego the washing 
process in his own works. Therefore, under present conditions, 
or conditions likely to prevail in the near future, we are of opinion 
that it is not advisable for rubber planters to wash and dry 
rubber on the plantation, except for the purpose of sending it to 
market as dean and dry as’possible; and that, as far as we can 
see, it would not obviate the necessity of the cleaning and drying 
process in the manufactory.” 
Mr. Jno. Hooper, of Hooper’s Telegraph and India-rubber 
Works, Limited, London, says: ”1 have nothing but commenda- 
tion for the plan # proposed, so long as the rubber is used for 
mechanical purposes or waterproof goods, as it must save the 
manufacturer charges for extra freight and washing and drying 
space, if the rubber can be cleansed and dried efficiently before' 
being exported. But when rubber is used for electrical purposes 
as insulating conductors — it is very necessary to be careful as to 
the class and condition of the rubber used. For our own 
special insulation, we have found that the lumps of fine Para as 
imported, with a few exceptions, can be relied upon if treated in 
the right manner from start to finish of the manufacture, and any 
lumps which are not satisfactory can be used for other purposes. 
If these unsatisfactory' lumps had been washed and dried and 
mixed with the bulk before being exported, it would be practically 
impossible to ensure thJ^ubber being entiiely of the best quality 
without adulteration.” 
David Moseley & Sons, Ltd., Manchester, reply that: 
“Several planters have been to see them and they have explained 
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