2gi 
The physical treatment of the Brazilian Para which is sent 
home in blocks consisting of a series of thin films of rubber, each 
dried so that it contracts and produces an automatic pressure, is 
most probably one of the factors which give it its resilience and 
elasticity. This has been imitated by artificial pressure, under a 
screw press, of the rubber into blocks of approximately the 
same density as the Brazilian Para. The presence of a certain 
percentage of water in the Brazilian block may be one of the 
factors which add to its good qualities and the retention of a 
percentage of water instead of the complete drying which had 
previously been carried out in the Federated Malay States rubber 
has now been tried with success. Wet block rubber sent home 
from Malaya and Ceylon was received with satisfaction by the 
buyer and fetched a higher price than any other plantation rubber 
on the same day. This price was higher than that given for 
plantation rubber, and as the wet block contained about 9 per 
cent, of moisture, the price of the dry rubber in the block instead 
of being 5s. io|d, was 6s. 4ft?. 
It will be well for the Federated Malay States rubber industry 
to adopt a uniform method of preparing rubber for the market. 
If various forms of rubber biscuit, sheet, crepe, worm, etc., are 
sent to England as well as block the buyers and manufacturer 
are not able to form a sound judgment of the merits of 
Malaya plantation rubber. The manufacturer can get large 
quantities of equal quality of Brazilian Para. He knows by 
experience what treatment and admixtures to this rubber are 
necessary to produce a certain manufactured article. He is' 
doubtful, from lack of experience, as to how plantation rubber 
should be manufactured to give the proper resilience, colour, 
durability, etc., which is required in the articles he has to make. 
If he can get large “ breaks” of uniform quality of plantation 
rubber he will soon learn how it has to be.treated to produce the 
required effect in the* manufactured article. 
The manufacture of wet block rubber, t.e., rubber which 
after being coagulated and asepticised is at once pressed into 
blocks, is a great saving in time, and in the space and plant 
required. Rubber can be prepared for shipment a few hours 
after the latex has been taken from the tree. 
The block rubber travels better without the deterioration 
en route to which the other forms having large surfaces exposed 
are very liable. 
The production of wet block, free from putrefaction, of a 
convenient size and weight, and containing a uniform quantity 
of water, say 10 per cent , seems at present without doubt the 
best method. While it appears to be a pity to abandon the pre- 
paration of our crepe and sheet, both of which the buyers have 
learnt to appreciate, but if the preparation of wet block is more 
