*;*cv 
9 $ 
of the finest quality, imore especially as the Para grass referred to 
rather resembles lallang and grows in great abundance in the 
immediate vicinity of the present installation at Tacarigus. 
In conclusion it has been thought necessary in dealing with this 
subject to give a brief description of the properties of the paper used 
for the publication of the Trinidad Mirror . The paper under 
consideration is not altogether uniform in composition, some of the 
sheets in parts being only just over half the thickness of the mean 
average. Some of the strongest show a breaking strain in the ma- 
chine direction of l8'5 lbs. and resist the “ folding test ” 1,5/1 rubs ; 
whilst, some of the less even portions break at a figure as low as 675 
lbs. and withstand a folding test of only 70. Futhermore, it is noticed 
that the paper is unevenly sized, and in this respect is not quite up 
to the normal according to specifications on paper standards. 
PARA RUBBER FROM OLD TREES. 
We published a letter which has been freely circulated from the 
United States Rubber Company stating that their analyst cannot find 
any difference in strength between young and old plantation rubber. 
This is rather remarkable as it is easy to feel the difference in 
a sheet of a five-year tree and one of 20 years’ old. We therefore 
add alletter from Gow Wilson, and Stanton, received recently, giving 
a report on some rubber from old trees in the Botantic Gardens 
“ which especially as regards strength ” is very superior to ordinary 
plantation rubber. Of course the rubber was prepared carefully, but 
in no way that plantation could not be prepared. Presuming that 
the United States Rubber Company was working with good planta- 
tion rubber clean and well made, the only thing that seems obvious is 
that the old trees of the Botanic Gardens produce a stronger rubber 
and that is due to their age, 
{To //. N. Ridley , Esq., Singapore Botanic Gardens) 
Dear Sir, 
We now have pleasure in enclosing report and valuations of the 
two cases lightly smoked sheet rubber ex S.S. “ Egypt.” 
You will notice from this report that we have a high opinion of 
the rubber, but it is a new grade on the market, being different from 
the ordinary smoked sheet, and it would therefore require larger 
quantities to establish its proper value. We are rather doubtful 
whether it would be generally recognised by the Trade that the rubber 
is smoked, as the smell is not very distinct on the samples. 
It is very satisfactory, however, that the smoking seems to have 
had no deteriorative effect on the colour or appearance of the rubber ; 
this we consider a great point in its favour, and we would suggest 
