38 
We refer our readers to Dr. Stevens, rejoinder to Mr. Thornton, 
Dr. Stevens, while qualifying his remarks on the relative insignificance 
of colour, maintains that the irregularity complained of can be ex- 
pected, except from large estates producing considerable quantities 
of rubber. He maintains that both in colour and time of vulcanizing 
certain grades of rubber from estates which we know have a wide 
reputation, exhibit great uniformity. 
We have shown the samples of rubber to the head of one of the 
principal brokers’ houses in London, and he expressed surprise that 
two samples differing so widely in colour should have been sold in the 
same case. We can only repeat that it will amply repay planters to 
grade their rubber better than they have done in the past. This point 
is one which brokers, too, might bear in mind, as we have reason to 
believe that more care might be bestowed by them in the offering of 
rubber of variable colour in the same lot. In the past brokers have 
sometimes been able to obtain small premiums for a difference in 
colour, and in such cases every care has been taken to keep the 
colour-grades separate; now, and in the future, when premiums for 
novelties in colour and thickness cannot be obtained, there may be a 
tendency to offer lots of a mixed character — a course which is obvi- 
ously likely to do considerable harm to the industry. 
(India rubber Journal January 7th, 1911.) 
GERMINATION OF RUBBER SEED IN BRITISH 
GUIANA. 
By Prof, T. B. Harrison, c.m.g., m.a., and F. A. Stockdale 
B.A., F.L.S. 
■ ( Reprinted from the Journal of the Board of Agriculture, British 
Guiana .) Vol. IV ., No. 2. 
“ Hevea'braziliensis is not known to occur in the. foiests of the 
colony, and jas there are but very few trees of sufficient age un er 
cultivation to produce seeds our supply of plants must, tor some 
years, be obtained from abroad. It is impossible to obtain seeds, the 
germination of which can be relied upon from Brazil, and therefore 
we have to obtain forithe present our supplies from the East. During 
the last four years 172,957 seeds have been obtained by the Depart- 
ment of Science and Agriculture from the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, 
from which 134,419 Plants have been raised and sold to different pur- 
chasers in the colony. Various private attempts have been mad 
with shipments of seeds and stumps from Ceylon, the btraits settle- 
ments and the Federated Malay States, with, so tar, but slight succes. . 
n 
'^D , 
