33i 
eight hours before being moved to the drying shed, which is about 
fifty yards distant. To the above description, which is given nearly 
his own words, Mr. Garland adds : “ There are certain special points 
about quality of material used for the factory, which are my own 
ideas, not generally shared by planters.” 
It is difficult to say wherein lies the secret of the high quality of 
this rubber, for in essentials the process of preparation, as far as can 
be made out from the description given, does not seem to differ mate- 
rially from that generally adopted on other estates. 
It should be mentioned that nine samples were tested in this 
series and that only Glenealy sheet and Mr. Derry's “ spindle rub- 
ber,” previously noticed, were comparable with fine Para. Some of 
the others, although excellent from a broker’s point of view, proved 
to be very inferior in quality. With variations in the vulcanization, 
some samples showed improved results, while in the case of others, it 
was clear that no alteration in the vulcanization would render them 
anything but weak and short. Two of the samples were “smoked 
sheet from 20-year old trees,” and “ smoked biscuit,” both prepared 
in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore. It is curious and instructive to 
note that these two samples gave quite dissimilar results. 
Breaking Strain Elasticity and Recovery. 
Name of sample and Un- 
time of Vulcanization. Break, broken. 
lb, lb. 
Smoked sheet 50 mins. — 39 
» 55 » 47 
» 45 1 — 41 
Smoked Bisct. 50 mins. — 41 
» 55 » 40 
„ 60 „ 75 
Permanent 
Ex- 
Pull after 
set after 
tension. 
Pull, 
. 5 mins. 
5 mins, rest, 
ins. 
lb. 
lb. 
9 r 4 
13 
ioy 2 
II 
10 
iSH 
13 
24 
10H 
1 3 
10^2 
15 
10 
12% 
14 
9 Vz 
1 sk 
12 H 
12 
9 H 
19 
1 7 
8 
Although these experiments are necessarily incomplete, still it 
may, I think, be inferred that the smoked sheet is incapable of giving 
good results with any vulcanization period, while the smoked biscuit, 
when the right period is found, gives very good results. Interest 
naturally centres round the cause, or causes, of the difference in 
■quality of these two samples. Presumably they were coagulated and 
treated in much the same way, and outwardly the only difference in 
them is one of form, due to the shape of the vessels in which they 
were coagulated. This is an admirable example, showing clearly the 
absolute necessity of instituting experimental work to discover the 
factors which determine the quality of rubber. 
There are now, I believe, in British Malaya some 400,000 acres 
planted with rubber, and over twenty-four million pounds invested in 
the industry, so that there should be no difficulty in raising sufficient 
funds to carry out these investigations. A levy of, say, one penny 
per acre, would give ample money to equip a laboratory, and from 
three farthings to one penny per annum should cover all working 
expenses. 
L. Wray. 
