352 
which this out growth started, which is in one of the upper tapping 
marks. The wood and even the abnormal roots seem free from 
disease, but a portion of the bark sent previously with a mass of 
these abnormal roots beneath it has produced the typical fructifica- 
tion and spores of Diplodia. It is possible that this fungus has 
invaded one of the tapping cuts and set up an irritation in the stem 
which has caused the extrusion of roots, though there is no signs of 
discoloration or death at the point at which this accident has taken 
place. 
The tree, though spoilt for tapping purposes on the side where 
the abnormal growth has taken place — as there is no latex in the 
bark, is by no means dead and produces plenty of latex on the other 
untapped side. 
The planter who sends it says he has several trees resembling it. 
They are quite valueless, as they practically produce no latex. 
The monstrosity is a very curious and interesting one. — Ed. 
UTILSZATiON OF PARA RUBBER SEED. 
From the time of the introduction of the plantation rubber, 
suggestions have been put forward for the possible utilization of the 
seeds as a by-product of the rubber industry. Up to the present 
these suggestions have possessed mainly an academic interest, owing 
to the demand for seed for planting purposes and the consequent 
high prices obtained for it. This has rendered it distinctly unprofit- 
able to attempt to utilize the seeds for industrial purposes. With 
the large acreages now coming to maturity it is evident that the 
demand for seeds for planting will not supply a sufficient outlet for 
the quantity that will be produced. Some other outlet will have to 
be found, unless a product with possibilities of value in it is to be 
wasted. At present practically the only use made of the rubber seed 
is as a fuel in smoke houses. 
An article in the Bulletin of the Imperial Institute * deals with the 
possibilities of utilizing rubber seed as a source of oil. It is pointed 
out that the kernels contain about 42 per cent, of a liquid drying oil 
very similar in its properties to linseed oil and capable of being used 
in the manufacture of paints and varnishes, oil cloth, soft soap and 
many other important industrial products. There can be no doubt 
therefore of the existence of a large and steady market for the pro- 
duct, the only question being whether the product can be placed on 
the market at a profit. 
It is just on this point that available figures are so contradictory 
that it is distinctly difficult for any one interested to come to any 
definite conclusion. It was decided therefore during the present 
season to make a sufficient number of tests, weighing and measure- 
ments on a sufficiently large scale to leave no room for any large 
Vol. ix No. 1 , p. 35 
