85 
12. Asa matter of fact, under the system which obtains on nearly 
all estates, very little latex is coagulated, the process only amounts to 
coalescing. The globules of caoutchouc suspended in the latex have 
partially clotted without separating or disposing of much water and 
that such coalesced latex is fitted to pass through heavy machines is 
no more rational than milling unripened wheat — except that it would 
be more evident in the latter instance. 
13. The time however is fast approaching when Plantation rub- 
ber will have to stand a severer test than has yet been applied. Once 
the supply of raw material reaches demand and stocks accumulate the 
value and test of raw rubber, must as with tea, depend on its keeping 
qualities. It is true a fair proportion of Plantation rubber is super- 
ficially smoked, but in effect there is no comparision between smoke- 
cured and smoke-dried rubber. Superficial smoking is an antidote 
against most fungi if commenced in good time, and the life of rubber 
kept free from mould is preserved, but such smoking cannot re- 
cure raw material of which the constituent elements are already fixed 
14. If the practice of using chemical re-agents was discontinued 
and all possible care taken over latex from trees of different ages, there 
is little doubt that Plantation rubber could be brought up to thestan 
dard of fine hard Para, which it may be remarked represents only a 
small part of the bulk of rubber which reaches the markets by way 
of Brazil. Smoke-cured Rubber from Malaya has been declared 
comparable with fine hard Para and a small sample sent to the recent 
Exhibition in London cured by myself 14 years ago was perfectly 
sound. A sample submitted to the Imperial Institute (really as a 
test for packing smoked rubber) was analaysed and furnished the 
following result : — 
“ The results of the chemical examination were as follows : — 
Per cent. 
Moisture 
... 
04 
Caoutchouc 
95.OI * 
Resin 
2.2 
Proteid 
. . 
2.2 
Ash 
... 
0.6 
As an instance of the keeping qualities of smoked rubber it 
may be interesting to remark that, at one time a large manufacturer 
reported on a sample sent for his opinion as a retrogressive step and 
subsequently — after keeping the same rubber twelve months— that 
he had tried it again and obtained much better results and considered 
it equal to fine hard Para for all practical purposes. 
16. In the use of smoke there are already several misconceptions 
but in the method of application as adopted nothing could be more 
primitive. Let it be remembered from the outset that smoke is a 
result of imperfect combustion; that it is not the elementary consti- 
■* Including 1.3 per cent, of insoluble Caoutchouc.” 
