MEMORANDUM * 
53 
believe that tbis is mainly due to the large proportion of impu- 
rities (bark, sand, stones) with which it is commonly mixed. The 
Caoutchouc which was collected and prepared by Messrs. Martin, 
Richie and Company of Tezpore, while they had the lease of the 
Caoutchouc forests previous to 1865, and which was known in the 
London market under the name of fine slab Assam, was a very 
superior article, and quite lately an improvement has again taken 
place in the quality of the Assam product. 
9. Mr. Mann thinks that apart from the accidental (and sometimes 
intentional) impurities, such as pieces of bark, wood, sand, stones, 
the Assam article is often adulterated with the milk of other species 
of Ficus, which is of a quality much inferior to the milk of 
F. elastica. Messrs. Martin and Richie* are said to have given 
up their lease before it had expired, because the supply had 
diminished so far that their business was no longer remunerative, 
and from late reports which I have seen on the subject I gather 
that the number of Caoutchouc trees remaining in British territory 
is believed to be limited. Tinder these circumstances it does not 
appear likely that any considerable improvement of the article 
can now be expected to be effected through the agency of private 
enterprise, except at the risk of exhausting the remaining sources 
of supply. The question then arises, whether it is possible in some 
way or other to place the collection and preparation for the 
market of this valuable article under the control of public officers 
who will devote their whole time and attention to this subject. 
No great skill is required for the collection and preparation of a 
pure and valuable article, the facts stated in Mr. Collins report 
and in Mr. Mann’s previous papers on the subject, will enable any 
intelligent and careful person to arrange and superintend the 
collection and preparation. 
10. Mr. Mann specially insists on the following points being 
observed : — 
1. Fresh cuts to be made only in February. March, and April, and 
the trees to have rest for two years between each tapping. 
2. The cuts to be at least 18 inches apart, to penetrate into the 
bark only, not into the wood, and to be made with an 
instrument more suitable than the others at present used. 
Mr. Mann prefers the German timber scoring knife. 
* Mr. Mann’s Report on the Caoutchouc Tree ip the Durrung District. 
