55 
to the particular smoke used, viz, that obtained from the 
fruits of the Urucuri palm (Attalea excelsa) but this does 
notappeartobe extensively used, and it is quite possible that 
the smoke of many other palm-nuts, e.g. (coco-nuts) would 
answer equally well. The real advantage of smoking most 
probably lies in the method of coagulation. This was de- 
scribed by Dr. P. Schidrowitz.* “The method of smoking 
“and drying one thin layer upon another in endless suc- 
cession may, in my opinion, be compared to the manu- 
4 4 facture of wirewound artillery. It is well known that the 
“strength of a gun which is built up by tightly winding 
“wire round a core in much greater than that of a solid 
“cast or forged mass, A great part of the physical 
4 4 strength, if I may so put it, of fine Para is due, in my 
4 4 opinion, to this method of coagulation by concentric 
4 4 layers. ” 
No doubt there are other factors than the method of 
coagulation which enables Brazil to market the finest grade 
of rubber, and I suggest that the dominant one lies in the 
short tapping period during the dry season, i.e., at a time 
when the latex contains the minimum percentage of water 
per se. 
It is not claimed by manufacturers that 44 fine hard 
Para” always reaches the market in perfect condition. It 
is well known that the latices of several plants are used for 
mixing with that of Here a hraziliensis — I was also in- 
formed that none of the latex whether from young or old 
trees is kept separate — but it is asserted that any of these 
difficulties are more easily disposed of with Brazil Han than 
with plantation rubber, where the latex of trees of different 
ages have been mixed. 
Plantation Rubber. 
Plantation rubber is still in its infancy and the output 
compares with Brazilian rubber as follows: — 
Country 
1905 
1906 
1907 
Tons. 
Tons. 
Tons. 
Ceylon ! 
75 
147 
248 
Malaya 
I 
130 
385 
936 
Brazil 
34,490 
38,000 
36,470 
V M 
