405 
Experimental work and observations on tapping and 
yield of rubber made in Ceylon are unfortunately of little 
value for Malaya. The climate of Ceylon rubber districts, 
with its periods of dry weather, is not comparable with the 
conditions in Malaya, where rubber trees are in active 
growth of root, leaf and other tissues practically every day 
of the year, and where, even when they are leafless, the 
growth 'of trees is not entirely stopped. 
On one estate in Perak the yield of dry rubber per 
acre wa- 800 lbs., a little less than 4- lbs. per tree, even 
though the tree were crowded together 220 to the acre; this 
rubber was sold at an average price of some 4s. per lb., thus 
realising about £160 gross profit per acre, of which more 
than 50 per cent, must have been net profit. 
Preparation of Rubber for the Market. 
There i still no agreement as to the best form in which 
to prepare rubber for the home market; block, crepe, sheet 
and biscuit are made by different planters for different 
reasons. 
One reason winch makes it difficult for the producer to 
make up his mind as to the best form in which to make Ins 
rubber is that it is not easy to find what the broker and the 
manufacturer like best. A big price for a break of crepe 
ojves the impression that this form is desired and will fetch 
' a better price than block or sheet. Shortly after a purchase 
of block rubber at a priet higher than the re^i on the 
market seems to imply that this kind of rubber is wished 
for. 
The leading brokers, buyers, ua d manufacturers thpm- 
selves when asked as to their opinions are foinnd to differ, 
and so for the present it must renain an dpen question 
whether block, crepe, or sheet will go the be- ft reception on 
the European Market. 
Light colour and uniformity all thr e sample are 
beginning to he considered as qualities to * auied at, though 
the former character is probably only des -red by the manu- 
facturer for a class of goods which can never consume a 
v erv i a i*o e quantity of raw rubber, and, therefore, it all 
prepare to this standard too much may be applied. 
All who have studied the matter, or win, have technical 
knowledge and experience, are agreed th* the most im- 
portant quality to he arrived at m plantation rubber is 
X 4 
