280 
providing of machinery to cure it, but they are looking ahead and have 
already got one Government expert on the spot, and four others as 
assistants, will arrive there shortly. The gentlemen will study the local 
conditions from the scientific point of view and give the planters the 
benefit of their knowledge. I may mention that I saw no Para rubber 
over three years in age." 
‘‘They will be tapping in another 12 months then ?” 
It will be a pity if they do. The longer they delay tapping in 
my opinion the better will be the results. Java labour will be the 
cheapest of ah producing countries ; rent is much less, and the health 
better than Ceylon and the Straits. I would, however, suggest that 
Java companies should plant for each acre of rubber one acre of coco- 
nuts. They would then be on a still better footing." 
Ceara Rubber. 
Asked his opinion of Ceara rubber, Mr. Welldon said “ What 
1 say regarding Ceara applies to Ceylon. It has been found that we 
have got an inferior kind of that rubber in Ceylon. There are five 
kinds of Ceara, and Ceylon at the onset got the fourth quality. Now 
she is getting the third, and finds that the third is yielding better than 
the fourth The first two kinds have still to come to the island, and it 
is known that they are better-yielding trees, and give a better quality of 
rubber. When they come the result will probably be an increase in 
the acreage grown in districts like Anuradhapura and Trincomalie, 
because Ceara grows best m a dry climate such as is experienced in 
these localities." 
Labour in the Straits. 
Did anything impress you while in the Straits, such as the 
outlook for labour or the standard of superintendent.” 
The labour arrangements are excellent, and the outlook regarding 
labour is better than the outlook in Ceylon. Superintendents, accord- 
ing to Mr. Val. Carey, are very bad, but the estates I saw were in good 
order and the work was well done. During my stay there I visited 
tiukit Rajah, Harpenden, Beverlac, Kapar, North Hummock Ayer 
-turning, Tremelbye and a few others. I think that, perhaps, Mr. Carey’s 
pen ran away with him, as leading Visiting Agents also told me the 
picture was an exaggerated one. We have sent very good men from 
Ceylon, but, when the demand became excessive, owing to large 
acreages being opened, the Straits probably took a few men they would 
not have taken had the rush been absent and had they had their choice 
of men. 
Times of Ceylon, May 28th 1908. 
RUBBER COAGULATION. 
A New Process Described. 
Whatever may be the differences of opinion between manufacturers 
as to the value of the different species of crude rubber available in the 
world s markets, they are certainly unanimous in pronouncing the 
