95 
RUBBER PREPARATION. 
Demonstration op Experimental Vulcanizing Plant, etc, 
VISIT was paid on the 26th April to the experimental paper- 
making factory and visitors were shown the plant employed 
for the complete manufacture of paper from various raw products 
and the methods of manufacture were explained briefly. The fibre- 
making machinery for the manufacture of clean fibre from sisal, 
agave, etc., which is housed in the same building was also inspected. 
A complete unit of plant on a commercial scale for the extraction of 
oil from oil seeds of all kind, including copra and Para rubber seed, 
which is also erected in the same building, was shown and explained. 
Visitors then inspected the experimental retort and condenser 
for the distillation of crude acetic or pyroligneous acid from various 
* 
local woods, including rubber wood, which was being distilled at the 
time. 
Subsequently a detailed inspection of the experimental vulca- 
nizing machinery and apparatus employed for the testing of 
vulcanized rubber was made. A demonstration of the methods 
employed was given, including the mixing, calendering and vulca- 
nizing of the rubber and the subsequent testing of the vulcanized 
product. Messrs. B. J. Eaton (Agricultural Chemist) and F. W. F. 
Day (Assistant Agricultural Chemist) explained the processes to 
visitors and the former gave a brief account of the nature of the 
variability of plantation Para rubber and showed numerous 
specimens of the raw rubber, which behaved differently during 
vulcanization owing to the method of preparation. Numerous 
questions were asked by members of the audience and replied to. 
A very keen interest was taken in the demonstration, the plant and 
methods of testing being quite new to many visitors who had not 
visited the experimental vulcanizing factory before and had not seen 
a rubber vulcanizing factory. 
Finally visitors were shown the chemical laboratory and took a 
keen interest in the chemical apparatus and methods employed for 
the chemical examination of rubber, soils, oils, and other agricultural 
products. 
