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Manufacture Consideration of the plantation indus- 
and Factory try as a whole over the past decade 
Methods. leads to the conclusion that there has 
been no intrinsic change in the method 
•of preparation of raw rubber over the whole of that 
period. It is, however, obvious that the present 
marks a transition stage and the very near future 
will see alterations in many directions which may be 
fundamental in their effects. It has been recognised 
for many years that progress in this industry de- 
mands close co-operation between the scientist and 
the planter, but, owing to the unfortunate condition 
imposed by the European war and its subsequent 
economic disturbance, the question of existence in 
many cases diverted all attention from the future 
to the present. Those conditions are rapidly passing 
and the spirit of progress and development is be- 
coming paramount again. 
It must be acknowledged also that the period from 
which the industry is emerging has led to many 
alterations in manufacture of raw rubber which, 
although not radical, are of great importance. The 
problem of variability in plantation rubber which 
was at one time a distinct drawback to the use of 
this rubber compared with para rubber, in the 
opinion of many manufacturers, has now been almost 
entirely overcome ; and it is safe to say that, if the 
middle man could be eliminated and the producer 
and consumer brought into closer touch the problem 
would be entirely overcome. The groundwork which 
has already been covered by the chemists particu- 
larly concerned with investigations into methods of 
preparation of raw rubber has been extensive, and 
it has been demonstrated that the vulcanizing pro- 
perties of plantation rubber can be influenced to 
