GUMS. 
The pale colonris very important, and rales out moat of oar 
. local gems. A good gnm should be unmixed; mired gum. 
d to dissolve at a uniform rate in water. Great care mm 
be taken in the collection to avoid contaminating the gum 
with pieces of bark mid other extraneous matter. Beta, 
export the gnm shonld be sorted into qualities, and the 
packages should be uniform in quality and true to sample 
The London brokers remark that it is of little use shippiug 
small quantities; if it be desired to establish a new gum on 
e mar et, at least 4 or 5 tons shonld be sent, and a regular 
supply of the same quality be guaranteed practicable. 
Consumers will not change the gums they use for others of 
which the supply is precarious. 
Probably there is never likely to be any appreciable 
export of gums from Ceylon, but it is by no means 
impossible that there should be less import trade, some of 
e imported gums being replaced by local qualities. Some 
^Ported gum is the best gum arabic for medicinal 
use, an so far no local gum has been discovered good 
enoug to replace this. A 'good deal of gum is, however, 
nnpo e for use in mucilage for adhesive purposes, and 
much of this might be replaced by local supplies. The gnm 
IwT?’ 0diDa ’ &C ” Sive good mucilages, though some- 
, ^ m colour than &am arabic. Calico printing 
e manufacture of colours are practically unknown at 
present in Ceylon, bat in the event of their establishment 
ere are several gums for which a use might then be found. 
T’he foregoing brief account will suffice to describe the 
few 6 i 6atUreS ° f this cIasB of substances, and to furnish a 
to sta IT 1 *" 17 ^ irit8 to an y one thinking of endeavouring 
rt the collection or export of gums. A collection of 
eitheJ 311 ^ different kinds of gums known in the colon?, 
DatiVe ° F im P° rted > will be found in the Museum at 
Til* ^ Il8t ° f tke kn °wn Ceylon native or imported 
Lbeii ° ° WS ’ arran & ed according to the scientific names of 
the plants which furnish them. 
