Balata and the Balata Industry. 179 
the best way to attain this desired object would be for 
the exporters of British and Dutch Guiana to combine to 
centralize the exports with one or two firms of manufac- 
turers, English or American. It may be objected to this 
suggestion that as it would prevent competition in the 
market the obje<5l sought would most likely fail to be 
realised. I can only say to such possible objection that 
I was recently informed by a large collector in Surinam, 
one of the gentlemen connected with the great grant there 
that I have already alluded to, that a Boston firm paid 
him 50 cents per tb\, and expressed their readiness to 
considerably increase the price if they could be assured 
of a constant and sufficient supply. 
In addition to Dr. HUGO Muller'S general report 
on the value of balata, Sir JOSEPH HOOKER was 
good enough to obtain from the India-rubber, Gutta- 
percha and Telegraph Works Company, Limited, 
specific reports on two samples of balata which I 
sent for examination. These samples were obtained 
from milk which I brought to town from the Canje 
River. One was dried by evaporation, and the other by 
precipitation in spirits of wine. The reports are as 
follows : — 
" No. 1.—' Balata dried by evaporation.* This specimen was clean 
and firm and quite solid. It lost on washing and drying 25 per cent. It 
was easily manipulated, and the product was firm and tough." 
" No. 2. — ' Balata dried by precipitation in spirits of wine.' This 
specimen was clean, firm and quite solid, but not quite so hard as the 
above. Its loss on washing and drying is 38 per cent. It behaved well 
in the various stages of manipulation, but the produft was not quite so 
hard as the above sample." 
These samples were estimated by the Company as 
respectively worth commercially 1/9 and 1/3 per lb. ; 
Y 2 
