The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-06-12
A Substitute for India Rubber From
the Common MilkWeed.

"IN speaking of the adulteration of
rubber" continued Mr.. Lamb, the in
ventor of the new water-repellent, " the
more thought of this vast industry the
more convinced became that substi-
tute might be found among the trees or
plants indigenous to America which
could then supply the markets of the
world. One plant suggested itself to
me repeatedly; that was the common
milkweed (of the genus Asclepias) which
firmly believe to be the india-rubber
tree of North America, and the source of
our supply in the future"
How did you carry on your expert
mentsP"
out West, and before / got through with
my experiments | made up my mind
that the plant would be to the West
what the palm has been for the East.
To begin with, found that by such
slight cultivation as single top dress
ing the plant grew to the height of six
and seven feet and an inch and half
in diameter. had a mistaken idea that
the rubber lay in the sap or juice, and
it was difficult 10 convince myself at
first that the gum was stored in the
cells on the outside of the stalk, plainly
to be seen through magnifying glass,
and as regular and even as the honey
comb of beehive. When | discovered
this natural laboratory it did not take
long to find process to separate it
from the plant. This done, with my ex-
perience in the gaseous treatment of
| hydro carbons, | succeeded in convert
ing it into a substance, which is similar
to rubber in appearance, of superior
lightness and possessing the same quail
tiles. | also found it could be vulcan
lied or hardened; or, used in its pliable
state for dental purposes it is the best
thing have seem"
"What would be the cost of manu-
featuring this new rubberP'
"The outside cost, including labor,
etc., would make it twenty cents per
pound, and the expense of importation
saved. 1t needs little care, only one top
dressing, and can be gathered at the
owners will. 1t would pay better in
proportion to the time and labor con-
sumed than any other farm product
One acre of land will yield three tons
of milkweed or 800 pounds of gum.
An interesting fact noticed was the
great similarity of the plant in fiber,
leaf, etc., to the india-rubber tree
proper"
"How long have you been expert
menting with the milkweed?"
/ sr.s Since 1898 s--..l during that period
{ nave discovered a use for every por-
ton of it. AS l said, in the course of
my experiments / hit upon this water
repellent, which I stopped to perfect,
seeing its value and knowing that thou
sands of dollars had been spent by rub
Der firms in endeavors to procure an in
visible, unsmellable water repellent.
In the course of tests [ found that by
gathering the pods before they opened
l had two treasures-the seeds, from
which can be extracted lubricating oil
finer than linseed, and besides acting as
a liniment, being an excellent cathartic;
while from the floss inside material
very much like Irish poplin could be
woven. The experiment with the floss
was tried in Europe during our civil
war when a substitute for cotton was
needed, but as the milkweed had to be
exported and the war came to close,
the experiment did not end in practical
results.''
"And what can be done with the re-
fuse of the plant?" was asked, but
hardly in earnest.
"Why, use it for fuel; it gives out
exactly the same heat as wood, and
makes pleasant CRATE fire, while the
root has long been utilized for medicinal
purposes" concluded the inventor, who
has already taken out eight patents on
this plant which henceforth demands
more than common respect from the
lovers of the useful.-N. Y Graph