The evening times., 1900-02-16

his stock. frequently bleeds the roots as
well as the body OF the tree; this is fatal
10 the tree The product is known as
root rubber and, besides cont tanning large
qualities of impurities, is very inferior to
any grade Of tree rubber, and would be re-
fused altogether by local buyers, in order
TO discourage the destruction OF the forest,
were il not for the sharp competition for
export trade.
The rubber is brought TO market over
land by caravans of natives or. most fire.
quently. by canoes. These cargoes are
generally consigned TO some particular
agent, though often they are sold to the
one making the best offer For conven-
fence. rubber is arranged i'm three classes
or grades. known as No. t. No. 2 and No.
8, the character of the tissue and freedom
from impurities being the determining
factors, as well as the kind OF adulterants
Considerable ability on the part of the
agent is necessary TO enable him 10 prop
erly assert and select the rubber and to
detect adulterations. There-are two class
es Of these-incidental and intentional
The former is the result of carelessness on
the part Of the gatherers. who do not use
proper receptacles for the juice. Inten-
tional adulterations are due to efforts to
increase volume and weight by use of dirt
sand bark and sometimes stones Anot her
species of fraud is the mixture of other
nonelastic gummy substances with pure
juice; still another is to soak rubber by
placing II in pits close TO the water for
long time. Rubber so treated is serious
ly injured in quality. and at the same time
increased in bulk and weight.
The colonial authorities. as well as the
Chamber of Commerce, are endeavorins
by proper instructions to those concerned.
to discourage these abuses and to empha-
size in every way possible the Importance
OF improving the quality of the rubber
brought to Freetown market.
There is being inaugurated by the Gov
eTnoT and officials a plan to foster the
planting OF rubber trees and vines in the
colony. To this end they have caused to
be issued pamphlets of instructions in re-
gard to seeding, transplanting, etc,
through the Department of Agriculture
and Horticulture. 1t is hoped that there
will be q decided improvement as TO quail
ity and quantity of exports in the near
future.
THE value of rubber exported from ST.
ezra Leone in 1928 was S255, ,512.35. OF
which the amount shipped to Germany was
$33 61S.5l The remainder went to Eng
land. The prices in the local market are
by Liverpool and Hamburg mar
l>ets The local prices for No. 1. No. .,
and No. range between so, IS, and As
cents per pound. The freight, handling
storage. and costs of insurance in either
Liverpool or Hamburg are usually esti-
mated at from 6 TO cents pound
Agents commission for buying and hand
ling in the local market is per cent
gross.
THE regular steamship communication
from this coast to England and Germany
makes shipping to those countries COM
paratively easy; and local buyers are
always ready TO seize any favorable oppor-
tunity 10 convert their accumulated stores
OF rubber into ready cash, there is little
or no inducement for them to seek other
markets For this reason, American deal
ers desiring 10 purchase rubber here would
do well to establish agencies TO buy for
them.