PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
wwimmimC.O. 885
22 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC. COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO.
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and sent a representative to l'ortuguese East Africa to arrange for regular ship- ments of Mafoureira seed to be supplied to their Natal factory. Another firm in the United Kingdom has also, at the suggestion of the Imperial Institute, carried out large scale trials with a consignment of this seed supplied by the Imperial Institute.
Shea nuts, &c.--Similar action has been taken by the Imperial Institute in con- nection with a number of West African oil seeds. Certain of these, such as shea nuts, the nuts of Mimusops Djace, and the seeds of Lophira alata and Pentaclethra macrophylla, were proved to be of commercial value, and the publication of the Imperial Institute reports has resulted in the development of an export trade in these seeds, which, in the case of shea nuts has now attained large dimensions, so much so that the question of starting plantations of these trees is under consideration. More recently several other oil seeds of promising character from East and West Africa have been investigated, and in a number of cases orders for trial consignments have been received from manufacturers and transmitted to the respective Colonies.
Cape Berry Wax.-Another instance which may be mentioned is that of the wax of the myrtle berry fom Cape Colony. In forwarding the material to the Imperial Institute for investigation, it was stated that no considerable use for this product had been found, although it was obtainable in large quantity in the Colony. The wax was examined at the Imperial Institute in order to determine its composition and probable uses and was then submitted to likely users. As a result an offer to take a trial consignment of ten tons was obtained from Messrs. J. Crosfield and Sons, and although this order could not be executed at once, owing to the absence of any organi- sation at the Cape for collecting the wax at the proper time, the product is now regularly imported into this country.
The work done in connection with oil seeds and oils has been discussed in some detail with a view to illustrating the method adopted at the Imperial Institute of working in close touch with British manufacturers, and in the following sections less detailed statements will serve to indicate the kind of assistance rendered to British trade in connection with the various products discussed.
Turpentine and Rosin.-During the last few years the price of turpentine and rosin has steadily risen, and numerous enquiries have been received at the Imperial Institute from British manufacturers who are desirous of finding fresh sources of supply. In this connection the Imperial Institute had previously conducted a special investigation of Indian turpentine in comparison with the turpentines of commerce, and several British firms, on their attention being drawn to the results of this work, expressed a desire to obtain commercial consignments of the Indian oil.
At present, however, this is not possible as, owing to the limited production of turpentine in India the whole supply can be utilised locally and none is available for export. One of the firms, however, Messrs. Jenson and Nicholson, of Stratford, E., after fully discussing the question with the Imperial Institute and consulting the India Office, sent out a representative to India to report on the prospects of the industry in that country and the possibility of obtaining from the Government concessions of pine forests which they could work for the production of turpentine and rosin. As a result of these enquiries the firm are now negotiating with the Indian Government for facilities in the pine forests of the Punjab.
A number of British firms have also been put into communication with the con- cessionaire of the pine forests in British Honduras, with a view to obtaining supplies of turpentine and rosin from that country. Among these may be mentioned:-
The Rosin and Turpentine Import Company.
Messrs. R. Ingham Clark and Company.
Messrs. Blacklock and MacArthur.
Messrs. F. Chiesman and Company. Messrs. Jenson and Nicholson.
Tanning materials.-The pods of Casalpinia digyna from Burma were examined at the Imperial Institute and found to possess special qualities which render them of considerable value for tanning purposes. The pods were brought to the notice of British tanners and in a number of cases offers to take consignments were received, one firm stating that they would be prepared to buy five tons per week. These offers were transmitted to India and several small consignments of the pods were forwarded by the Forest Department in Burma. At the suggestion of the Imperial Institute a notice was inserted in the " Indian Trade Journal" calling general attention to the market which exists for these pods in the United Kingdom, and as a result the
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collection and export of the pods has been taken up by commercial firms. A consign- ment of four tons of the pods was recently sold in London by Messrs. Culverwell Brooks and Company, and there is little doubt that a regular trade will now be established.
In addition, the Imperial Institute has been consulted by the Master of the Leathersellers' Company respecting a proposal, which has since taken shape, to commence the cultivation in the tropics of certain tanning materials especially suit- table for leather manufacture in this country. Attention was drawn to the pods of C. digyna amongst other likely products, and concessions of land in Burma and else- where have now been obtained for the cultivation of this and other suitable plants.
Drugs. A very large number of Indian and Colonial drugs have been examined at the Imperial Institute, and several of these have proved to be of commercial value as sources of fine chemicals now used in medicine. Most of these drugs are derived from plants growing in a wild state, and consequently the organisation of means of collecting and shipping them is not always easy, and for that reason the development of an export trade is often slow. One of the drugs thus brought to the notice of manufacturers was Hyoscyamus muticus, first received from India, and subsequently from Egypt. This plant proved, on examination at the Imperial Institute, to be a rich source of the alkaloid atropine, which is employed largely in medicine. Unfor- tunately at that time atropine was not manufactured at all in this country, but shortly afterwards Messrs. Burroughs, Wellcome and Company, of Dartford, erected a factory for the manufacture of fine chemicals and commenced the manufacture of atropine, thus starting a new industry in this country, and the Imperial Institute has been informed that this firm alone is now using about one ton of Egyptian Hyoscyamus muticus each week for the manufacture of atropine. Messrs. T. and H. Smith, of Edinburgh, who are makers of medicinal chemicals, have also recently consulted the Imperial Institute as to the best sources of atropine and certain related alkaloids, and a memorandum giving a resume of the special information available on the subject at the Imperial Institute, as the result of investigations carried on almost continuously since 1902, has been prepared for them.
Incidentally it may be mentioned that not only have the two firms here referred to received assistance from the Imperial Institute in the important matter of selecting raw material for this new industry, but their factories for fine chemicals are under the control of chemists who were on the staff of the Imperial Institute. In this way the Institute also serves British manufacturers, since at the present time it is the only public institution in this country which affords a technical experience in the chemical investigation of natural raw materials for purely industrial purposes.
Rubber. The interest which has been taken during recent years in the production of rubber in all the tropical British Colonies and Protectorates has led to the sub- mission to the Imperial Institute of a large number of specimens of rubber for examination and valuation. These specimens have been derived from indigenous plants, some of which have been newly discovered, or from exotic species which have been introduced for experimental cultivation. The investigation of the specimens submitted has led to the identification of several new rubber plants not previously recorded from the countries in question, and to the determination of the composition and quality of the rubber furnished by the indigenous and introduced plants. In addition, much information and advice has been furnished to the Colonial Govern- ments and to British firms engaged in rubber cultivation regarding methods of culti- vating and tapping the trees, and of preparing the rubber with a view to the improve- ment of its quality.
This work has been of considerable advantage to the British firms engaged in the rubber trade in the different Colonies, as it has indicated the best sources of native rubber and the most promising trees for planting purposes. Specimens of new and important rubbers from new sources have also been submitted to various British firms.
The principal reports on rubber have now been collected and issued as a Parlia- mentary Paper (Colonial Reports-Miscellaneous, No. 82).
The following are a few of the British planting firms who have applied to the Imperial Institute for information regarding rubber:-
Messrs. Miller Brothers, Liverpool. Messrs. John Holt and Company, Liverpool. Avreboo Rubber Estates. Limited. London. African Plantations, Limited, London.