CREPES--1. _First Quality Latex._--_I.e._, crepe made from the true coagulum obtained from the regulated coagulation of strained latex. This is a pale rubber, and may be prepared satisfactorily if the directions given in preceding chapters are followed. Naturally there must be, in all factories, some defective rubber of this grade. For various reasons the crepe may be of inferior colour, or is slightly contaminated with dirt or traces of oil and grease, etc. This defective rubber should be placed aside most rigorously and plainly marked as "off-quality." If a proper scheme of standardisation of latex and chemicals is followed, there should not be any such variety in shades of colour, such as was common in No. 1 crepe in the past. Comparatively few estates in Malaya now prepare thick (or blanket) crepes in the No. 1 grade, but in such cases the same rules must be applied as govern the sorting of thin fine pale crepes. 2. _Compound Crepe, No. 1._--In this it is proposed to include cup-coagulated lumps, coagulated lumps from transport vessels, skimmings, bucket rinsings, cup-washings, and tree-scrap. It has been shown in Chapter X. that strict care is necessary to eliminate all oxidised (dark) scraps. These are relegated to a lower grade. The possession of a "scrap-washer" is necessary if the best results are to be obtained. On some estates the ingredients of this compound crepe, while fresh, are placed in a common jar or tank to which a quantity of sodium bisulphite (1 per cent. solution) and acid are added. The resulting conglomerate mass is cut up for working. 3. _Compound Crepe, No. 2._--This grade would include the remaining lower grades--viz., bark-shavings, scrap, and earth-rubber scrap. REDUCTION CARRIED TOO FAR.--However desirable it may be to diminish the number of grades, it must be pointed out that diminution and simplification are not necessarily synonymous terms in this matter. It is well known that on estates where the earth-rubber is only brought in at lengthy intervals, say of a week, the resulting crepe is sometimes very tacky. This is only natural, and is due to the prolonged exposure to the sun's rays. With the improved machinery now at our disposal, and with the increasing attention which will be given to the lower grades in the future, it is possible to prepare from average bark-shavings crepe free from bark, and of quite a good colour. Where trees are not "scrapped" before tapping, there would seem to be no objection to amalgamating the rubber obtained from the bark-shavings with the No. 1 Compound crepe; and it would be a distinct danger and possible loss if this good rubber were to be mixed with earth rubber. The liability of the latter to become tacky is well recognised; and if possible it should be maintained as a separate grade, in which it would be permissible to mix only rubber obtained from actually dry shavings from "scrapped" trees, or heavily-oxidised scraps which have been rejected from other grades.