RECEPTION OF LATEX AT THE STORE.--Bearing in mind the remarks in Chapter VI. on the conditions under which latex is transported, it follows that nothing but the very best and most suitable vessels should be used in the store. A point to which adequate attention is not given in many factories might be mentioned here. Considering the importance attached to colour in the dry rubber by brokers and consumers, and knowing how extremely trivial are the causes which may mar the colour, it is rather surprising that better provision is not made for the reception and handling of latex in factories. Too often the receiving vessels are placed on the floor of the store close to the entrance. Coolies bringing in latex cannot avoid bringing with them quite a considerable amount of dirt. Presuming that a hose-pipe has been installed, and that the floor is constantly being sluiced down with water, no great harm will result. But would it not be ever so much better if the dirt were kept out? In how many factories is provision made for this? Such an arrangement is not difficult to make, and is already in practice on a few estates. A verandah is built outside the wall of the factory and all latex is received there. In another place open chutes are provided which terminate in the straining sieves. The coolie thus stands on the verandah where he removes coagulated lump and impurities from the latex, which is then poured down the chute, passing through the sieve into large coagulating jars or tanks. Too often it would appear, from the writers' observation, there is a lack of adequate supervision on the arrival of latex at the store. Much can be learned from an inspection of the coolies' buckets, and the cause of small defects in the finished rubber can often be thus traced. Leaves, stems, bark-shavings, and dirt appear in the buckets, and it is a source of constant surprise to imagine how even unintelligent coolies can allow such things to happen. These objects are removed before or during straining, but still they ought not to be there in the first place, and the fact that such a state of things exists is evidence of neglect on the part of the coolies or lack of supervision. Efforts are made in a large number of cases to cope with these troubles, but on some estates things are allowed to proceed in the same slipshod way, and too much responsibility is thrown on the straining process. [Illustration: RAISED VERANDAH FOR RECEPTION OF LATEX; LIKEWISE EQUIPPED WITH FACILITIES FOR CALCULATING INDIVIDUAL DAILY "YIELD PER COOLIE" BY SAMPLING OF LATEX.] It is suggested that it should be the business of a European to supervise the reception of latex every day. This is at present quite impossible on some estates, but it does not alter the fact that this supervision should be provided, and is extremely necessary.