^ The Gardens' Bulletin straits Settlements a Journal reflecting the activities of the Botanic Gardens of the Straits Settlements, and published as material is available. Vol. II. pp. 1 — 454, with 28 plates. Dates of the publication of the parts of volume II. iPart 1, issued July 4th, 1918 pp. 1-36 with plates 1 2 " August 12tb, 1918 37-72 4 3 " November llth, 1918 ... 73-108 i 4 " July 4th, 1919 109-142 1 5 " September l'2th, 1919 ... 143-176 4 6 " January 31st, 1920 ... 177-216 2 7 " April 12th, 1920 217-264 4 8 " June 28th, 1920 265-310 4 9, 10 & 11 January 7th, 1921 ... 311-418 12 ,, August 5th, 1921 419-454 4 CsJ cyi SINGAPORE C\2 CO Printed at the Methodist Publishing House, 1918-1921. contents of volume ii. Botanic Gardens, History of, Botanic Gardens ... •-. ■•■ ••■ •.• 30& Mr. Lawrence Niven, Superintendent of the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, 1860-1875 ... ... ... 177 . Plants and Seeds inwards of the Botanic Gardens, Singapore ... 137 The establishment of the Botanic Gi.rden3, Singapore ... 55 The second phase in the history of the Botanic Gardens, Singapore 93 The size of a first class Botanic Garden ... ... ... 445 Economic Plants A possible ancient migration of useful plants westward in Asia ... 444 Yielding condivtents and drugs. Betel ... ... ... ... ... ... 294 Cola nitida at Singapore ... ... ••• ••• 306 Notes on Cola trees in the Economic Garden, Singapore .. 74 Yielding dyes. A note upon Plants grown for blue dyes in the North of the Malay Peninsula ... ... ... ... 426 Yielding fibres. Hibiscus Sabdariffa var. altissima .. ... ...242,441 Paper ... ... ... ... ... 262 Yielding foods. Fruit and nuts. Some trials of food plants in the Economic Garden (Rozelle) ... 242 The Brazil-nut tree in Singapore ... ... ... 435 The Rozelle, Hibiscus Sabdariffa ... ... ... 73 Grain An experiment with Sorghum vulgare, the Great IMillet or Juar from the Bombay Presidency ... ... ... 423 Manuring of rice ... ... ... ... 304 Paddy in the Economic Garden ... .. ... 199 Some trials of food plants in the Economic Garden (Ragi) ... 206 Greens Some tests of Garden vegetables in Singapore (Lettuce) ... 9,421 do. do. do, (Tomatoes) ... 10 Legumes Acclimatisation trials of Lima beans, Phaseolus lunatus ... 121 Some tests of Garden vegetables in Singapore (Lima beans) ... 11 do. do. do. (Peanuts) ... 12 do. do. do. (Soybeans) ... 12 Some trials of food plants in the Economic Garden (Lima beans) 238 do. do. do. (Sword bean) ... 300 Roots A progress report upon the cultivation of the Greater Yam, Dioscorea alata, in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore ... 129 A report upon the experimental cultivation of the Greater Yam, Dioscorea alata, in 1917 ... . ... 37 Dioscorea alata, the greater Yam .. ... ... 158 Some cultivated yams from Africa and elsewhere ... 86 Some tests of Garden vegetables in Singapore (Radishes) ... 8 do. do. do. (Yautias) 13 Staking yams ... ... ... ... 301 The correct botanic names for the White and the Yellow Guinea Yams 4-38 Ill Yields of the Lesser yam and of some African yams ... 159 YieUing oil. €astor oil ... ... ... ,, 263 Castor oil as a crop . . .. ... .. 284 Castor oil diseases ... ... ... ... 304 Races of the Coconut palm ... ... ... 142 The Cohune Nut ... ... ... 432 The Oil-palm in the East ... .. ... ...217,265 Vegetable oil and palm products industry ... ... 304 Yielding rubber and gums Chrysil rubber ... ... ... ... 307 Notes on Hevea confusa, Hemsl. ... .. ... 205 Propagation of Hevea from stakes ... ... ... 54 The discovery of rubber ... ... ... ... 309 The Gardens' Hevea tree No, 1844, H. confusa, Hemsl. ... 113 Pood (see also Economic Plants which yield food) How to prepare maize for bread or pudding ... ... 137 It needs want to make people change their food-habits ... 135 Vitamines ... ... .. ... .. 308 Fungi of Malaya A host index of th>: Fungi of the Malay Peninsula ... 231,276 A list of the Fungi of the Malay Peninsula ... ... 311 Another "Wet-rot" and Poria hypobrunnea ... ... 429 Coconut bud-rot ... ... ... ... ... 208 Echinodia theobromae ... ... ... ...144,199 Fungi from Singapore and also from Penang ... ... 116 Hevea versus Fungi ... ... ... ... 109 Host index for Penzig's and Saccardo's Icones fungorum javani- corum, Diagnoses fungorum in insula Java collectorum, and Raciborski's Parasitischen Algen and Pilze Javas ... 14 Mango pests in Singapore .. ... ... ... 115 Red-ring disease of Coconut ... ... ... .., 259 The Angsana tree ... ... .. ... ... 197 The fungus flora of Hevea brasiliensis ... ... ... 186 Insect-Pests A beetle which atta".ks yams (Lema sp. or Criocera sp.) ... 6 A pest of Lima beans (Cryptocephalus sp. ) ... ... 205 A remedy for bean fly (Agromyza phaseoli) ... ... 263 Catochrysops pandava, a butterfly destructive to Cycads ... 1 Identity of a Coconut Hispid (Plesispa reichei) ... ... 3 Mango pests in Singapore ... ... ... 115 Promeeotheca Cumingii, Baly, another Coconut Hispid and a pest in Malacca .. ... ... ... 3 The Melonfly, Bactrocera cucurbita; ... ... ... 432 Tuba root as an insecticide ... ... .. ... 192 Insects Visiting Flowers. Some notes on the pollination of flowers in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, and in o'.hef parts of the Malay Peninsula ... 155 Lightning. Effect of lightning on trees ... .. ... 303 Lightning and Hevea ... ... ... ... 145 Morphology of Plants. Polyembryony ... ... ... ... 258 Twin nutmeg seeds ... ... ... ... 153 'Ornamental Plants. A guide to the Palm collection in the Botanic Gardens, ... 177,246 Orchid notes ... ... ... ... 44,441 IV PLANT-BREEDINQ (see also Insects visiting flowers), On the pollen of Carica papaya POISONOUS PLANTS, The poisoning of birds by Cassia bioapsularis Rainfall Rainfall in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore and Peuang in in 1917 1918 1919 1920 206 261 32 138- 211 446 261 258 258- 302 158 444 445 145 44,441 SOIL and the NUTRITION of PLANTS A new source of plant food Forests and their retention of rain water Relation of soil acidity to Plant juice Some factors in-plant competition Stock Foods, or animal foods. Dioscorea kegeliana, Griseb., the Yam poule of the West Indies Under-Sea meadows Vegetation of MAlaya. — (See also Fungi) A Botanic Reserve — Mount Maquiling The composition of a piece of well-lciinad Singapore secondary jungle thirty years old Orchid notes PLATES. Cycas damaged by Catochrysops pandava Races of Dioscorea alata dc. do. do. Hibiscus sabdariffa, the Rozelle, in the Economic Garden, Singapore The white or 8-months Guinea yam The yellow or 12-months Guinea yam, and a yam. of Hainan Dioscorea dumetorum and D. pentaphylla Hevea confusa Nuts of different races of the Coconut palm grown in Singapore do. do. Yams of Dioscorea alata, D. esculenta and D. kegeliana ^Ir. Lawrence Niven, first Superintendent of the Botanic Gardens, Singapore. In the Palm valley, Botanic Gardens, Singapore Kagi,-Eleusine coracana, in the Economic Garden, Singapore Hill paddy in the Economic Garden, Singapore Hibiscus Sabdariffa, var. altissima, in the Econo- mic Garden, Singapore In the Palm valley, Botanic Gardens, Singapore Areca catechu, the Betel palm Flowers of the Betel palm Piper Betle, the Betel-pepper vine The Sword bean, Canavalia ensiformis, in the Eco- nomic Garden, Singapore Sorghum vulgare, the Great ^lillet Yams from Nigeria Dioscorea rotundata and D. cayenensis Foliage of the White and the Y'ellow Guinea yams. I Opp( jsite p. 1 II 37 III 38 IV 39 V 41 VI 73 VII 87 VIII 89 IX 92 X 109 XI 143 XII XIII ,, XIV 159 XV 177 XVI 180 XVII 238 XVIII „ 240 XIX „ 244 XX 246 XXI 295 XXII 296 XXIII 298 XXIV 300 XXV 423 XXVI 439 XXVII ,, 440 XXVIII 441 The Gardens' Bulletin 5TRAIT5 5ETTLEnErST5, Vol, II Issued July 4th, 1918 No. I. CONTENTS. Page. Catocliryops panclava, a butterfly destructive to Cj'cacls . . 1 Identity of a CoconutHispid . . . . , . 3 Promecotheca cumingii, Baly, another Coconut Hispid and ji pest in Malacca . . . . . . . . 3 A beetle which attacks Yams . . . . . . 6 Some tests of Garden vegetables in Singapore . . . . 6 Host Index for Penzig's and Saccando's, Icoues Fungorum Javanicorum, Diagnoses fungorum in insula Java collectorum, and Paciborski's Parasitisi-lien Algen und Pilze Javas . . . . . . . . , . 14 Eainfall at the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, in 1917 . . 32 Rainfall in the AVaterfall Gardens, Penang, in 1917 . . .34 Summary of Painfall . . . . , . . . 36 &== To be purchased at the Botanic Gardens, Singapore; from Messrs. Kelly and Wal?h, Ltd., No. 32 Raffles Place Singaporo. Printeii at the MethoiUst Publishing House, Singaporo. DEPARTMENTAL NOTICES. Plants of the A\oeado or Alligator Pear — Persea gratissima, — and Brazil nut — Bertholletia excelsa, — to be sold within the Penin- i^iila at fifty cents each. Seeds of Ilevea hrasiliensis — Para Eubber — as available from trees, twenty-eight years old, to be sold-^^t three dollars per thousand up to the number of ten thousand, and at two dollars and fifty cents for every further thousand on the same order. The (uc.ii^i.o i3ullctiu is published as material becomes available. Its price is fifty cents a copy, post free, or in advance for a volume of twelve ] lumbers, post free. Five dollars in the Straits and Federated Malay States. Nine and a lialf rupees in India and Ceylon. Tliirtcen .^hillings in Europe. ■i^iz-^i^i^m Photos by\ \II. Overh(ck, Esq. Cycas damaged by Catochrysops paiuiava. THE GARDENS' BULLETIN, 5TKAIT5 5ETTLEnENT5. Vol. II. Issued duly 4th, 1918 No. I CATOCHRYSOPS PANDAVA. A BUTTERFLY DESTRUCTIVE TO CYCADS. C'atochri/so[JS [laniJara, Hprsf., is a beautiful little butterfly when seen with its silk}' lavender blue wings expanded; but it is very destructive' in a garden to Cycads: for the caterpillar is a (jounnet and feeds on the youngest leaves, utterly destroying them, so that the plant is left untidy for the months Avliicli pass until it can produce a fresh crop. How untidy it can be, is seen in the accompanying plate. Cycads which had been attacked by the insect and had no young leaves left, produced in the Botanic Gardens a new crop at the end of three months, often only to be attacked again. The butterfly is 3(J — ;35 nmi. from tip to tip of its upper wings. The wings are silky lavender blue above shading slightly towards black, then bordered with a narrow line of black, outside a very narrow white line, with a black dot just inside the border on the lower wings and a fine slightly twisted black tail from the edge against it, this tail just ti]:)])ed with Avhite. Below the wings are dove grey with darker white-l)ordered wave markings and eyes chiefly in the outer half, and with a black eye marking against an orange patch at the hinder angle of the hinder wings. The body is steel grey below, and "wdth the wings closed the insect at rest is well hidden by the pattern. The female insect is duller in colour above than the male esijccially by having much more black suffused through the l)lue on tlie upper surface of tlie wings : otherwise its colours are similar. A female insect hiving eggs, walks about the backs of the still curled pinnae of the C'ycad leaves, moving the ti]) of her body up and down and at eacli light touch attaclics a siiiglo egg to the surface of the plant. These eggs are beautiful objects; they are depressed, and there is a. slight pit at the unattached pole with round it rings of minute warts con]iected togetJier 1)y a sliglit webl)ing, the meshes increasing ill size to the equator. Tliree or four days after the itgg has been 2 laid a small wiiire catLTpillar hrcaks through outward and (om- nieiiees to food ; for tliat pur})oso generally moving to tlie upper side of the iincnrving leaf. It is shaped like most caterpillars are, except for a tendency to draw its head under the body; it has relatively long, pale, but not numerous hairs. Later it changes colour and develops a fold down either side joined, each to the other, in a kind of collar at the back of the head, which quite alters its appearance; for now it is flattened, and the legs and head are hidden. Tn tlie course of three Aveeks, it has grown to a length of 8 mm. with a l)readth of 3 nnn. It is more conspicuously flatten- ed towards the head and towards the tail than at the center of the body ; but nevertheless is flattened throughout. Its colour is a reddish crimson, and the dorsal surface is covered with small black l)ristles among which over eight segments there are four unde- fined lines of smaller white clavate hairs ; towards the side the bristles are colourless. From the flattened hinder end, two curious scent organs can be exserted ; they are colourless and with a few colour- less hairs; when exserted they are minute columns; and a kind of irresolute movement is given to them by repeated retractions and exsertions. This red grub can spin a thread at all times. When mature at 21 days it pupates, on the back of a leaf or iu some other sheltered place, into a short plump light green pupa hanging by its tail and girdled by a thread holding it against its support. The eyes come to sliow reddish and the wing covers look pale. By the time pupation has been reached tlie pinnae of the leaf of the food plant have generally been utterly destroyed while the grub has been feeding for the last part of its time by burrowing into the fleshy young axis of the leaf. It moves about a little but never far. What with the gumming resulting from the wounds, and with the raggedness resulting from the dead scraps of pinnae left attach- ed, the beauty of the plant has been utterly destroyed. The lower block on the plate shows about 30 destroyed leaves and five that have more or less escaped, — an evidence of the small distances through which the grubs move, for they liad not wandered to the pinnae which had not received eggs. The butterfly also appears not to move far. for Cycads at a distance no greater than a quarter of a mile from attacked Cycads, have been seen to escape repeatedly. Two species of Cjcas are attacked in the Botanic Gardens. Cijcds Riniiphii, aiul Cycaft siafncnsis: Other food ])lants have been looked for but not found. The cause of suspecting that the caterpillar has other foods is that young C'ycad leaves are available only at intervals which it may be that the insects cannot always keep. But the lengih of the life of the butterfly on the wing has not been ascertained: it ma}' be so long as to fill ill tlie interval between its emergence at 5 weeks from the egg-laying and the ("ycad's alulity to ])roduce a new foliage. An arsenical spray may ])>■ used as a remedy. T. H. Bl ]!KILT.. IDENTITY OF A COCONUT HISPID. EecentN, Mr. E. M. Eichards, of Caledonia Estate sent to me specimens of what Peninsular entomologists have been calling Bronthispa froggattii, a small but destructive Hispid beetle occur- ring on coconuts. It can be recognized b}'^ its small size, black color, ' and red pronotum. Bronthispa froggattii was originally described from the Solomon Islands, and since there was some ques- tion as to the positive identity of the Malayan form, specimens from Mr. Eichards and also specimens which I had taken in Singa- pore were sent to Dr. Gestro in Genoa, one of the best known authorities on the Ilispidae. Dr. Gestro now replies that he possesses typical specimens of Bronthispa froggattii and that our form cannot possibly l)e associated therewith, on the other hand he states that the Malayan beetle is clearly Plesispa Reichei Chap., originally described from Malacca. I do not know how the errone- ous determination first got into Peninsular literatui..-. C. r. Baker. PROMECOTHECA CUMLVGII, BALY, ANOTHER COCONUT HISPID AND A PEST IN MALACCA. Mature larva and imago of Promejotheoa cumingii, enlarged 2j times. Upon a visit of inspection to Malacca in July, 1917 it was observed that some pest had been attacking the Coconut palms in a serious way between Malacca town and Tanjong Kling, seven miles distant. The effect of the attack was apparent to any one, even at some distance, by the brown colour of all the old leaves; every palm in the area of attack appeared as if scorched, appeared as if attacked by the moth Brachartona which produces this ap- pearance : but on examination of the trees it was obvious that BraHiartona had not done the damage. The young leaves were found to be free, for the most part, from any cause of injury, but on the intermediate leaves sharply defined areas of dead tissue were to be seen : and on the older leaves these areas had become confluent, and the tissues were generally dead and often tattered. The cause of the injury was not detected on the first visit, but the limits of its attack were ascertained as above, Malacca town to Tanjong Kling, and inland onlv about a mile. ArrangeiiKMits were then made that an officer of the Depart- ment, namely J'rot'essor Baker, sliould thoroughly investigate the attack by an early vi.>9 Trinidad Yellow. 586 (unnamed). 443 Grev Jack. 441 Mi Senora. 1531 San Fernando l>o. 440 Prieta. The history of tlie ])ai'ents of this stock is as follows: — a series ■of ^•arieties were brought to California from Porto Eico and carried through one generation after wliich they were taken to the Philip- pines where they have been very successfully carried through a number of generations. ()\ir present stock was selected from these Philippine cultures. Tlie Gardens formerly possessed one variety of XanlJtosoina sagittifoliiim and a vcvx robust variety of Alocasia^ anUquorum (kladi udang). The latter since it possesses an abundance of runners belongs to the group of varieties known as Dasheens. This plant not only furnishes tubercles, and a good pot herb (the youngest tenderest leaves), but the runners can be covered and bleached and make a very fair substitute for asparagus. The new introductions will be put out in beds alongside the two previously planted varieties, so that complete comparisons will be possible within 'ten months, when the crop is ready. These plants should be multiplied and generally disseminated through the colony. The dasheens furnish three types of planting stock, runners, side sprouts and trunk tops, hence beds of the Kladi Udang mentioned above, have been separately planted with these in the present cultures in order to determine any possible difTerence in length of time to maturity or in final yield. q_ y. Baker. •Except the San Mateo Pea nut, none of the races in the second planting gave results worth recording. San Mateo grew well although planted in rather unsuitable soil ; and produced plenty of well filled large pods. But thieves mice and squirrels got at them, and when the bed was dug the results did not represent the produce. It is being replanted. E.H.M. Host Index. for Penzig's and Saccardo's, Icones Fungorum JivAnicorum Diagnoses Fungorum in insula Java Colkctorum and Raciborski's, Parasitische A'gen und Pilze Javas. Acacia — dead limbs;. Botryodiplodia acacigena, Penz. et Sacc. Acacia — ou Diplodia on. ISTectria episphaerioides, Penz. et Sacc. Ac&r laurinum. 'Criella aceris-laiirini, (Pat.) Sacc. & Syd. ISTymanomvces aceris-laurini, (Pat.) Henn. Parodiella acerisj Eae. Scliizothyriuni aceris. (Henn. & Lind.) Pat. Syngloninm insigne, Penz. et Sacc. Aclujranihes. Cystopus bliti, (Eiv.) de Bary. Acorus ferreslris. Uredo acori, Eac. AcroQomia sclerocarpa. Winterella entypoides. Penz. et Sacc. Acronodia punctata. Aecidium puspa, Eac. Asterina alpina, Eac. Acrostich urn (Elaphoglossum) callaefoUum. Scolecopeltis salacensis^ Eac. .4 dli a to da vasica. Oidium tabaci, Thuem. Agaric. Spicaria elegansj (Corda) Harz. Alsopliila contaminans. Hysterostomclla contaminans. A hopliila — dead petioles. Dasyscypha javanica, Penz. et Sacc. Amonius. Hypocrclla discoidea, (B. & Br.) Sacc. Antidesma Junius. Uredo antidesmae^ Eac. Antidesma dioica. Uredo antidesmae-dioicae, Eac. Antidesma lieterophylla. Elsinoe antidesmae^ Eac. Arachis liypogaea. Septogloenm aracliidis, Eac. Araliaceae — leaves. Sphaerella longisj)ora, Penz. et Sacc. Araneae. Gibellula phialobasia, Penz. et Sacc. 15 AreiKjd, saccliarifera,. Auerswaldia arengae. Rac. (iraphiola arcJigae, Rae. Arlhroplit/Uuni — dead petioles.. Dijilodia arthro])hy]li. Peiiz. et Sacc. Artacarpus incim. Rhizopus artocarpi, Rae. A ruiidlna speciosa. Caeoma anuidinae, Rac. A rundinaria. Uretlo anmdiiiariae. Sydow. A rundinaria — yomig twigs. Konradia bambiisina, Rae. - 1 .^pleii ill III pallidu in . ITynienoseyplia aspleiiii, Rae. Bainhiixa. I)idynius])]iaevia polystieta, (B. & C.) Sacc. Hymeiiopsis ellipsosjiora, (Fuek.) Sacc. Konradia secinida. Rae. Banih um — dead. Aeerbia eiiliuigeiia, I'eiiz. & Sacc. AstrocYstis mirabilis, B.. & Br. Campsotriehiim elegaus, Penz. & Sacc. ("haetosphaerii* silva-nigra, Penz. & Sacc. (*omosporinm bambiisae, Thuem. Didynielia niaeidosa, Penz. & Saee. Didymosphaeria fusispora, Penz. & Sacc. Didyniosphaeria minutella, Penz. & Sacc. Didymosphaeria striatnla, Penz. & Saee. Erinella albida, Penz. & Sacc. p]rinena tonientella, Penz. & Sacc. Euty])a bambusina, Penz. & Sacc. Har])Ogra])liiuni nematosporum, Penz. & Sacc. Helieos]^oi'ium intermedium, Penz. & Sacc. Helotiella myoleuca, Penz. & Sacc. Heteroneetria spirillispora, Penz. & Sacc. Melanconiiim sphaerospermnm, (Pers.) Lk, snbsp. bam- bnsarum, Penz. & Sacc. Melaiiomma tomatum, Sacc. & Paol. Melanomraa troclms, Penz. & Sacc. Melauopsamma patellata, Penz. & Sacc. iS'ectria vulgaris, Speg. Xummularia minutula, Penz. & Sacc. Ophiobolus javanieus, Penz. & Sacc. Podosporium tjibodense, Penz. & Saee. Pteridospora javanica, Penz. & Sacc. Rosellinia formosa. Penz. & Sacc, var. flavozonata, Penz. & Sacc. Scirrhia bumbusina, Penz. & Sacc. Stilbum longipes, Penz. & Sacc. Tubeufia Javanica, Penz. & Sacc. AVinteria oxyspora, Penz. & Sacc. 16 Bamhusa — dead sheaths. Clithris ariiiulinacea, I'enz. & Sacc. Roselliiiia decipiens. renz. & Sacc. Scptoria jihlyctaenoidcs, I'eiiz. & Sacc. Bamhusa — living leaves. P^pichloe baiiil)usaej I'at. Bamhusa — young twigs. Konradia banibusina, Rac. Bamhusa bhtmeatia (Seliizostacliyum). Mendogia hanihiisina, Eac. Barl- — dead. Amallospora Daerydion. Penz. Botrytis monilioides, Penz. & Sacc. C'liiloneetrla javanica, Penz. & Sacc. Coryne javanica, Penz. & Sacc. CylindrocoUa succinea, Penz. & Sacc. Dendrochiuni javanicum, Penz. & Sacc. Haplosporella bogoriensis, Penz. & Sacc. Helminthosporium gigantosporum, B. & Br. subsp. javanicum, Penz. & Sacc. Helotium subserotinuni, Henn. & ISTym. Huniaria nmbilicata, Penz. & Sacc. Hypocrea discolor, Penz. & Sacc. • Hypoxylon annulatum, (Schw.) Mont. Hypoxylon diseophoruni, Penz. & Sacc. Hypoxylon niicrocar])nni, Penz. & Sacc. Hypoxylon perforatum, (Schw.) Sacc. Hypoxylon polyspermum, Mont. Ivretzschmaria gomplioidea, Penz. & Sacc. Lac'hnea longiseta, Penz. & Sacc. Xectria ambigua, Penz. & Sacc, var pallens, Penz. & Sacc. JSTectria carneoflavida, Pen2. & Sacc. Nectria coccinea, (Pers.) Fr. jSTectria coronata, Penz. & Sacc. Xectria nigella, Penz. & Sacc. ISTectria tjibodensis, Penz. & Sacc. Nectria trachycarpa, Penz. & Sacc. Nummularia discolor, (Berk.) Ellis. JSTummularia uni-apiculata, Penz. & Sacc. Oedocephalum macrosporium, Penz. & Sacc. Ophionectria trichospora, (B. & Br.) Saoc. Patinella chlorosplenioides, Penz. (S: Sacc. Patouillardiella javanica, Penz. & Sacc. Penzigia macrospora, Penz. & Sacc. , Pezizclla convoxella, Penz. & Sacc. Pezizella subceracella, Penz. & Sacc. Pilacre Petersii, Berk. & Curt. Physospora spiralis, Penz. & Sacc. Podosphaeria casuarinae, Penz. & Sacc. Ehytidhysterium guaraniticum, Speg. subsp, javanicum, Penz, & Sacc. Sphaeroncmella macrospora, Penz. & Sacc. 17 Sporocybe apieulata, Penz. & Sacc. Stilbum miiiutulniii, Penz. & Sacc. .Stilbiim palliduluni, Penz. & Sacc. Tjmpanopsis coelosphaeroides, Penz. & Sacc. Yolutina concentrica, Penz. & Sacc. Xvlaria haemorrhoidalis, B. & Br. Xylaria pilaeformis, Berk. & Curt. Xvlaria trichopoda, Penz. & Sacc. Zytbia abnormis, Penz. & Sacc. Bark — living. Antennaria scoriadia. Berk. Erinella bogoriensis, Henn. et Xym. subsp. Candida, Penz. Sacc. Pellionella deformans, Penz. & Sacc. Stilbum ochroleucinii, Penz. & Sacc. Blxa oreUana. Ovularia bixae, Eac. Blechnwn orientale. Irydyonia filicis, Pac. Botrijodiplodia lougip es. Botrvtis monilioides, Penz. & Sacc. Branches — see limbs. Calamus. Grapliiola macrospora, Penz. & Sacc. Morenoella calami, Eac. Moi'enoella gedeana, Eac. var. calamicaba, Eac. Phymatosphaeria calamis, Eac. Calamus — dead leaves. Erinella nivea, Penz. & Sacc. Calamus — dead sheatbs. Pezizella avellana, Penz. & Sacc. var. macrospora, Penz* Sacc. CanicJJia japonica. Laestadia tlieae, Eac. Canariu m co in m u ne. Skierkia canarii, Eac. Canavalm gladiata. Elsinoe canavaliae. Eac. Canna sp. Uredo cannae. Wint. Canilnum. Balladyna gardeniae. .Eac. Carica papatpi — l)ra ncbes. Diplodia papayae. Tlniem. , Cari/oplii/Uus aromaiicus. Trametes caryopbylli, Eac. Carijola — dead leaves. Exosporium megalosporium. Penz. & Sacc. Carijola pro pi lu/ an. Diplodiella caryotae, Eac. Casianea vesca. Pestalozzia monochaeta, Desin. 18 Caslanopsis — spines of rotten rruits. Lanzia reticulata, Penz. & Sacc. I'hialea glauceseens, Peuz. & Sate. Cecropia schiedeana — rotten wooc]. Anthromvcopsis bronssonetiae. Pat. et Trab. subsp. nniior, Penz. & Sacc. Cercocorna marrantlia. Uredo elionemorpliae, Eac. C hill III ijdoinoiias jtluridlis. Polyplia.uu.s nowakowskii, Hac. Clioiic III orph a ma crophylla. Predo clionemorpbae, Eae. Ciiiiiainomum zeylanicum. Aeeidiiun cinnamon ii, Kac. Scolecotrichum cinnamonii, Eac. ( 'Icrodendroii hlvineanum. Caeoma clerodendri, Eac. Cleroden dron fragrans . Caeoma clerodendri, Eac. Coccids — on coriaceous leaves. Aschersonia javanica, Penz. & Sacc. Cocas iiucifern. Pestalozzia ]iahnanim. Cooke. Coix la cri) in a- jo h i. Phvllacbora coicis, Henn. T^stilago coicis, Eac. Coleoptera — larva. C'ordvceps citrea, Penz. & Sacc. Oordyceps olitusa, Penz. & Sacc. ( 'oleoptera — pupa. Cordyceps coccinea, Penz. & Sacc. ( 'olocasia esculenla. Pliytoplithora colocasiae, Eac. Coiiiiarus diversifolia. • Stagonospora disseminata, Eac. Cori/plia (jcbanga — dead leaves. Eonordeniella memoranda. Penz. & Sacc. Cucnrhiia. Oidium tabaci, Tbuem. » CwZm.s'. Xeopeckia pumibi. Penz. & Sacc. Culms — dead (see stems). Boerlauella la.xa. Penz. & Sacc. Cbromosporium pallens, Penz. et Sacc. Pfypocrea gelatinosa, (Tode.) Fr. Opliioceras dolicliostomum, (B. & C.) Sacc. Culnis — grass. Torula glomerulosa, Penz. & Sacc. €urculi(jo latifolia. Didymosphaeria impar, Penz. et Sacc. Puccinia curculigo, Eac. 19 ■Curculigo recurrala. Puceiuia curculigo, Rac. Cyathea 07-ientaUs. Asterina cyathearuni, Eac. Dendrophthom pentandra. Puocinia macrocarya, Eac. D err is. Puccinia periodica, Eac. Derris elliptica. ^ , Cryptomyces pougamiae, (B. & Br.) Triphragmiuni ])ulchrum, Eac. Bianella javanica. Uredo diauellae, Eac. Dinocliloa tjanl-orreh . _ Mindogia bambusina, Eac. Phyllachora tjankorreh, Eac. Desmodinm umhellatum. Cercosporella atropunctata, Eac. Dioscorea aculeata. Uredo dioscoreae-aculeatae, Eac. Dioscorea alata. Cercospora ul)i, Eac. Uredo dioscoreae-alatae, Eac. Dioscorea filiformis. Uredo dioscoi'eae-filiformidis, Eac. Diospijros. Aecidiuni rliytismoides, Eac. Diospyros — seeds. Aspergillus penicillopsis, (Henn. & ^lym.); -i*ac. Diplodia — on Acacia. Xectria episphaerioides, Peuz. & Sacc. Dung — buifalo. Ascobolus latus, Penz. et Sacc. •Saccobolus kerverni, (Cr.) Bond. Earth. Barlaeina albo-eoerulesceus, Peuz. & bacc. Barlaeiua connexella, Sacc. subsp. tjibodeusis, 1 enz. .V haco. Helvella lacuuosa, Afz. subsp. javanica, Penz. & Sacc. Lachnea longiseta, Penz. & Sacc. Peziza citrina, Penz. & Sacc. Peziza sparassiforniis, Henn. Phaeomacropus fleicherianus, Henn. Podocrea cordyceps, Penz. & Sacc. Eichornia crassipes. Pachysterigma grisea, Eac. Elaeagnus latifolius. AecidiiTui elaeagni, Eac. Elaeocarpus augusfifolius. Dotliidella elaeocarpi, Eac. Eh' U aria. Plivllachora elettariae, Pat. 20 Schroeteriaster elettariae, Rac. Tricliosporiiim olivastrum, Sacc. Elettaria — dead. Hypoerella discoidea, (B. & Br.) Sacc. Montonielia polita, Peiiz. & Sacc. Orbilia iieglecta, Peiiz. & Sacc. Elettaria — dead leaves. Ceuthocarpoii tjil)odense, Penz. & Sacc. Crvptotheciuin javanicum, Penz. & Sacc. Lophodermium javanicum, Penz. & Sacc. Oxyspora carneola, Sacc. Trichopeziza porioides, Penz. & Sacc. Xenosporiiim mirabile, Penz. & Sacc. Elettaria — dead stems. Acanthostiiiina neetrioidenm, Penz. & Sacc. Bactrosphaeria asterostoma, Penz. & Sacc. Botrytis vulgaris, Fr. Ceratostomella polyrrhyncha, Penz. & Sacc. Ciliciopodium macroporum, Penz. & Sacc. Diaporthe javaniea, Penz. & Sacc. Helotiella aurea, Penz. & Sacc. Melchioria leucomelaena, Penz. & Sacc. Xectria allio-fimbriata, Penz. & Sacc. Xectria dolichospora, Penz. & Sacc. Xectria raripila, Penz. & Sacc. Xectriella rufo-fusca, Penz. & Sacc. Xectriella setulosa, Penz. & Sacc. Pezizella armeniaca, Penz. & Sacc. Pezizella tjibodensis, Penz. & Sacc. " Phlyctaeiia variabilis, Penz. & Sacc. Phabdospora elettariae, Penz. & Sacc. Eosellinia formosa, Penz. & Sacc. Tubeufia coronata, Penz. & Sacc. Zisjfnoella acervata, Penz. & Sacc. Zifrnoella interspersa, Penz. & Sacc. Elettaria — on Melcbioria on. Xectriella pallidnla, Penz. & Sacc. Entadn — dead leaves. Stecia lutens, ]*enz. & Sacc. Equisetiiiii dcJyile. Stamnaria equiseti, (Hotfm.) Sacc. Eriodev (Iron anfractuosum . Ramularia eriodendri, Rac. Eri/lltri)ia Jilli osjicnna. Telinu'iia crythrinae, Rac. Eugenia (..hunbosa) a(juea. Haplospoi-ella dendritica, Kac. Eugenia or- Finif<. Meliola octos])ora, Cooke. Eutjipa tieteracantha. Mollisia obconica, Penz. &' Sacc. Finis. (See also P^ufrcnia). ITvnlodothis iiicrustans, Rac. 21 Ficiis Impida. Phyllachora marmorata, Eac. Ficus leucanthoma. Phyllachora decaisneana, (Lev.) Sacc, Filices — dead leaves. Helotium pteridophilum, Penz. & Sacc. Filices — dead petioles of tree ferns. Delpontia pulchella, Penz. & Sacc. Fleniingia Un eaia. Parodiella perisporioides. (B. & C.) Speg. Freycinetia im bricata. Uredo freycinetiae, Rac. Fruit — dead rind. Stilbum friK'tigenum, Penz. & Sacc. Vermieularia longiseta, Penz. & Sacc. Garcinia pu rpurea — bark. Pellionella deformans, Penz. & Sacc. Gardenia huida. Balladyna gardeniae, Rac. Geophila reniformis. Puccinia geophilae, Rac. Gossypium herbaceum. Uredo gossypii, Lag. Grass culms. iSee Culms. Torula glomerulosa, Penz. & Sacc. Griffithia fragrans. Endophyllnm grifFithiae, Rac. Heliotropiuni. Oidium tabaei, Thuem. H elminthosporium — on Elettaria. Rhaybdospora elettariae, Penz. & Sacc. ' Heptapleurum. Triphragmium thwaitesii^ B. & Br. Hibiscus tiliaceus. Physalospora hibisci, Rac. Ilydrocotyle. Stigniatea hydrocotyles, Rac. Hymenoptera — head. Cordyceps lachnopoda, Penz. & Sacc. Imperata arundinacea. Micropeltis alang-alang, Rac. Inocarpus edulis. Uromyces inocarpi. Rac. Insect excrement. Isaria thyrsoidea, Penz. & Sacc. Insects. (See also Coecids, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, LamelUcom, Ijurva, Leaves, Coecids on; Lepidoptera, Mosquitoes^ Termites, Vespa). Isaria thyrsoidea, Penz. & Sacc. Ipomoea. Meliola quadrispina, Rac. 22 I/)()>iwea batata.^. Iianiularia hatatae, Kac. J /loiii oea pes-capvae. Ai'c-idium iiioinocac. Thiieiii. I pniHtjca iurpelhitm. .('ystopns convolvulac-earuin, Otth. Jvsficia ge.ndarussa. Pucciuia tlnvaitesii. B. & Br. Kciilia — dead leaves. Aiitliostoinolla UTandispora. IVnz. (S: Sacc. Kenfia. Pestalozzia fuiierea. ])esm. Korllialsia — dcad^ petioles. Phaeodiscula izoiiospora. Peiiz. & Sacc. snbsp. atrata. Penz. Sacc. Lam ellicorn — la r va . Cordycepp citrea, Penz. & Sacc. Lasia7ithus. Gibellina coiicentrica. Eac. Lasianfkus la f ifolhis. C'oceoniyces tjibodeusis, Rac. Lana. Botrytis tciiella. Sacc. Cordyceps fieischeri, Penz. & Sacc. Tsaria alborosea. Penz. & Sacc. ]ja urncea — leaves. Laestadia veneta, Sacc. & Speg. Leaves — living. Hypocrella sciitata, (C*ooke) Sacc. Pestalozzia leucodisca, Penz. & Sacc. Sphaerella creberrima, Penz. & Sacc. I'ricbosporinm arborescens, Penz. & Sacc. Triphragminm tbwaitesii, B. & Br. Jjeaves — coriaceous and subcoriaceoiis. Botryospliaeria ])byllachoroides, Penz. & Sacc. Ceutbocarpon depokense, Penz. & Sacc. Erikssonia pulcbella, Penz. & Sacc. (-iloeosporinm ance])s, Penz. & Sacc. T.enibosia diffusa. "\A'int. subsp. breviuseula, Penz. k Sacc. Linospora ca]3illaris, Penz. & Sacc. Lopliodcrmiuni maculare, (Fr.) de Xot. Micropeltis lencoptera, Penz. & Sacc. Micropcltis niacropelta, Penz. & Sacc. Pestalozzia leucodisca, Penz. & Sacc. Kinia spectabilis, Penz. & Sacc. A'enturia euchaeta, Penz. & Sacc. Leaves — coriaceous — coccids on. Aschersonia javanica, Penz. & Sacc. Leaves — coriaceous — dead. Cocconiyces dentatus, Sacc. var. bexagona, Penz. & Sacc. Dasyscypba albidula. Penz. & Sacc. 23 Patinella phvllogena. Penz. & Sacc. Sordaria tjibodiana, Penz. & Sacc. Leaves — dead. Actiniceps thwaitesii, B. & Br. Isaria thyrsoidea, Penz. & Sacc. Xylaria ari.stata, Mont. Leguminosa — leaves. Parodiella perisporioides, (B. & C.) Speg. Leguminosa — pods. Xylaria lieloidea, Penz. it Sacc. Lepidoptera—ldirySi. Cordyceps atro-brunnea, Penz. & Sacc. Cordyceps coccinea, Penz. & Sacc, siibsp. subochracea, Penz. & Sacc. Cordyceps deflectens, Penz. & Sacc. Isaria alborosea, Penz. & Sacc. Lespedeza cytisoides. Woroninella vukanica, Rae. Leucoxylon — seeds. Aspergillus penicillopsis, (Henu. & Xym.) Pac. Liclienes. Grliocladium pulchellum, Penz. & Sacc. Limbs — dead. Authostoma valsarioides, Penz. & Sacc. Anthostoma verrucula, Penz. & Sacc. Arthrosporiiim tenue, Penz. & Sacc. Belonidiuni tabaciniim, Penz. & Sacc. Botryodiplodia longipes, Penz. & Sacc. Cephalotheciimi roseum, Corda. Cladotrichum socium, Penz. & Sacc. Cylindruni fugax, Penz. & Sacc. Dasyscypha isabellina, Penz. & Sacc. Dasyscyplia oclirolenca, Penz. & Sacc. Davincia helios, Penz. & Sacc. Diatrype princeps, Penz. & Sacc. Enchnoa chaetomioides, Penz. & Sacc. Erinella carneola, Penz. & Sacc. Erinella citrino-alba, Penz. & Sacc. Eutypa heterantha, Sacc. Graphiuni desmazierii, Sacc. Helotium subserotiniim, P. Henn. & Xym. Hymenula inaeqnalis, Penz, & Sacc. Hymeniila tjibodensis, Penz. & Sacc. Hypocrea catoptron, B. & Br. Hypocrea fulva, Penz. & Sacc. Hypocrea gelatinosa, Fr. subsp. oligotlieea, Penz. & Sacc. Hypocrea longicollis, Penz. & Sacc. Hypocrea pulchella, Penz. & Sacc. Hypoxj'lon annnlatum, (Schw.) Mont. Hypoxylon anthracodenna, Speg. Hypoxylon microsorum, Penz. & Sacc. Hypoxylon rubellum, Penz. & Sacc. 24 Hvsteriographiuni oligomtrunu Penz. & Sacc. Karschia iiigerrima. Sacc. subsp. globuligera. Peuz. & Sacc. Lo])]io(lermiiim liypodermoides. Penz. iS: Sacc. Mcualoiu'ctria p^eiulotrichia, (Schw.) Speg. .\.t.tria aiuliigua. Penz. & Sacc. Xectria coronata. Penz. & Sacc. Xectria eustoma, Penz. & Sacc. Xectria leucotriclia, Penz. & Sacc. Xectria radians, Penz. & Sacc. Xectria vulgaris, Speg. X'ectria xanthostronia, Penz. & Sacc. Xectriella anrantia. Penz. & Sacc. Xeopeckia ditfusa, (Schw.) Starb. Xi^'opeckia pumila. Penz. & Sacc. < )|>hioccras dolichostonuim, (B. & ('.) Sacc. . Ophioceras majusculum, Penz. & Sacc. Patellaria callispora, Penz. & Sacc. Patinella chlorosplenoides, Penz. & Sacc. Pezizella glaberrima. Penz. & Sacc. J^hvnchostonia rhvtidospornni, Penz. & Sacc. Rosellinia lieecariana, Ces. Koscllinia bunodcs, (B. & Br.) Sacc. . Rosellinia ()btusisi)ora, Penz. & Sacc. Rosellinia jnilvis-pyrius, Penz. & Sacc. Sordaria botrvosa, Penz. & Sacc. ►Stictis pallidula, Sacc. Stilbum cinuabarinum, Mont. Stilbuni niinutulum, Penz. & Sacc. Stilbnni parviceps, Penz. & Sacc. Tliuemenella javanica, Penz. & Sacc. Torula heteromorpha, Penz. & Sacc. Trichospbacria proxima, Penz. & Sacc. Trinacrinni subtile, Riess, subsp. tjibodiense, Penz. & Sacc. Tubenfia anceps, Penz. & Sacc. A'alvaria massarioides, Penz. & Sacc. Veniiicularia longiseta, Penz. & Sacc. -Xylaria aristata, Mont. Xylaria humilis. Penz. & Sacc. Xylaria oocephala. IVnz. & Sacc. Limbs — living. Fleischeria .iavaiiica. Penz. & Sacc. JJ(juidamhar sp. ? — Astrosporium (•hrys()ce])luiluni, Penz. & Sacc. Lit. sea chrysocoma. Phyllachora laurinearum, Rac. Lin'slona olivaeformis — dead bark. Zignoella omphalostonia. Penz. k Sacc. Lonicera — leaves. Criella lonicerae, Henn. Mallotus mohiccanus. Cronartium nialloti, Rac. 25 2Ian,gifera. indicu. Gloeosporium mangiferae, Eac. Man (/if era kemanga. Cronarthim kemangae, Rac. Ma pa Ilia. PuccJiiia ina|»ai!iae, Rac. Mara / 1 ia, saiub u cina . ^lonnioeUa niarattiae, Eac. Melch ioria — on Elettaria. Nectriella pallidula. Penz. & Sacc. Melocaima. Konradia sucuiida, Rac. Men isperiiiaceae — dead leaves. Acrosperinum foliicohim, Berk. Melro.rijhiiii lonf/ispinum — bark. Lopliio. J.ong and deeply burying those to the left occupied one bed with the longer at the lower end, and the upgrowing occupied another bed. The first bed had a gentle slope, so that the deeper going were the more likely to be water-logged. PLATE IV. Dioscorea alata. Race No. 38. Dioscorea alata. Race No. 72. 41 The following table suggests, but does not ])rove that they were i)laced at a disadvantage. In 10 Ki. Til 19r . Eaces with the 23G tu )ers with average 135 with longest tubers weight 3336.99 gr. iverage weight 1795.G4 Eaees wdth shorter 114 do. ;.S do. tu])ers 45T5.1T 2750.54 S]iort tubers lOG do. 3543.75 94 do. 2401.95 being a reduction u]jon the longest of the shorter the short 4G ])er cent. 40 „ 32 The figures also suggest that it is not the longeijt and deepest going which give the largest returns; but that those whicli are half- long, or ])er]ia|)s one might say betwt'eii half-long and long, are the most ])rolific. The return ])er area, but not the relative return was interfered Avith by thieves who robbed at night but not discriminatingly, taking from the back of the bed where they thought their ojicrations most hidden. In this Bulletin, \\)1. T, p. 3()(j the advantage to the new plant of using the to]) of tlie old tuber for a set was stated, and on ]). 307. it was sliown by how much these tops give an early start to tlie new shoot. In 1917 toj) halves v\Tre idanted against bottom halves in no less than 56 races, 154 tops against 136 bottoms. In 42 races the average weight of the tubers produced by the tops was greater than the average weight of tuber produced from the bottoms, and in 13 cases it was the reverse. Most of the races grown have now been tried cooked at least once; l)ut so long ^as the Cardens are without the use ol' a lal)oratory, accurate comparisons are most difficult to make. The oijinion has been formed that all the upgrowing yams are excellent for tlie table when pro])erly cooked. Ihe others vary a little among themselves. Further examinations will he made, especially with a vi(nv to desist- ing from cultivating that which is inferior. Hitherto tbe study of the morphology of the tubers has de- manded tbe cultivation of them all. The classification resulting may be ex])ressed l^y the following table wherein the numbers given denote the races which have been figured. 42 Elongation and branching of the tuber. Class I. Short. a. unbranched b. lobulate ... c. fingered Class 2. Half long. a. unbranched b. with lobe like branches c. with finger-like ... branches 26, 70 24 78, 170, 74 Class 3. Long. 31 tubers set into stem tissur a. unbranched b. with lobe-like branches c. with finger-like branches' 32 tubers attached by a neck to stem-tissue. a. unbranched 6. with lobe-like branches... c. with finger-like branches 4 Not bury-.Dg. a. unbranched b. with lobe-like branches ... c. with finger-like branches Combined with flatten- ing of the tubers. 50,58,88.192 20, 44, 98 . ' 8, 132, 192 10 14, 74 76 12, G8, 118, 156 162 186 32. Combined Combined with with multi- | tendency of plication of a stem tissue to tubers arising produce addi- from stem- | tional uprising tissue. fleshy autumn shoots. 26 22 2, 6, 8, 18, 140 12, 30 28, 36, 370 34. 38 16 A list of the races already figured: the number after the name is that under which thev were received. Xo. 2, native name unknown, orio;in a deserted garden on Bukit 'I'imah, Sin«i;a]X)re island, (iard. Bull. T, Xos. 11-12, pi. iii. Xo. (). " I^bi merah,"" origin Sintrapore market. Gard. Bull. 1. Xos. 11-12, pi. iii. Xo. S. " Ul)i, red fingered," origin Luzon, Gard. Bull. 1, Xo. 9, fig. 1 on p. 299. Xo. 10. " Tugui, finger shaped, Xo. 10.j7,"" origin Luzon, Gard. Bull. 1. Xo. 9, fig. 2 on p. 29<). X'o. 12. " ri)i, finger shaped. .Xo. 10.56," origin Luzon, Gard. Bull. 1. Xo. 9. fig. 4 on p. 299. Xo. 1-i. ■■ Paiiuit, Xo. ;)190," origin Luzon, Gard. Bull. 1, Xo. 9, fig. S on p. 299 ; and II, Xo. 2, plate ii. Xo. lU. Origin Luzon, Gard. Bull. 1. Xo. 9, fig. 6 on p. 299; and Philip. Agric, 111, fig. 14 on p. 207, 43 Xo. IS. "Ubi, red Xo. 1042,"" orio^in Luzon, Gard, Bull. 1, Xo. 9, fig. T) on p. 290. Xo. 20. " ri)i, red, Xo. 1031,"" orioin Luzon, (iard. Bull. 1, Xo. 9, %. 10 on )). 299; and Philip. Agric. LII, fig. 16 on p. 207. Xo, 22. " Ubi, white, X'o. 1019," origin Luzon, Gard. Bull. 1, Xo. 9, fig. 8 on ]). 299 ; and II, Xo. 2, plate i. Xo. 24. " Xo. 931,"" origin I^uzon, Gard. Bull. 1, Xo. 9, fig. T (m ]). 299. • ^ Xo. 2(). '' L^bi, white, ^o. 1055,"" origin Luzon, Gard. Bull., vol. I, Xo. 9, fig. 9 on p. 299. Xo. 28. " Tumuktok, Xo. 1095 " from the College of Agri- culture P. 1. Gard. Bull., vol I, Xo. 9, fig. 1 on p. 301 and Xos. 11- 12, plate V ; and vol. II, plate iii. Xo. 30. " Ubag, Xo. 960 " from tlie College of Agriculture, P. I. Gard. Bull., vol. I, Xo. 9, fig. 2 on p. 301. Xo. 32. " Tinuque, Xo. 956," from College of Agriculture, P. I. Gard. Bull., vol. I, Xo. 9, iig. 3 on p. 301 ; and Philip Agricult., vol. Ill, fig. 18 on p. 20 :. Xo. 34. " Ballolong, X"o. 9 13,'" from the -College of Agricul- ture, P. I., Gard. Bull., vol. I, Xo. 9, fig. 4 on p. 301. ' Xo. 36. " Xo. 935,"" origin Manila., (4ard. Bull., vol. I, Xo. 9, fig. 5 on p. 301. Xo. 38. " Tamis, Ubi, white, Xo. 945,'" from Bureau of Agric. Manila, Gard. Bull., vol. I, Xo. 9, fig. 6 on p. 301 : and Xos. 11-12, plates V and vi, and vol. II, plate iv. Xo. 44. " Ubi, red, Xo. 1025;" from the Bureau of Agricul- ture, Manila, Gard. Bull., vol. II, Xo. 2, plate ii. Xo, 50. " Xo. 824," from the Bureau of Agriculture, Manila, Philip. Agricult., vol. Ill, fig. 17 on p. 207. Xo. 58. " Binaksan, Ul)i, Xo. 329,"" from the College of Agri- culture, Phili|)])i]ie Islands, Phili]). Agricult., vol. Ill, fig. 15 on p. 207. Xo. 68. '' Xo. 1692,"' from Bureau of Agriculture, Manila., Philip. Agricult., vol. Ill, fig. 12 on p. 207: Gard. Bull, vol. I, Xlos. 11-12, plate ii. Xo. 70. •' Caroliiie Islands jam, X^o. 3793," from the Bureau of Agriculture, P. I. Gard. Bull., vol. I, Xos. 11-12, plate ii. Xo. 72. " Sinawang pulo yam, Xo. 955," from College of Agriculture P. I. Gard. Bull., vol. I, Xos. 11-12, plate vi, and vol. II, Xo. 2, plate iv. Xo. 74. " Ubi from Aringay in La Union Province, Xo. 937," from the Bureau of Agriculture, Manila, Gard. Bull., vol. II, Xo. 2, plate ii. Xo. 76. " Sinanto, Xo. 958," from the College of Agricul- ture, P. I. Gard. Bull., vol. I, Xos. 11-,12 plate ii ; and vol. II, Xo. 2, plates i and ii. Xo. 78. "Ubi, Xo. 938,"' from the College of Agriculture, P. I., Gard. Bull., vol. II, Xo. 2, plate iii. Xo. 88. " Ubi, red, Xo. 1041,'" from the Bureau of Agricul- ture, P. I., Gard. Bull., vol. I, Xos. 11-12, plate iv. Xo.. 98. " Klioai Siam," from the Botanic Garden, .Saigon, Gard. Bull, vol. T, Xos. 11-12, plate iv. 44 Xo. lis. "Fijian yam, Xo. 20710," from Eoyal Botanic Gardens, Calcutta, (Jard. Bull., vol. T, Xos. 11-12, plate i. No. 132. "Fijian yam, Tvi kahoa, Xo. 20679," from Eoyal Botanic Gardens, Calcutta, (iard. Bull., vol. II, Xo. 2, plate ii. Xo. 140. " Xo. 35.500," from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Calcutta, Gard. Bull., vol. II, Xo. 2, plate ii. Xo. lo6. " F'ijian yam, X"o. 20702," from Royal Botanic Gardens, Calcutta, (Jard. Bull., vol. I, Xos. 11-12, plate i. Xo. 102. " Phan shriew, from the Khasia hills, Xo. 35000," from the Koyal Botanic Gardens, Calcutta, (iard. Bull., vol. I, Xos. 11-12, ])late i. , Xo. 17(». J-'roui Port Darwin, Australia, (iard. Bull., vol, I, Xos. 11-12, plate iv. X"(). K 1. " Khoai tiom," from tlie Botanic Gardens, Saigon, Gard. Pull., vol. II, Xo. 2, ])lato iii. Xo. ISO. "Xo. 35575, from Lumding, Assam," from the Eoyal Botanic Gardens, Calcutta, Gard. Bull., vol. I, Xos. 11-12, l>]ate i. Xo. 102. •' Eururuka nkakyi, Xo. 17," from the Gold Coast, Pepartment of Agriculture, (iard. Bull., vol. H, Xo. 2, plate i. Xo. .■)7(). Origin uncertain, hut almost eertaiulv Luzon, Gard. Bull., vol. II. Xo. 2. ))late ii. ORCHID NOTES. AcAXTiTKrnippiuM JAVAxicuM, Blume. Tlie discovery of this orchid on Gunong Tampin, Xegri St'mhilan. not only adds a large-flowered species to the list of those known to occur in the Malay Peninsula but adds a genus; for no species of AcaiiiJiephipinitiu have been found within our borders ])reviously. It occurs on the mountain at about 1800 feet above sea-level in forest about the sides of a stream in a little sandy hollow of unusual conformation. From this spot it has been introduced into the Botanic Gardens, Singapore; where it grows freely. Flower of Acnyithephippium javanicum, slightly reduced, viewed horizontally from the side, and from in front. 45 The plant was first described by Blume who had found it on tiunong Salak in Java. He afterwards published a coloured plate in his Floi-a Jarae, Orchidaceae, t. 49 (1858), but before this figure appeared, the orchid was already in English glass-houses, and Lindley in the Boianical Register, 1846, t. 47, as well as Sir William Hooker in the Botanical Magazine, 1850, t. 4493, had issued plates. The general colouring of the Tanipin plant is nearly as in Lindley's and Blume's figures, i.e. a dull claret merging to yellowish white, with considerable mottling and streaking, all the colours dull except on the lip which is brightly coloured from claret at the edge of the side-lobes to a clear chrome yellow on the mid-lobe which ends m a dee]) claret tip. This lip is just like a saddle u])side down, but with low spines as the figure shows where a saddle should be at its smoothest; Blume's name for the genus refers to the saddle-like appearance and to these low spines. The flower is 5.5 cm. from the tip of the dorsal sepal to the bottom of the bucket, and 2.5 cm. across the mouth from tip to tip of the slightly recurved lateral petals ; the opening into the bucket, disregarding the degree to which the lip blocks it, is 1.7 Flower of Acantliephippium javankum in section ; h— the hinge of the lip. cm. across. The lip is finely hinged (h. in the figure) obviously with the object of upsetting the balance of a visiting insect and throwing it against the sexual organs. By the slight projection of the lip from the mouth of the flower and b}' its conspicuous colour- ing it is the part offered to an insect for alighting. The drawing shows the saddle fallen forward as far as possible. The side-lobes of the lip which make the flaps of the saddle curve a little and would keep a visiting insect in the middle line and therefore just under the colunm with its sexual organs. The interior of the bucket is more spotted than the exterior and deeper in colour. Xo free honey has been found, and no scent detected. The flowering season is May, June and July. Up to four flowers have been seen open on the same raceme. Blume's original locality, Gunong Salak, has been named. Lindley studied the plant in the nurseries of Messrs. Loddiges, and from his account the reader is led to suppose that Loddiges' plant 46 came from tlie same place, where Dr. J. J. Smith also has obtained it in recent years. \A'hence came the much more brightly coloured plant that flowered at Kew and furnished Sir William Hooker with liis drawing, is unrecoi'dod. Dr. J. J. Smith records Acanthephipijiuiu javanicum as occur- ing on Gunong Salak, at TJigombong and Bandongan, and on the island of Telo and in Xew Guinea {Orchideen von Java, 1905, p. -^lo). Stauhopsis bri:viscapa, Rolfe. In 1!)1"? Mr. J. W. Anderson, then Assistant Curator of the Botanic (iardens, collected plants of this orchid in Sarawak and brought them alive to Singapore. They flowered very freely in' April. 19Ui. The plant rises to 3 feet, and bears many inflorescences of 2 — G flowers. The flowers are mustard yellow with rich umber brown markings. They face horizontally. The lip is very lightly hinged and hangs by its own weight: it is thick along the middle line, l)y reason of a ridge rising near the base, and continuing into a white point. Tt has brown lines on it, short and parallel, ruji- ning towards the side lobes wliich are a little concave. The edges of the sepals and petals are crisped as in so many Vandas. The following two sheets in the Singapore Herbarium are considered as of tlie same s})ecies: — Sarawak without locality, Sahih. flowered in tlie Singapore (iardens, 23.4.14. Bidi. Sarawak. .l//-.s'. Brools, Sept. 28, with the note. " This is a limestoiu' orchid and occurs also at Kuop. i'lIALAKXOPSIS KUNSTLERI X SUMATRANA. On May 4th, 1917, Mr. B. K. Saheb brought to the Botanic Gardens for opinion a flowering riialaenopsis which he had obtained in the north of the Peninsula along with P. sumatrana. In foliage it exactly resembled P. sumatrana^ but the flowers were white with a slight green flush, and marked sparingly with chocolate brown. 'I'he colouring thus was as in P. Kvnstlerx, Hook, f., \n\i in shape it e.vactly resemljled P. su.nidtrdna, while u])on the white petals and sepals the shape of the markings was as in P. sumatrana, Korth., though tliey were much less abundantly ])resent. The sepals and side petals had rather the shape of those of P. Kunstleri, being shorter and more ovate than in P. sumatrana. Altogether there ap- ]X'ared in the specimen a certain amount of evidence for regarding it as a natural livbrid between the two nanicd. SaCCOLABUM (SaRCANTHUS) SKCUXDrM. RiDL. Saccohtnum senuidum, Ridl. is a rather widely distributed orchid, occurring in the Himalaya of Assam, and southwards to Sumatra, Java and Borneo. Wallich's collectors, F. de Sylva and W, (iomez, ol)tained it in Sylhet. and Wallich a])i)arently cultivated 47 it, for he caused a drawing to be made. Griffitli in August, 183G, also obtained it at Sadiya in Upper Assam and made drawings and disseetiojis of the flowers. Flower of Saccolabium secundiun, x 2.2, viewed horizontally from the side, and from in front : and in vertical section. Wallich appears to have intended calling it Sarcanthus o.ry- plnjllus, but Lindle}' in helping Wallich with the distribution of hi.s collection, by some accident transferred this name to another orchid, substituting Micro pora pallida, but confusing two species, (irifhth headed his description of the ])lant Sarcanthus secundum and Mc- Clelland published it after his death in the Posfhuinous Papers HI, Xotulae, 1851, p. 3()2. Eidley, in tran.sferriiig the plant to the genus Saccolabium, rightly coupled (jrittith's .speciiic n-ame into the compound Saccolahiuia secundum. In 1895 under the editorship of Sir Joseph Hooker, Wallich 's drawing was reproduced in the Annals of the Eoi/al Botanic Gardens, Calcutta, vol. V, plate 77. Griffith's pencil sketch had appeared in 1851, but the plant as it grows in the Malay Peninsula has deeper colours in the flower than Wallich's plate or Griffith's dsecrijition indicate for the Assam plant; and they are sligthly differently distributed. The annexed drawing shows its appearance, the black on the sepals and lateral petals representing a very dark chocolate brown, the white a pale greenish yellow. Griffith in- dicated that the Assamese plant has reddish orange where the Malayan plant has chocolate, and Wallich's drawing bears this out. The lip does not po.ssess these colours, but it is lilac fading to white towards the base with yellow within the side lobes on either side. The lip combined with the column is a very complex structure through not unique in the genus. The median crest of the limb is extended as a partition down the spur, which divides it almost completely into two, ending about mid length at the back and form- ing a short beak anteriorly. Above the point where the partition ends at the back is the caruncle which is bilobed and sits astride of the margin of the partition in such a manner as almost to close the way to the interior of the spur. Insects seeking honey must pass a proboscis either to right or to left of this caruncle and And it so directed into one half of the in-terior only. The honey is very abundant, and the walls of the spur are extremely succulent. Undoubtedly there is not a little variation in the colouring of the flowers; and Dr. J. J. Smith in his Orchideen von Java, 1905, p. (i04 states that the sepals and petals may be coloured light or dark bro\vn with greenish blue margin and stripe down the middle. 48 Tn the Mala.y Peninsula as it appears to be found most freely near to the coast. SaCCOLABIUM (PoMATOCALl'i:) AliAtllXANTm;. J\II)L. This orc-hid is one of the group for which Dr. J. J. Smith uses the name Pomatocalpe. A plant of it has been in the Botanic (iardens for a loiitr time and flowered in April, 1916, and in May, I'.il.S. ill both years the month of February was dry. The most curious thing about the flowers is that they face u])wards — a rare occurrence in orchids. In the bud they are pack- ed into a corymb. The flowers are white with a very faint lilac tinge, and with a few deep lilac spots towards the base. The edge of the septum which divides the spur from side to side is visible from the front of the flower over the brim of the spur and between the horns at the side, just as Dr. J. J. Smith figures it in Die Ordiidcen von Java, flg. cdlviii, for Fomatocalpe latifoliuni. Flower of Saccolabium Arachnanthc, X viewed horizontal]y from the side, and from above. The flowers fade pale green. They are pleasantly but not strongly scented. The pollinating insects are unkno^^^^; but small bees are in- dicated by the shape of the flowers as suitable visitors; such insects would be expected to alight on the dorsal sepal and to approach the lip between the obliquely ascending lateral petals in the direction indicated by the arrow upon the figure. Such insects would pollinate the flower after having sought in vain for honey in the dry lower cliamber of the lip, by backing over the sexual organs, and in the search for the narrow slit like aXwhich leads into the smaller upper chamljer where tlie surface may be just moist. ('vi'i;ii'i:nirM nivktm x Exul. In the Ciardencrs' Chronicle, vol. o5, 191-1, p. ?)2(}, Mr. T^idley described Cj/pripcdiiini Prrcivae, as almost certainly a hybrid of Ci/pripediuin niveiuit with another species such as 6'. E.viiJ. The native collector, who got it, has brought from the same part of the coast of the iSiamiese Malay States, namely the coast not far north of the Kedah border, another plant, which, while not exactly ('. Pereirae, appears equally to be a hybrid of C. niveum. The plant in question fell into the hands of Mr. B. K. Saheb who grew it with C. niveum and tlowcrcd it in dune, 1918. 49 The loaves of tliis plant are lono^er and firmer tlian those of C. niveuin. attaining 1-i em. by 2.8. They spread and are dark green without the pale sjjots of ('. niveum, but the green is nowhere quite of one colour, yet not wa\e(l. The tip is slightly unequally bilohed, and the keel at the back sliarp. The single peduncle so far pro- duced was about 10 cm. long, and carried one flower; it was dense- ly pubescent, as also the bract, and the ovary. 'J'he fused lower se))aLs of the flower were 2.6 cm. long. The dorsal sepal when flat- tened was deltoidly sul)cordate, 3 cm. long and the same in breadth just above the l^ase ; but in life its margin was conspicuously un- ^dulate. The lateral petals were almost elliptic when flattened, 3.4 cm. long, and in life conspicuously undulate. All these were softly and rather densely puljeseent on the back and the margins. The dorsal sepal was marked with lines of violet dots radiating from the base to mid-distance towards the margins, and with a faint lilac flush among the spots. The lateral petals descended but a little from the horizontal, and had a light violet streak right down the centre fading upwards and towards the ti]3. The rest of these organs was white. The lip was white and glabrous; nearly 3 cm. to the base of the bucket, slightly compressed laterally, longer in ])ro])ortion to its width tliat of C. niveum, with the basal lol)es well developed and strongly incurved. The column was thick, and its shield not at all cordate, but widened to a little beyond the middle, and then abruptly narrowed to a very short i^oint; at its base it was suffused with very ]>ale lilac, and in the centre with clirome yellow. The chrome yellow conies from its niveum parentage, and so does the absence of isal)elline tints in the flower, but the distribu- tion of the violet to lilac colouring matter comes from the other less obvious ])arent. It is the rule for hyl)rids l)et\veen the white ('. niveuin and the isabelline coloured sijecies of Cypripedium to be white. Many have been raised in gardens and are so; but C. yiivenm x Exul has never l>een raised. lAll the hj'brids carry more or less of lilac pigment, and by its distril)ution suggest their second parent. In the case of the plant under discussion, the purple markings suggest C. Exul as regards the dorsal sepal, and C. villosum as regards the laterals petals. But the shape of the flower is more that of C. Exul than of ('. villo.nnn; and the finding of C . Exul in the same region al- most establishes the parentage, FuuTiiKu Evidence indicating that the Pi(iEON Oncirm (DeNDKOHIUM CI!UMENATUM) FLOWEPiS EIGHT DAYS AFTEIt Heavy Kaix, and on the flowei^ing of Saccolabium Calceolus. As tlie IJaiiifall statistics for the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, tlirough the year 11)17 have been given -in the last part, it is con- venient to make some remarks upon the flowering of the above- named two orchids in its connection with lieavy rain. Tor the data are available for consultation, 50 In the Gardens' Bulletin, Vol. T, Xos. 11-12, 1916, pp. 400-405, evidence was produced to show that the Pigeon Orchid flowers about eight days after heavy rain in response to some factor or factors not isolated by experiment. The rainfall was there tabulated for thirty days in advance of thirty flowerings which occurred over the years 1913 to the commencement of 1917. In the wet year 1917, the orchid flowered on an unusual num- bei of days, namely. January 17th, freely „ 18th, Aery sparingly ' „ 19th, rather freely 20th, very sparingly February 19th, sparingly „ 25th, very sparingly in the Botanic Gardens, but in great abundance in Singapore town March 20th, very abundantly April i;5th, fairly abundantly June 2nd, very abundantly June 2iitb, one flower only July 7tli. rather abundantly August 11th, sparingly „ 11th, sparingly „ 31st, very abundantly, September 6th, rather sparingly „ 27th, one plant only November Sth, very abundantly, December 11th, one plant only in the (Jardens, but others in the neighbourhood of the Gardens, „ 25th, rather sparingly. It is to Ije noted how frequent were these flowerings. Then if tiie reader will turn to the rainfall tables given on pp. 32-33 it can l)e observed tihat the rain which fell on the eighth day before six of the flowerings exceeded an in>cli or on the ninth day before eight of the flowerings, and that in one case only, out of the whole, (lid the rain of the eighth and ninth preceeding days fail to exceed half an inch : that one case heing December 11th, when more than an inch and a lialf fell on the tenth of the preceding da.ys. If we add together tlie raiin in the way in vvhicli it was added on ]). 403 of the first volume we find that on the nineteen days wliich were the tenth before tlie flowering 10.03 inches fell; on the nineteen which were the ninth 23.62 inches; on the nineteen which were the eighth 15.17, and on the others in approaching order successively 8.19, 6.75, 5.37, 8.97, 7.98, 7.95, and 8.23. Thus the ninth day before is suggested as the critical day rather than the eighth. The same general result is obtained if the occasions of abun- dant flowering alone be considered. Per]ia])s higher average tem- ))era.tures lead to tlie eightli day being the critical one: and lower average temperatures to the ninth. 51 Mr. H. ISF. Eidlev pointed out some years ago that there is a similarity between tlie flowering of Saccolahium Calceolus and Dendrohiuin crnmenatum, stating that the former flowers one day before the hitter. Tliis relation however cannot be expressed quite so simply. In 1917 Saccolahium Calceolus flowered in the Botanic- Gardens, Singapore, on February 24th, one day before D. crnmenatum , by the Plant Houses March 13th, three days before „ generally April i;3th, on the same day as „ by the Plant Houses May 2nd by the Lake IS[oveml)er 7tli, one day before D. cruiiicnadnii , by the Plant Houses „ 29th generally and freely December 9th, two days before IJ. cram riial inn . generally and freely „ 18th by the Plant Houses „ 22nd, thveedaysbeiore D. cnoiienal uni , generally and freely This flowering shows the following relationship to the rainfall, t. meaning a trace : — 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 day before .37 .4o .14 — 2.68 .48 .42 .02 — 1.72 1.61 .07 Feb. 24th. .14 .59 .01 ■ — ■ 2.79 2.66 .79 .09 .02 .02 .92 .08 Mch. 13th. — .02 .12 .55 ■ — ■ .17 ■ — t — ■ .03 2.32 .51 Apr. 13th. .04 — .40 — — — — .02 — .48 .35 .01 May 2nd. — — — .01 .38 .02 1.85 .02 — — — — Nov. 7th. .01 .16 .03 t — .36 .03 .04 .02 — .06 .07 Nov. 29th. .06 .07 .63 .01 1.64 .08 .27 .15 .02 .82 .01 .02 Dec. 9th. .02 .82 .01 .22 1.61 .63 .28 — .18 .02 .40 .18 Dec. 18th. 1.61 .63 .28 — .18 .02 .40 .18 .22 .27 .32 .05 Dec. 22nd. Eight days before the first, second, seventh and eighth of these flowerings the rain was heavy, and on two of the four occasions the flowering was general in several parts of the Gardens. But it was equally free and general on November 29th and December 22nd when the last heavy rain before the flowering had occurred much earlier, — 13 days in one case and 11 or 12 days in the other. There- fore although there must be some common cause predisposing the two orchids towards flowering, it is not clear at all exactly what it is. Observations from other localities would be welcome. I. H. BUEKILL. CONTROL OF DAMPING -OFF. (The following taken from the Agricultural News, West Indies, of August 11th, 1917, Yol. XVI, pp. 254-255, is worth reading and digesting; for in Malaya, damping-oft' in one of the greatest troubles that a gardener has to contend with. The method recommended in it has been tried in the Botanic (iardeiis, Singapore; and so far there is nothing to be said against it except the necessity of teaching 52 the ignorant tid-ang I'ditn to handle the Sulphuric Acid respect- fully; and as the use of hurnt earth can he avoided in some measure, pecuniary gain is brought into sight). — Ed. Damping-off is the term applied to the failure of seedlings due to their infection while in a tender state by certain soil-inhabiting fungi. The reason for the name is the association of the trouble witli conditions of more or less excessive moisture, whicli favours tlie development of the parasite at the same time that it increases or prolongs the tenderness of the plants. Though not necessarily confined to seedlings crowded in boxes or seed-beds, it is amongst such that the affection usually appears and, by progressive infection, is able to cause extensive losses. Merely reducing the density with which tlie seed is sown is often sufficient, by permitting in- creased ventilation, preventing the drawing up of the seedlings, and making the spread of infection more difficult, to avoid or re- duce the damage. The longer the soil of the seed-bed has been in use and the more decaying animal or vegetal)le material it contains, the more likely it is to harbour fungi capable of causing damping-off. Heavy water-retaining soils are more favourable to the affection than those whicli are light and porous, and i;rovisiou for rapid drainage is one of the most important precautions against it. Over-shading and close shelter, Ijy maintaining humidity, increase the tendency to it; in these respects, as in the supplying of water, the conditions which favour the seedlings favour the disease, and a mean has to be struck between slow growth and loss. The trouble occasioned by damping-off in these islands (AYest Indies) is not so great as might be expected by an agriculturist accustomed to temperate countries, where warm, humid weather, such as is associated with ideas of the tropics, is greatly feared in this connexion. In the first place nearly all the staple food plants, sugar- cane, bananas, tannias, dasheens, sweet potatoes, yams, cassava, are raised from cuttings of one sort or another. Cotton, corn and pulses, which are raised from seed, are planted a few seeds together, in their permanent positions in the open ground. Of agricultural as distinct from garden crops tobacco, onions, and limes, which are raised in seed-beds, have been the plants to suffer most in the West Indies from the affection under notice. Notes on the subject, embodying;' the results of experiments conducted in tlie United States, were i)ublished in Volume XIII, of this Journal (p. 380). A bulletin recently received {United States Dejinrlnienl of Agriculture Bulletin, No. ^-5-3), by Messrs. Carl Hartiev and l\oy (J. Pierce, states the conclusions derived from further studies, made on coniferous seedlings. The authoi's point out tliat the methods of prevention com- monly adopted by nurserymen, such as the use of sandy soil, the use of sand or gravel for surfacing the beds, the provision of o-ood drainai^e and \entilation. M'hile often successful, do not avail 53 to prevent heavy losses under unfavourable circumstances, while the Avithholding of water often does as much direct harm as the affection which it is sought to avoid. The use of imperfectly rotted manure, of lime, of wood ashes, and of a mixture of coal and wood ashes are indicated as having had bad effects. The one means so far discovered which can be relied upon to give satisfactory results under any reasonable conditions is the disinfection of the soil. The question remains as to which of the various methods available for this purpose it is most convenient to adopt. The use of steam or of formaldehyde has been widely recommended, but these methods are so expensive as to be im- practicable except for relatively small quantities of valuable material, as in green-houses or market gardens. For the broader requirements of nurserymen the treatment finally adopted by the authors of the bulletin under review consists in the application in standard soils of three sixteenths of a fluid ounce of connnercial sulphuric acid to each square foot of seed bed, applied in solution in water immediately after the seed is sown and covered. This has i)roved more reliable than the more ex- pensive methods mentioned above. The amount of water used to carry the disinfectant does not appear to be a matter of importance, j^rovided that the necessary amount of the acid is applied to each unit of area. The quantity used by the authors varies from 1 pint per square foot when the soil is wet to 2 pints when the soil is dry. There is a possibility, especially in light soils, of a concentration of the acid by evapora- tion to a strengtli injurious to the root-ti]:)S, which in practice has been found to be completely avoidable by watering the beds fre- quently during the period of germination. When the root-tips have penetrated to a depth of half an inch this is no longer necessary. Tliere are diiferences in the amount of acid required for suc- cessful results in different soils. In sandy soil which was pro- bably somewhat alkaline, a heavier application, one-fourth to three- eighths of an ounce, was indicated. In a fine sandy soil which was probably already acid, chemical injury to seedlings was more diffi- cult to avoid, and reduction of the acid to one-eighth of an ounce was advisable. On heavier soils the use of five eighths of an ounce produced no injury, and reduced losses by damping-olf to less than 1 per cent. On a soil with a high carbonate content, evidenced l^y a vigorous ■effervescense when the acid was applied, the method was found to be ineffective. On this soil the use of copper sulphate, one-fourth ounce per square foot, gave good results. This substance was ap- plied in the same way as the acid, and the same precaution to avoid chemical injury was found necessary. An interesting indication was given Ijy the experiments of the elfectiveness of cane sugar, 2^ oz. to the square foot, in the control of damping-off. The authors point out that if some un- 54 refined sugar-bearing substance were available, it is possible that for certain soils the application of sugar would become an econo- mically satisfactory treatment. Experiments on this subject might well be carried out in the West Indies. There are secondary advantages to be expected from sulphuric acid disinfection which may be of considerable importance in some cases. Under appropriate circumstances a larger germination per- centage is secured, the number of parasites in the soil is reduced, and the well-known effect of disinfection on fertility results in increased growth. Another valuable effect has proved to be the reduction of weeds owing to the greater susceptibility of their seeds. , In considering the application of the methods to local condi- tions, it is necessary to emphasize the fact that the results stated have been obtained with the seedlings of a definite group of plants, the conifers. It will be necessary to find by experiment how far they are transferable to the seedlings of unrelated plants. In view of the difference of soils, moreover, such experiments must be carried out in the situation where the seedlings for which it is proposed to adopt the method are raised. Some hints are given as to the method of handling the acid. It should always be dissolved by pouring it into the water; revers- ing the process may cause a serious accident. The solution should be made up in wooden or earthen containers and applied with watering cans which have been coated inside with paraffin wax. Boots may be protected by being heavily greased. Wooden con- tainers should be washed out, immediately after use, with water containing washing soda. ^y 7^^ PROPAGATION OF HEVEA FROM STAKES. On page 251 of the first volume of the Gardens' Bulletin reference was made to the difficulties experienced in propagating Hevea brasiliensis by means of cuttings. Experience in Ceylon and in the Malay Peninsula was quoted; and Mr. Fetch's sugges- tion that Tlnvaites had been deceived when he claimed it to be easy was cited. Fresh experiments were then made with cuttings from young twigs, witliout success; and when it happened, in" 1917, that a big wind destroyed many rubber trees in the Economic Garden, stakes Avere cut from them for supports in the yam beds, so that the misfortune of losing many rubl)er trees gave the opportunity of trying propagation from l)ranches 1 — 3 iiu-hes in diameter. These branches were cut diagonally with a sharp knife at the end, thrust into the ground, and wired together at six feet in the way whi:'h is seen in Flate VI of the first volume of the Bulletin Xos. 1M2 (opposite p. 394). Out of a total of 14S9 stakes so taken, 18, or 1.21%, took root and produced leaves. The weather was wet when in January and Februarv the stakes were set m the grouiul. ' j_ jj. Burkill. 55 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BOTANIC GARDENS, SINGAPORE. The year 1919, the centenary of the founding of the settlement of Singapore, brings in the sixtieth year of the Botanic Gardens; and their early history is becoming obscure. Moreover the records are only in the two older Singapore newspapers, which it is laborious to consult, and of which single files exist. These are reasons enough for reproducing here six reports, and for bringing them into one view by a brief introduction, with quotations from the old papers. The Straits Times under the date 12th N"ovem,ber, 1859, has the following paragraph : — " We understand some of our enterprising citizens have resolv- ed to establish a Floricultural and Horticultural Society, which will receive our hearty concurrence and support. This will be the third attempt to organi.se a really useful association, and we trust it will succeed." Who these citizens were is not recorded : but from subsequent papers it appears as if Mr. J. E. Macdonald and Towkay Hoh Ah Kay, better known under his trade name of Whampoa, were two; and it is fairly ajjparent that the Governor, Colonel 0. Cavanagh, had been consulted and had offered his support. Although called Floricultural and Horticultural in this first notice. Agriculture was in its purview from the very start, its ]3ro- per title being The Singapore Agri-Horticultural Society. Within six weeks from this notice the Government of the Colony, glad exceedingly that some of its 45,000 acres of abandoned lands should be cultivated, had provided for the Society's operations through an enchaiige with Whampoa, by giving a piece of low-lying Government land in the Eiver valley to him in return for an area of 56 acres (subject to a subsequent slight rectification) between Napier, Cluny and Garden Roads, the last a track only at the time (iStraits Times of 24 Dec, 1859). The Government further pro- mised convict labour witliin its power of giving: and the Society at once set to work to raise funds for superintendence, stores, tools, seeds, etc. Members were enrolled on paying $25, and retained member- ship by a monthly sul)scription of $1 commencing on January 1st. 1860. Others might enjoy the use of the Garden, if residents, by paying $1.25 per mensem as second class subscribers. Strangers, if not from the very first, at least from an early date, were admitted into the Garden free. Having got a membership of TT, the Society was provided thus with over $1900 as capital; and the subscriptions, we are told, aver- aged $74.25 over the first eighteen months (Appendix 2). The outline map produced here, was drawn with the use of con- temporary documents in the Land Office ; it gives the whole present area of the Botanic Garden, the Economic Garden excluded, with the three original ])roperties out of which it is made, marked separately 5G by letters X. K. & A. The areas K. and A. in the map were those ■which were put at the service of the Agri-Horticultural Society in 1859; the area JST. was added in 1866. The chief part of the area of the Garden is seen to be made up of K, which had been granted by the administration in 1852 to one William Graham Kerr. On the east of this Kerr property was property granted by the administration to one Gilbert Angus in 1848, and on its west pro- perty granted similarly in 1853 to one William iSTapier. AVhen the Cluny road, now a Garden boundary, came to be constructed, it cut through a part of the Angus property, and a part of the Kerr pro- perty ; the edge of the Angus property, marked A on the map, passed into the same owmership as the Kerr property, while the part of the Kerr property cut off (K2) passed away from the ownership. Again later when the Garden Eoad came to be made in 1866, it cut a strip off the property of the Xapier grant which the adminis- tration acquired from Adam Wilson who had bought it from Whampoa and lie from Xapier, and this strip marked X. on the map, was attached to the land in the hands of the Agri-Horticul- tural Society. The records show that these lands had changed hands several times within the few years from the original grant- ing; and as we know that in the middle and later part of the fifties, speculation in property about Tanglin was considerable — such landed property as was suitable for country houses, — it is fairly evident that the owners were not in the course of farm- ing what they had come by, but were holding it up for sucli an 57 appreciation as accrued considerably in 1856, 1857 and 1858. A surmise only can be made that the southern part of the Kerr property had once been cultivated — say for galmibier, — and had reverted to blukar: but virgin forest certainly existed on the northern part, for that forest still persists — a most valuable asset to the Gardens, and there is a little more of it just outside the Gardens on that part of the Kerr property marked in the map K2, wliicli, as said, on the makin"' of Cluny Road was cut off from the rest. The trees growing on both bits of land attest to the forest l)eing primitive : for there are among them such as do not return through l)lukar, into forest younger than a hundred years. The eye •of Sir tStamford Raffles for instance, therefore, saw forest where we see it still. But south of the Bandstand hill there seems to l)e scarcely a tree which could have been standing in 1860. We are told (Appendix 2) that the Society spent •$1448.10 out of its capital on tlie clearing of the southern i)art of the land and on reading. Tlie first roads made appear to have l)een what we now call the Office Gate Road and the Ring Roads, the Liane Road, and the Ma- ranta Avenue. The present Main Gate the Society did not make their ])rincipal entrance ; nor do they seem at first to have made the Main Gate Road. That Road was a later construction, as the abruptness of its junction (at d. on the map) with the first system of drives indicates. The hollow where the lake now is, must have been a swamp down the centre of which the boundary of the Kerr property, (fram 1859 to January 1866 the boundary of the Society's pro- ^jerty), made the straight line a-b on the map. Probably for the sake of getting all the influence possible, the Committee was made very large. Fourteen sat on it, witli His Honor the Governor as Cliairman, and Avith Mr. J. E. Macdonald as Treasurer: and on September 13th 1860, this large Committee was enlarged to twenty one, five in rotation taking control of aft'airs along with the Treasurer, who henceforward was to be called Secre- tary as well. \A'lien the first Committee of fourteen was appointed, and who were elected to it, are unrecorded ; but in the first appendix (below p. 64) we find the names of eight who were present at a Committee meeting, together with the names of seven others who were then added to the Committee to make up the number to twenty-one. Though hoping to benefit local agriculture, the Committee set as its first object the creating of a pleasure garden, as an alternative to the Esplanade, which was then the only resort for the evening drive. The Committee's efforts consequently began by providing a place where a l>and could play; and the hill top which is 109 feet *Some trees on the Bandstand hill break the continuity of the terraces, as if spared when the terraces were made; and the southernmost of them are on the west a tree of Artocarpns rigida, the Monkey Jack, and on the east a tree of Artocarpus lanceaefolia. Everything south of them except the Sagos by the Lily-pond and perhaps two other trees, appears to have been planted sinc§ G9,rdens were laid out. 58 above sea level was chosen.* Terraces were ]3laniied flankin^^ Eing Eoads made on it; and throngh 1861 work upon them was in progress. This is what a visitor from Penaug wrote in the Penang Gazette, " I rode over to the new Botanic Garden. Bj the time it is finished it will be a very nice place. From what I saw of it, part is intended to be laid out in the common terraced English style with drives round the grounds which are of some extent." The Singapore Free Press of January 1862 in reviewing the year then just finished, stated that the ])rogress made in the Garden was con- siderable. In 1861, if not also in 1860, a regimental band played in it* so that it had become an evening promenade. The band played once a fortnight (Appendix 2), and the day was at one time a Mon- day (Singapore Free Press of August 21st, 1862) then changed by ])ublic request to a Saturday (Singa])ore Free Press of September 4th, 1862), — the second and the fourth Saturdays in each month. But it is evident that the terraces were not completed, for in August 1862, work on them was still proceeding (Appendix 2). It is recorded that in 1862 the Society engaged two Chinese gardeners to grow vegetables, hoping soon to be able to distribute plants and seeds among the meml)ers (Appendix 2) ; but reading in the Singapore Free Press of Xovember, 1863 a regret that the Socirety was not ailjle as yet at that date to supply fruit and vege- tables, it is evident that the experiment went amiss. While the Society's Garden was thus being made, the Society organised Flower shows in the hope of encouraging local culti- vation. The first show was advertised in the Singapore Free Press of May 11th, 1861 and July 20th, 1861, and took place upon the Es])lanade on the afternoon of Saturday, July 2Tth, 1861, in a tent " fairly decorated with bouquets of cut flowers from the G-arden " and from exhibitors. A second show was held in Deceml)er, and others followed in su1)sequent years. The iSociety had obtained the i^art-time services of Mr. Law- rojice Niven as Superintendent. It was easy for him to combine this work with his other work, for he was employed as Superinten- dent of an adjoining nutmeg plantation ; and he asked very little for it. It is quite evident that he did his part well, for he earned the Gommifctee's thanks "for his taste in laying out the Garden" (Ap- peiulix 2), and Buckley (Anecdotal History, Singapore, 1902, ii. p. 732) says that he made the Garden attrac?tive by large beds of ])rotty flowers; and further praise is given to him in the Gardens' Guide published in 1889. The Government provided ten convicts for the Garden; and tliey were housed in lines built, if not at the very first, at least before 1866, u]> agaiiist the Napier jiroperty where the Lake now is. The Gomniittee employed a further ten men, and added again another ten in 18(i3 in order to push on the work. But the expense of this free lalwur was more tiian the normal revenue of the Society could * There is a point ia the Gardens jungle recorded as 108 feet above sea level: and the Director's house is recorded as at IIG feet. 59 bear; whereupon thirty-one members came forward with donations of twenty-five dollars e'aeh (Appendix 3), and tlien again in the next year another fourteen members (Appendix 4). The furtlier to add to the Society's funds a Fancy Fair was next organized in conjunc- tion with a Flower Show, which took place on December 28th, 1SG4, and then again another Fair was held in 1866. Although a hope had been expressed of dispensing with the second gang of ten free labourers, the report for 1864 (A])pendix 4) shows that IT men were being employed under a mandor, and that the Govemment had been able to increase the number of con- victs to fifteen. It was under those circumstances that tlie second fourteen subsidiary donations were given. The Bandstand Hill at the end of 1862 or in 1863 had become so far transformed tliat it was decided to turn attention towards the southern corner and to construct a new entrance " at the nearest ])art to town " where the present Main Gate stands. The Society someliow still i)ossessing a little bit of land, cut off from the Kerr property in the making of the Cluny Eoad. and for that reason of no real use to them, exchanged it for considerations with the Nassim estate, one of which was that a corner of Nassim land should Ije thrown into the Napder and Cluny roads at their junction in order to im|)rove the approach to the new gate. This was done. The realignment of Garden Koad had meanwhile been under the consideration of the Government, and as its construction pro- mised to add a narrow strip to the Garden along its west edge, the making of the Lake, as it now is, became possible. Tliis possibility may have been foreseen for two or throe years, for the Main Gate Koad wdiich runs along the Lake Ijank had assuredly been laid down , when in 1864 the new gate was opened, and there are no signs of any subsequent realign;ment to lit its course to the lake; but that the Lake was not i>art of the plans made in 1860 must be the case, for all the land was not in the Society's possession, and the Main Gate Road whi(4i takes visitors to the Lake, as said on p. 57, was not in the firs-t i)lans. The Gardens were in fact laid out in four stages, each more or less indeiJendent ; first there was the Band ])ro'inenade with an a]jproach from Gluny Road, and a means of driving through to tlie Rogie gate or the Garden lioad ; next, hinged on to tiie Bandstand to its south, was made tlie Herbarium Eing Eoad and its connecting paths, very carefully and symmetneally ]:»lanned ; then came the Main Gate, with its road; and lastly came the Lake, depending for its existence upon the acciuisition from Adaim Wilson in January, 18'66, by ({overmuent of a lit of the Xapier proix-rty. The Government suj)plied convict labour for work on the lake ; but this had to be supplemented by free labour (A])pendix 5). Meanwhile Lawrence Niven found that the service demanded from him by his growing charge was inadequately paid for, and ask]ioint a meml:)er on to the Committee officially and chose Mr. H. F. Plow, Clerk of Councils, to represent him. At the same time he suggested the formation of a Zoo as an additional and educational attraction, like the economic plants : and he offered to present some animals. The transactions of the years which follow between 1870 and 1874 are obscure, because the Agri-Horticultural Society went to sleep again. In a speech upon the Budget for 1875, made on December 18th, 1874, and reported in the Singajwre Daily Times, of Decdmbcr 34th, 1874, Dr. R. Little stated that the Society had not carried out its part of tlie compact with the Govermnent to grow economic plants, and that Committee and Management had alike lost interest. The Committee indeed had failed to raise adequate funds, except by increasing the 8% mortgage on its property to $4000. When in August 1874 this had been run through and the Treasurer found himself with a very adverse l)alance, a meeting was called wliich resolved :— " Tliat the Honorary Secretary be instructed to acquaint Government with the willingness of subscribers to hand over the Agri-Horticultural Gardens for future maintenance, reserving to subscribers the same privileges that they now enjoy." This reso- lution Mr. 11. Campbell, as Secretary, forwarded to the Colonial •Secretary on August 13th, 1874. Three months earlier, on May 14th, 1874, the subscribers to the Raffles Library had passed a similar resolution, praying the ■ Government to take over their proi^erty with their debts, and to * The specifiation and approximate plans are in the Gardens' records. G2 maintain the Lil)rarv : and this recpiest the Government Inid acceded to, and had a]D))ointed a ver_y strong Committee, with Dr. Eobert Little as Chairman, and Dr. X. B. Dennys as a member, to carry on. The Government, it liappened, had been asked just before this by the Secretary of State if their control over the Library and over the Gardens was at all commensurate with the large sums of money that were being spent (at the time mostly on the Library). Change thus came from two sides : for both institutions had asked the Government to take theim over ; and of both institutions the Secretary of State had enquired if the Government was controlling them. The subscribers to the Library liad acted tirst: the change was made i:)rom])tly, and the new Committee immediately got under way. They en- gaged the services of a Dr. James Collins, who had come eastwards with recommendations from the Secretary of State, Sir Joseph Hooker and others, on a salary of $150 per mensem, to travel and investigate, to collect for the Eaffles Museum; and to his duties was added that of getting together objects for an Exhibition in London : at the same time he was to carry on the Committee's corres])on- dence, accounts, etc., in Singapore. Then when the members of the Agri-Horticultural Society made their petition, the Governor re- (piested this Conmiittee, if they could, to take charge also of the (iarden; and they consented to do so. Thus the Garden passed temporarily under the same control as tlie lial'Hes Museuan. We find in the speech made ujkjji the Budget estimates for the next year by Dr. Little, already referred to, and in some letters ]3 reserved in the Library the Committee's proposals for the future. Dr Little ill these explained that it would not be advisable to add to Dr. Collins" work, but that another officer should be obtained from Britain, who could join Dr Collins in his explorations, the results of tlie two working together, bringing ''immense gains to the scientific worhl.'" The Governor now advised the Secretary of State that legis- lation would be necessary, for the Garden was property vested in the Vice-President and Treasurer of the Agri-Horticultural Society, and therefore could only he held for them by the Eaffles Library Com- miittee ; and an act was needed that they might be transferred com- ])letelv to the Government. For the purpose one was drafted im- mediately, but not put through. Meanwhile reorganisation was commenced ; on the recommendation of the Committee, Government agreed to the retention of Mr. Xiven on his pay of $80 per mensem with the title of the Manager, giving him permission to undertake besides their work other business; and the proposed Superintendent was sought from England by the Committee in cx)rrespondence with Sir Joseph (then Dr.) Hooker, as Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew. This Superintendent, the Committee stated, was to l)e a ])ractical as well as a systematic l)otanist, ami to travel in the Malay Peninsula not a little i'or the purpose of investigating its vegetation. At the same time an officer, found locally, was appointed to the charge of the animals in the Garden. Dr. Little obtained in the place of the sum of $1200 which was ]>assed by the Government in the estimates of 1870, 1871, 1872, 187:5, and 1874, as a grant to the 63 Botanic Garden, in ISTo $11,324; and in the three years following the Government budgeted annually $7580 for the Botanic Garden ' and $2400 for the Zoological Garden. In the Singapore Daily Times for December 19th, 1874 and for the following days, there may be found an advertisement of the taking over of the Garden by the Government and of it being open now to all under the rules given, the right to receiving cut flowers, etc., being reserved to the subscribers within the Garden's means of suppl}Ting them. At this date the Garden they may well have been quite a pleasant place to wander in, — ^a park in fact, but they had no ♦Srcientilic value whatsoever, for the number of species of plants cul- tivated was about 500 (Guide, 1889) and the animals were only a small collection of birds. The Society had lost way, though in the few years before they had been useful at times to the Government for the supplying of seed-coconuts to Mauritius and of seed of cocoa, cloves and pepper to Queensland, in answer to official requests from those colonies ; l)ut it would seem that the staif of the Garden col- lected what was needed from outside; and the Garden itself played no part in the service. Then to the Library Committee in answer to the request for a Superintendent, Sir Joseph Hooker sent out an energetic, but verv young man, in James Murton, who, arriving in Singapore in October, 1875, with a large supply of new plant-introductions, chief- ly from Ceylon, converted with these and with later supplies from Kew, Mauritius, Brisbane, etc., the Agri-Horticultural Society's park into a working Botanic Garden; while William Krohn, em- ployed by the Committee, built up the collection of animals. Lawrence Niven now took leave, and died while away. His work, — the landscape gardening and terracing, — had been well done, so well done that little has been altered since : whether the plans were his entirely, or were not, is unrecorded: but it is evident that he greatly influenced them : and the smallness of the pay given to him suggests that he undertook the work largely for the love of it. I. H. BURKILL. APPENDIX 1. Feom the SixG.vroKE Free Press op 13th Sept , 18G0. A meeting of the Committee of the Singapore Agri-Horti- cultural Society was held on the 28th ultimo, the Honourable the Governor, President of the Society, being in the chair. The follow- ing members were present : — Messrs. J. d'Almeida, C. H. Harrison, Whampoa, C. R. Bigg, J. E. Macdonald, M. F. Davidson, and Qhpt. Burn. I'he Treasurer's accounts, showing a balance of $36.49 in fa\\)ur of the Society, having been examined and passed, the follow- ing resolutions were adopted : — 1. That the Treasurer be requested to collect the monthly sub- scriptions from the 1st -January last and in futurj that they be col- lected quarterly in advance. 2. That the members of the Committee Ije augmented to twenty one members, and that the following gpntlemen be requested ^4 to act so as to make it u}d to that iiumV)er, viz. Messrs. Jose cV Al- meida, James Murray, Tan Kim Seng, W. Paterson, W. Maotaggart, .1. 11. Campl^ell, and C. H. Wilsone. .'). That the Committee l)e divided into fuiir Subcommittees wliD will 1)}' turns undertake the general ^management of the Society fur three months at a time, and that the following gentlemen be re- quested to form the first Subcommittee from the 1st September next: — Messrs. C. H. Harrison, M. F. Davidson, C. R. Eigg, J. d'Almeida, and Captain Burn. 4. That the Committee as early as possible put themselves into communication with the Botanical and other (Societies of Calcutta, < Batavia, Mauritius, Penaug, and other places for the purpose of obtaining supplies of plants and seeds. ."3. I'hat a Show of Flowers, Vegetables, and Fruit be held in March next, and that the iSiibconimittce for the time being make arrangements for the same. 6. That to enable the Society to avail itself of a gang of con- victs as sanctioned by the Government, the necessary accommodation be provided for their reception within the limits of the Garden. T. That Mr. Macdonald w^lio has so kindly acted as Treasurer to the Society since its formation be also requested to undertake the duties of Secretary, — a combination of the two offices being con- sidered desirable. 5. That Messrs. Whampoa and Tan Kim Seng be requested to afford the Society their valuable assistance in inducing their countrymen in Singapore to join the Society. 9. That each successive subcommittee on l)eing relieved be re- quested to furnish a brief report of their ]H-oceedings to be laid before a quarterly committee meeting. APPENDIX 2. FjiOM TiiK SiXGAroRE Free Peess of August 15tii, 1861. This being the first general meeting since the formation of the Society in Xoveml>er 1859, the Committee of the Society desire to re]i()rt proceedings to the Subscribers. Tliere are now 67 first class subscrilxirs and 8 second class sub- scril)ers. Since the formation of the Society, 19 first class sub- scribers and 1 second class subscribers have withdrawn or left the Settlement. In the above 67 there are 9 new members since the commencement of the year. From the account current to 3Uth June, ]jroduced by the Treasurer, there appears to be a l>alaucc on hand of $167.01. The monthly income from subscrii)tions is $74:[ while the ex- penditure has averaged $176 ])er month, for a i)eriod of 18 months. This sum, however, includes $1,448.10 paid for contract work for clearing land, making roads, and erecting gate-posts, and bridges, leaving about $90 per month to the general working expenses of the (iarden, being an excess of expenditure over receipts of 15| per month. The bringing of the Band to the Gardens once a fortnight involves an oiitla.y of $l-i ])or month, Ijut your Committee tliink that it is advisable to continue this expense, as the presence of the Band is a source of attraction to a considerable number of the community, and has added somewhat to the number of subscribers, and it is ex- pected it may be the means of adding still further to the nnm'ber. There are now employed on the Garden a mandore and 10 coolies, and the Government allows a g^ng of 10 convicts. The quantity of work performed may appear to be less to the suil>scribers than they may have expected from the number of men employed, but the heavy nad;ure of the work, which has consisted mainly of the formation of the very extensive terrace near the bandstand, fully accounts for this. The first show was held on the 27th July, and although the products shown were not numerous, they were certainly as many as could reasonaljly have been expected. As a first attempt, and seeing the interest taken by the nati^'es on this occasion, your committee are sanguine that much good will result from it. Two Chinese gardeners have lately been engaged for the ])ur- pose of cultivating vegetables under ihe Superintendent, and it is hoped that in a few months the sale of vegetables will be a source of profit to the Garden, as well as a stimulant to men of their nation to rear a better cultivated vegetable; and to introduce a greater variety than the European community have hitherto enjoyed. Your committee are much indebted to Mr. Xiven Jr. for the taste displayed in laying out the Garden, and for the attention he has given generally. Supplies of seeds have been received from the Agri-Horti- cultural Society of India, and also from England and from the Botanical Gardens of Batavia. Two boxes of plants and orchids and several contributions have been made by residents. And your com- mittee hope ere long to be in a position to distribute plants and seeds among the subscribers, and cannot conclude this their first report Vv-ithout congratulating them on the success of the Agri- Horticultural Society of Singapore. APPENDIX 3. FuoM THE SixGAPOiJE FitEE Press OF Xov. 19th, 1863. A general meeting of the Agri-Horticultural f^ociety was held on Thursday the 12th instant (Xovember 12th, 18G3) at the Ex- change llooms, His Honor the Governor in the chair. The Honorary Secretary read his rcjiort and the same was passed and approved. The Treasurer subanitted his report showing a Ijalance in favour of tlie Society of $284.92, out of whicli tlie expenses of Xovem'ber and December liave to be paid. He at the same time brought to the notice of tlie meeting that out of 95 original members 4 have left Singapore, of these remain- ing 31 have already paid a second donation of $25 and this pa^ymenf alone has prevented the Society from becoming insolvent, 66 TliG total income for the first lialf-year was $63l:.oO and the expenditure $762.42 showinif a defir-it of $22 per montli, whilst for the current half-vear the income is likely to ))e $o22 and the expen- diture $822 sliawinme is likely to be nearly enough to cover all Expenditure with the exception of the carriages for the Band. The Treasurers report was then passed and ajiproved. The follow'ing resolutions were then proposed and carried. ' 1st Resolution — Proposed by Joachim d'Almeida, Esq., second- ed by Captain Protlierce. That the following Gentlemen be requested to form the Com- mittee for the ensuing year: — Jose d'Almeida, Esq., C. P. Lalla, Esq., Captain Macnair, J. Murray, Esq., C. R. Pigg, Esq., 1). Rodger, Esq., H. M. Simons, Esq., Syed Abdulla, Esq., Tan Kim Ching, Esq., Whaimpoa, Esq., E. J. Tjevcvson, Honorary Secretary and Treasurer. 2nd Pesolution — Proposed by H. M. Simons, Esq., seconded by J. d'Almeida, Esq. That an application be made to the Government in hopes of ])eing able to obtain further assistance in the way of Convict Labour. 3rd Pesolution — Proposed Ijy the Honourable the Resident Councillor, seconded by Captain MacNair. That with a view of increasing the members the monthly pay- ment of the Second Class Subscribers be reduced to 50 cents, and the privilege hitlierto granted to the Public of resorting to the Society's gardens on 3 days a week be withdrawn and the Gardens hereafter to l)e open only to Members, Subscribers, and Strangers, and Messrs. J. Little & Co. are kindly requested to receive Sub- scriptions and Donations. 4th Pesolution — Proposed by H. M. Simons, Esq., and second- ed Ijv E. J. Leveson, Esq. That the best thanks of this meeting be voted to His Honor the (Jovernor for hiis kind assistance in taking the chair and for his valuable suggestions. APPENDIX 4. From the Sixgapoke Free Press of Xov. ITtit, 1SG4. The annual meeting of the Members of tlie Agri-Horticultural Society was held at the excliange rooms on Thursdav November 10th, 1804. The Honourabh' Colonel Orfeur Cavenagh, Governor of the Straits Settlements, in the chair. The Honourable the Governor read the annexed report of the Hon. Secretary and Treasurer. 67 After some preliminary remarks from the Chairman, the fol- lowinp()rtunity of thanking the members and their friends, particularly the ladies, for their kind assistance and sui:)port on that occasion. The Committee have great })ileasure in informing tlie meml)ers and subscribers that the Government, has been pleased, on appli- I'ation, to grant '$-■)() per mensem towards keeping up the Gardens, which will l)e of material assistance, seeing that the income of the Society only averages $120 per mensem owing to a falling off in donations and subscriptions. From a statement which is laid before you this day it will be seen that no less a sum than $17,429.78, has been voluntarily raised in Singapore since tlie formation of this Society in 1860, of which amount $37-19 have l^een Donations, and, as a great part of that amount has l)een necessarily devoted to laying out the grounds, which will ere long be completed, the income will in future 1)e available for the actual development of Horticulture and Agri- cculture. Tbe Government bas kindly allowed tlie services of GO prisoners from thellouse of Coi'i-ection to earry out the excavation of the hike, but owing to the small i!uml)er of prisoners in Jail not more than an average of oO have been available, and of late not more than 70 10, so that your Coniniittec have been ol)lifred to contract for Chinese coolies to complete the excavation; it is however hiointed the Vice-President and Treasurer of the 'Siociety for the time being, and their successors, in that capacity, which appoint- ment you will be this day asked to confirm. The Treasurer's accounts are laid before you, showing a balance at credit on the 1st instant of $1,479.44, and the same arc su])mitted to you for confirmation. it lias been brought to the notice of your Committee that some of the residents of Singapore who are not subscribers avail themselves of the Gardens of the Society, althougli they must be aware that only Members, /Subscribers and Strangers have the right of admittance, and the Committee trust, as the funds of the Society depend chiefly upon subscriptions, wliich just at present are much needed, that all will see the necessity of lending their aid. The Committee take this opportunity of tcxpressing their thanks to the (Jovernment for the ready assistance which has been invariablv gi\en whenever a.sked for. 71 In conclusion your Committee he^ to state that in consequence of the great satisfaction Mr. Niven has given in the discharge of hip duties as Superintendent they propose to increase his salary to $80 per mensem from the 1st of January next. APPENDIX 6. From Manuscript, bkixg the Draft of a "' KEroRT to be Pre- sented TO TUB Society at a Meeting of Feb. 24Tir, 1870." At the last general meeting held on the 2nd June, ISGS, the late Hony. Secretary stated that the income of the Society for the ensuing year might he considered fully e(]ual to $200 per month, which would be sufficient for all current expenses ; but Mr. Wilsone appears to have forgotten that a large balance was still due to the builder of the Superintendent's house, which with other items of expenditure already sanctioned ultimately amounted to $722.57, and it soon became apparent that the revenue would fall far sliort of the necessary expenditure. Under these circumstances your Committee found that the Society was rapidly getting into debt, and that either some means must be devised to increase the revenue or a portion of the Cardens must be allowed to relapse into jungle. It was considered inadvisable to raise the rates of the annual subscriptions, these being already as high as people are lilcely to pay, and it was feared that subscriptions would decrease rather than be augmented thereby. At the same time it was not deemed proper to resort to the means of a Bazaar, as had been done formerly to raise extraordinary sums for special purposes, as the Gardens might now be con- sidered so far complete that a true estimate could be formed of the annual ex]:»enditure, and this should be provided for in some way permanently, as no committee could take upon themselves the responsibility of providing funds annually by such precarious means as Bazaars. It was therefore decided that as the public voluntarily sub- scribed as much as they could afford, the Grovernmeut should be requested to increase the then small grant from $50 to $100 per month, and after some correspondence upon the subject the appli- cation was favourably considered by the Legislative Counuil and the extra grant conceded, with the ciondition that the Government should nominate one official member of the committee, which was readily acceded to and H. F. Plow, Esq., Clerk of Councils, has been duly appointed accordingly. Your committee in a]>plying for the increased grant expressed their intention of making the Gardens more generally useful; by keeping a nursery of flowers, ])lants, shrubs, etc., and also raising European vegetables for distribution to members, subscribers and others, and they regret that circumstances have so far prevented them from more than partially carrying out their view's, but they expect in the course of the current year to be able to effect all these objects successful!}'. H By the acconnis now laid l)cfore you it appears iliat the pjross receipts of the Society duriii Printed at the Methodist Publishing House, Singapore. DEPARTMENTAL NOTICES. A new List of Plants, which may be purchased from the Botanic Gardens, Singapore or Penang, is in the press. Eequests for yams should be received at once. Plants of the Avocado or Alligator Pear — Persea gratissima, — and Brazil nut — Bertholletia excelsa, — to be sold within the Penin- sula at fifty cents each. Seeds of Hevea brasiliensis — Para Rubber — as available from trees, twenty-eight years old, to be sold at three dollars per thousand up to the number of ten thousand, and at two dollars and fifty cents for every further thousand on the same order. The Gardens' Bulletin is published as material becomes available. Its price is fifty cents a copy, post free, or in advance for a volume of twelve numbers, post free, Five dollars in the Straits and Federated Malay States. Nine and a half rupees in India and Ceylon. Thirteen shillings in Europe. PLATE V. en U UJ c/:; THE GARDENS' BULLETIN. 5TR3IT5 5t:TTLEnENT5. Vol. II. Issued November Hth. No. 3 THE ROZELLE— HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA. In March, 1916, seeds of several races of the Eozelle were re- ceived in the Botanic Gardens, and in 1917 one of them, — a rac-e called " Archer '" — gave in the Economic Garden the splendid crop here figured. It was the second generation of the race grown in Singapore. As the Rozelle has been described in the Agricultural Bulletin of the Federated Malay States so recently as 1913 (J. Lamborne, in vol. 11^ p. 57) no general account is called for here: but the means by which this enormous crop was got will be detailed. The seedlings were raised in seed pans and were planted out on low ridges two feet apart, the rows being three feet apart, in March. The planting was too close and there appeared no signs of fruit for A long time. Then to hurry the plants every other row was re- moved in July, and every other plant in the row's, whereupon the flowering commenced. Before this happened ]:)lants which had been grown in pots had produced a small crop of fruits — say 25 to a plant, — at 6 months and had died. What they produced w^as not a tithe of wliat the bed outside produced. The excellent result with it is .ascribed to the conditions having caused the flowering to be held back until the full vegetative vigour of the plants was established. In pots flowering commences while the plants are weak. No records M'ere ke])t of the return; but the photograph was taken when the plants had already been much picked over. Jelly was experimentally made and with success, and fruit widely distributed in Singapore. " Archer " is a white-fruited race. Therefore a little coche- nille is desirable in the jelly to improve its appearance when it is intended to l)e used as an alternative for Red Current Jelly. Mr. P. J. Wester in the Philippine Agricultural Review, VII, 191-1, p. 267, says he had received the race "Archer" from Mr. A. S. Archer, of Antigua, British West Indies, in 1913. I, H. BUKKILL. 74 NOTES ON COLA TREES IN THE ECONOMIC GARDEN, SINGAPORE. Ill the Economic Garden are to l)e found fourteen trees of the genus Cola. There were more: hut the plantation, on the hill top^ which grew badly was in chief part removed in 1917. Five of the trees are thick and bush like, 7 — 8 feet high, their branches dense and entangled, and carrying leaves down to the ground : they belong to the species C. acuminata, using the name as used by MM. Che- valier and Perrot in their " Vegetaux utiles de I'Afrique tropicale fran^aise," YI, 1911. The other nine trees, judging by their bear- ing, belong to the species ('. nitida: but as yet the flowers and fruits of one only have come under observation for full determina- tion. They are 30-40 feet high, with rather sparse branches and foliage. All have suffered from the poorness of the soil and from want of manure. They liave fruited at times; but, with the one exception, not in 1918. The tree that has fruited and on which most of the following observations have been made, is 40 feet high ; its fruits were ripened continuously through May, June and July to the number of about 130, which contained 314 seeds — the Cola nuts of commerce. This is by no means its first crop ; but it is the first that has been systematically harvested. The history of the tree is unknown. The records of the Botanic Gardens show tliat Cola was introdiicd in 1879 (lie])ort for that year, p. 3),. and agahi in 1881 from Kew (Eeport for 1881, p. 6), and again from Kew in 1893 (Eeport for 1893, p. 2). In the Report for 1884, it is recorded that the " African Cola nut planted in the Experimental nursery grew well in the alluvial soil there."^ Now C^antley's Experimental Forest Nursery was on the alluvial soil of the Economic Garden, and it is quite evident that the tree or trees to which his report referred, were where the Colas — some- of them— are now; but it is difficult to make a connection between any of them and Cantley's statement. One C^ola tree in that neigh- bourhood flowered but did not fruit in 1892 (Report for the 3'ear, p. 3). In the year 1907 a tree, probably the same one, fruited hea^nly ; and, if the memories of men who have served long in the Gardens are to be trusted, that tree was the one which has fruited in the current year. It is Cola nitida: and therefore the introduc- tion of Cola seed in 1881 would probably be of C. nitida. The entry is of " Cola acuminata," a conse(|uence of the confusion which has existed in the nomenclature of the Colas, whereby more than the true C. acuminata passed under that name. Chevalier and Perrot explain the nomenclature thus. Ven- tenat, while employed in describing the plants cultivated in the gardens of the Malmaison palace, examined the dried material in the Herbaria available to him, and found what he considered to be, as others also would have done at the time, a Sterculm cultivated in Mauritius, and new to seience. H^ described this plant as Ster- rulia niiida, tlie description appearing in 1803. At a little time ])efore this. Palisot de Heauvois had Ix^en in Benin and had got another plant which he described, about the same time, i.e. in 1803,. 75 as " .Sterculia aeuininata,'' and which, he said, gave the Cola nuts of Sierra Leone. Xow, say MM. Chevalier and Perrot, the one Cola of Benin is not that which gives the Sierra Leone nut, whereas the plant, which Ventenat had from a garden in Mauritius, is : so that Ventenat had des<^ribed as Sterculia niiida tlie true Sierra T^one Cola without knowing that he was doing so, Init Palisot thinking he was, was in reality fixing the nut of commerce on to a wrong tree which he was calling Sterculia acuminata. Xot long after this the Colas were separated from the Sterculias and Sterculia acu- minata became Cola acuminata, while Sterculia nitida l^eeame i'ola nitida. MM. Chevalier and Perrot maintain that, the last is the right name for much that has passed as C. acuminata. According to this classification, C. nitida emljraces the Colas having only two cotyledons, whereas C. acuminata refers to the €olas having more than two cotyledons. The nuts with two cotyledons are reputed to be the best, and the Natives of West Africa, where the Cola nut is largely consumed prefer them to the polyeotyledonous ones, and pay more for them. Three varieties of C. nitida are mentioned, viz: 1st. C nitida, alba which produces white nuts. 2nd, C. nitida, rubra which produces red nuts. •3rd. C. nitida, mixta which produces both white and red nuts. The tree, Avhich we are dealing with at present, belongs to the last variety ; for although by far the greater number of the nuts were found to be of a light pink, almost white, tint, some were also found of a deep ruby colour, or of a wine-purple colour. The piece of land, in which it grows, with three others of its kind, adjoins the present vegetable growing plot ; it had been left in recent years unfilled ; but in February last, it was taken in hand, stumped, cleared and dug: the present crop is perhaps the response to this beginning of cultivation. Be this as it may, tlie tree has given a crop, and following upon the further cultivation and manuring which it has sinc^ re- ceived, along with its three companions, we may reasonably look forward to an increased crop towards the beginning of next year, iis the Cola tree gives two crops a year. The Cola Xut. The fruit on the tree is a rugged warty green pod, some 2 to i inches long, and a])out 2 inches in diameter — more or less egg- shajK'd. but terminating with a point slanting to one side. The pods open a few hfturs after falling from the tree; but several were collected already open, showing through a slit the white waxy seeds inside. The number of the seeds varies, as far as I have observed, from one to five, the latter rarely, and the average being three. The sketch attached is a reproduction, as 76 Avell as I can make i't. of the larg-est fruit amono^st those which were gathered. Fruit, fruit in section, and seeds of Coin nitida, one quarter natural size. The seeds are surrounded by a tegument of cream-coloured waxy pulp resembling- that of the dnrian, and which is sweet and not un])leasant to the taste. This sweet waxy pulp is very attrac- tive to ants which, as soon as the pods open, quickly dispose of it. When kept stored for a couple or three days, the pulp gives off, in the process of fermentation, the sweetish smell which is charac- teristic of alcoholic fermentation, and this leads me to believe that,, like other sul)stances containing sugar, alcohol could be obtained by the distillation of the pulpy tegument. This has a bearing on the possibility of Cola as a remunerative cultivation of the future, as, in the case of alcohol being oJDtainable from the pulp, a ready and inexpensive means would be at hand for making locally the extract of Cola from fresh nuts, which contain all the valuable principles of the nut, instead of shipping to Europe more or less mouldy nuts with a loss of much of their active principles, as 1 shall presently show. The nuts are very irregular in size and in shape : and the manner in which they are wedged one against the other in the shell varies also greatly. The same remark applies to the arrangement of the cotyledons which are packed together in the most intricate convolutions, one sometimes almost encircling the other. After they have been divested of their sweet pulp, which rubs oiT easily, the seeds are found wrapped up in a thin papery enve- lope, which, 'like the pulp, is easily detachable. The naked seed then remains, of a fresh light pink colour, with slightly outlined 1)rown wavy lines, which mark tlie line of division of the two coty- ledons. A few of the seeds are of a deep ruby or purple colour; but they are otherwise indistinguishable from other seeds, although I have seen it stated that such nuts, as well as the pure white ones, are preferred by the natives of Africa. After a week's exposure in a well aired place on my verandah, the nuts, previously divested of tlieir envelopes, began to open, just like an oyster would, the two cotyledons parting slightly; and, with a little effort, they can then be completely separated from each other. If left in that state, that is to say, only partly opened, it is found that mould collects in the centre of the nut, at the point 77 of attachment of the two cotyledons, instead of on the surface, from the fact, no doubt that the inner moisture of the nut finds an exit at that central spot, where for lack of ventilation, mould o^athers. This explains the practice of shippiiio^ to Europe nuts which are split in halves, so as to avoid the gathering of mould between the cotyledoi.s and, Jience it is that we see in the records of sales of Cola nuts, as in the Trade Eeport of the " Chemist and Druggist " of May nth, 1918, the following: " Cola. 3 bags of fair dried Jamaica halves, sold at 11 pence, " being about steady. — 207 bags slightly mouldy African qualities "were limited at lid." The storage of Cola nuts offers some little difficulty, as, oxy- dation keeping pace with dessication, the nuts become not only lighter and lighter in weight, but they also take a very dark colour, and are apt to become the feeding-ground of a tiny, but fat, white maggot, which riddles the surface of the nuts with wavy furrows and renders them " wormy " — greatly depreciating their value. The best way to preserve the nuts in a fresh state, as far as I can judge, is to put them in air-tight tins, and to give them an airing once a week. By this means, the nuts do not lose weight so fast, and they keep their pink colour longer ; but after a month, brown spots appear and the nuts, bye-and-bye, assume the objectionable dark colour. The problem of landing nuts in Europe in the fresh state, can be, it is said, solved by sterilising the nuts, but I am not aware that this is carried on to any extent, and, at any rate, it must result in a l)ig increase in the cost of marketing the nuts. My weighings of Cola nuts, fresh and dry, give the following figures : 18 fresh large nuts weigh . . 21 „ medium ,, • • 24 ,, nuts at random . . 26 nuts after 6 days' drying 32 ,, 7J 3 weeks 33 ?j >7 5' 36 >5 5J 4 weeks 40 ?9 5? 45 days 16^ ounces. 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 These weights do not agree with those given by August Che- valier anxl Perrot, who put down 12 grammes as the average weight of fresh nuts, which would make about 39 required to the pound. But the nuts referred to in their book are from Dahomey or French Guinea and therefore not C. riitida; and it is stated that the nuts of the hvivy Coast, where C. nitida occurs, are larger and weigh on the average 25 grammes i.e. about 18 to the pound. The active principles of Cola, on which depend its physiological and stimulating properties are : 1st. Caffeine of which it contains from 2% to 2.5% i.e. much more than coffee itself. 2nd. Theoljromine, the alcaloid found in the cocoa beans. 3rd. Kolatine, a substance as yet imperfectly known. 4th. Betain, an alcaloid found in l)eet and other plants *'■ slightly diuretic and non toxic" (Henry). 78 The Cola nut contains moreover a large amount of starch, i.e. about one third of its weight which gives it a high nutritive value. As a matter of fact, it is largely used as a food in Africa, mixed with milk and honey. In Jamaica it is used as cocoa and chocolate, pre])arcd by grating the dry nut into powder and mixing in boiling water, with milk and sugar. " Some people use the Cola " nut regularly at breakfast in this manner, and consider it superior "to everything else of the kind," (Kew Bulletin, 1890). Chemical Composition. The chemical composition of Cola nuts, dry and fresh, variously given, as follows : IS By Knox and Pr Water escott : Free alcaloid C'ombined alcaloid Total Dry nuts Fresh nuts 6.16 53.90 1.84 1.15 1.82 1.92 3.66 3.07 By Dietrich : Water Free alcaloid Caffeine Fatty matter Ash Dry nuts Fresh nuts 13.86 57.29 1.77 1.43 1.67 3.33 2.50 1.56 By Ballande: Dry nuts Fresh nuts Free alcaloid Caffeine 3.11 2.75 Dr. Fi-ankland Dent, Government Analyst, Straits Settlements, who kindly undertook the analysis of four nuts from the Economic (jlardens, found that tliev contain : Water .. .. ' .. .. .. .. 42.767o Caffeine containing a trace only of llieoibromine, calculat- ed on the dry sample . . . . . . 1.61% It should be stated that these nub; were not fresh from the tree, but had been kept for some time in a closed tin, which would account for the water-content being lower than appears in the above analyses. Heferring now to the weight of nuts, dry and fresh, in ray weighings as given al)ove, which average: fresh 21 nuts to 16 ounces or 454 grammes dry 33 nuts to 16 ounces or 454 grammes it will be found, according to the figures of Knox and Preseott, that : grammes. 100 fresh nuts weighing 21(;2 grammes contain of Caff'eine free and combined . . . . . . 66.37 100 dry nuts weigliing 1375 grammes contain of Caffeine free and combined . . . . . . 50.36 79 100 dry nuts, therefore, lose in the process of dryincr of their free and combined alcaloids . . . . 16.01 The drier the nuts, the greater the loss. This would be the actual loss on nuts dried locally, but other- wise sound. What the loss may be after a week or two in the hold of a ship — with the additional deterioration caused by mould, I have no means of knowing. The number of dry nuts, viz : 33, on which the above calcula- tion is l)ased is the number of nuts to one pound weight, after 3 week's drying — i.e a period that corresponds to the length of the voyage from the African Coast to Europe. But the degree of des- sication can go much further, for T have found that after a couple of months as many as lOd halves ( = oO whole nuts) go to one pound. On the other hand, reverting to the previous figures, 100 fresh nuts would have to pay freight (57.30%) on 1238 grammes of Avater— where 100 dry nuts would only pay (13.86%) on less than 200 grammes. In other words, one ton of fresh nuts would pay for more than lialf a ton of water — whereas one ton of dry nuts would only pay on about 3 hundredweight. Whether the gain in alcaloids, in ship]nng fresh nuts, would not lie balanced by this surplus on freight, is a question which, for the present, must remain open. Trade. Tlie uses to which the Cola nut is put in Europe and America are many and varied. It enters in the composition of tonic wines and liqueurs — of confectionery, of chewing gums, in certain well- known therapeutic preparations : a use is found for it in dysentery, combined with bismuth and salol as, " with this medicine a patient " can go a considerable time without food and thereby the stomach "obtains its needed rest." ("Chemist and Druggist," 20th Nov., 1915.) But the greatest use to wliicli the Cola nut is put is for mix- ing with cocoa, a use for which it is especially well adapted, as, owing to its small content of fatty matter (only 1.67% of the dry nut), it forms a very suitable mixture with the powder of the cocoa bean ; the latter containing an excess of fat, or cocoa-butter, which has to be removed in the manufacture of pure cocoa. I presume that it is to this capacity of being used as a part substitute for Cocoa, and to the increased demand created thereby, that the present favourable position of the Cola market is mostly due. But it is impossible to say how far war conditions have shared in this advance, as the export figures (see below) do not carry us beyond 1915, and. moreover, they do not discriminate between the exports to Europe, and the Coastal exports to the neighbouring French and Portuguese C^olonies, which, we know, are very im- portant. P'reights must liave influenced the rise in prices, but, even computing on a freiglit of two pence per pound, the margin between pre-war prices (H^/ to 3^(1 per pound) and the actual price of 11 80 pence per pound in May. 1918, is so great, that it can only be the result of a vastly increased demand, coupled with a higher grade of the nuts shipped to Europe. This is borne out, I think, by the description of the nuts marketed since 1915, which are no longer catalogued merely as " dark, mouldy or wormy," but as " good bright halves/' or " fair dried halves." How far this increased demand will persist after the war, the future will decide, but it is not unlikely that when the valuable properties of Cola are better known in Europe, the demand for it will expand more and more. But, be this as it may, the chief mainstay of the prosperity of the Cola planting industry will yet remain, for a long time to come, what it is now, — viz': the Native African consumption, which far exceeds the boundaries of the Countries of production; for the use of the nut is fast spreading to all the Mussulman lands of jSTorthern Africa and it has found its way to Morocco — Algeria — Egypt — Tripoli and as far as Turkey and Malta. The figures below show tliat the trade in Cola nuts is taking a greater extension every year. It stands, now, second (after Cocoa) on the list of the exports of the Gold Coast, the figures for the last six years given by the Report of the Government of the Gold Coast being as follows : 1910 5,156,500 pounds value £ 77. 716 or 3.6 per lb. 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 The last figures for Sierra Leone that I can find relate to the year 1909 when (exclusive of exports to Europe) the exports to the neighbouring French and Portuguese Colonies amounted to 1444 tons of a value of over £100,000. Cola nuts also occupy the second place, after palm-kernels, in the exports of Sierra-Leone. In his book " Sierra Leone : Its People and Products," Osman Newland states tliat at Freetown, the price of the nuts varies from £6.10 to £13 per measure of 176 pounds, which corresponds to a price of H|r/ to 17|r/ ])er pound and lie adds: " tlie annual value of "the Kola luits exported exceeds £]00,0()(), but only the throw-outs " and undersized nuts reach Liverpool or London, wliere, selling at " 2| to id per pound, they are used as an adulterant for cocoa." In Lagos, according to Dudgeon (Imperial Institute hand- books) the ))rice i)ai „ 142,190 „ 4.34 „ 139,163 „ 4 81 with the enormous production, whicli is said to he ahout 20,000 tons. Tlie market quotations of the Cola nut in Europe have been subject to somewhat remarlvable ups and downs, as will be seen from the Trade Eeports of the " Chemist and Druggist " which are extracted at random from old numbers of that paper. 1890 October IS. Kola nuts have much advanced this week, and in Liverpool, up to 3/9 is now asked for good dry seeds. 1909 December 2f). The lower prices now range from 56 to 60 marks per 100 kilos on the spot (Hamburg). 1913 November 29. Kola slightly easier Zd to d\d was obtained for fair small to bold dried West Indian. 2|rf for darkish slightly wormy and 2d for dark mouldy. 191Jt June 13. Kola 3 bags dark Ceylon sold at 2\d per pound. 191Ji December 19th. Kola. At the spice auction, 4 barrels dried sold at l\d to Ifrf per pound. "The Chentist and Druggist Diary 191S" gives the following under : Cost of Diiugs and Chemicals during the Wau. Kola Januarv 1 Dec. 31 June 30 Dec. 31 July 31 ^Yest Indian 1915 1915 1916 1916 1917 per pound '3d 4f to 6d 5f to 6f? 6d 5 to Q^d For the present year, the prices stand as follows : 1918 April 13. Kola sold at slightly firmer prices from lOd t^ ll^d, the latter price being paid for 74 bags West In- dian for good bright halves and wholes. 1918 May 11th. 3 bags of fair dried Jamaica halves sold at 11^/ being about steady — 207 bags slightly mouldy African qualities were limited at lit/.* The above quotations confirm what I have already pointed out, viz : that up to 3 years ago, the bulk of the exports to Europe mostly consisted of more or less old, dark and mouldy nuts, of "throw-outs," as Xewland puts it: and that since 1915, the de- mand of the European and American market, has been for a greatly improved staple of nuts. Incidentally, they point to the conclusion that, though very much higher than in previous years, the prices are not yet high enough, taking into account abnormal freights, insurance &c., to secure the very best nuts, which the native insists upon having fresh, and sound, and for which he is prepared to ])ay the price. Cultivation and Yields. The most important centres of production of Cola nuts seem to be the countries skirting the Western African Coast between. * The latest record to hand of the Cola market "Chemist and Druggist" of 3rd August is "Kola, 20 bags part mouldj "quarters" were held for 10 pence. The designation "quarters" applies to the separated cotyledons of the nuts of C. acuminata, which have more than two cotyledons. 82 and inchuling, the Cameroons to the East, and Sierra T^one to the West. In these, countries, it grows under the conditions in- herent to native cultivation. It is however, cultivated to a certain extent in Jamaica where it was brought, some eighty years ago, by slave ships. It is therefore fully acclimatised there, and it thrives quite as well as in its own habitat — and an export trade of some importance has been established. It is also cultivated, on a small scale in other islands of the West Indies, in the French Antilles and, also, I believe, in the island of Bourbon. The exports from Java to the Xetherlands amounted to: 10937 Kilos in 1909,-13000 Kilos in 1910, — 11000 Kilos in 1911 (van Gorkum). But, except in the case of one C'ompany in the Gold Coast territory, and one in Sierra Leone, I am not aware that the culti- vation of Cola has been anywhere undertaken on a large scale, under systematic conditions, such as obtain on our large estates of rubber, cocoa or tea ; it seems, so far, to have escaped the keen attention of the planter. Yet, we are not without some data as to its behaviour under cultural treatment. Mr. W. Fawcett, a well- known authority on things Jamaican, speaking from experience, states : " that the Cola tree is propagated from seeds and will begin " to bear after four or five years. There are trees near the Botanic " Gardens at Castleton, which were planted over 50 years ago, still "" in perfect health, and bearing fruit regularly." This was written nearly forty years ago. " The trees should be planted about 20 feet apart they "grow about 40 feet in height. Those near Castleton produce " from 500 to 800 pods each crop. If each pod contains, on a *' moderate calculation, four seeds, and if we say 50 seeds to a ^' quart — tlien a tree with 600 pods will give 50 quarts of nuts twice ■"a year, or 100 quarts per tree per year (there are two crops in a "year). A quart of dry nuts will weigh a little over 1^ pound = *' 125 pounds per tree. A tree in full bearing, and under careful "cultivation, would probably produce 150 pounds of nuts a year" (Kew Bulletin, 1881). It will be noticed that in the above statement dry nuts are specified. The weight of fresh nuts would be about one quarter to one third more. In the Cameroons, we are told, one hundred trees were plant- ed in 1904, and manured later on, wdth the result that the trees were in fruit in 1907, and in 1908 the crop was abundant. In Western Africa, according to various authorities, the gross output of a tree varies in value from 20 francs, in bad years; to 75 francs in good year. In the Cameroons, Dr. Bernegau puts the money value of the crop at 50 marks per 3'ear per tree. Newland puts it at 30 sliillings in Sierra Leone, and he adds: " ITiider " proper cultivation a (^ola tree should yield double that revenue." i.e. 60 shillings. The report of the Agricultural Station of Tarquah (Gold Coast) issued by the Government of the Gold Coast, for 1915, says: " The station has 29 acres under Kola, planted in 1909. The " majority of the trees have made excellent growth : the oldest trees 83 "fruited freely, and 27860.5 nuts were harvested up to the end of "' the year." These facts, and many others which could be adduced, if space permitted, dispose of the pessimistic outlook of the authors of '• Les Noix de Kola et les Kolatiers " as regards the prospects of the Cola tree, as a remunerative, though perhaps, for the present restricted industry. That the trees yield profitably before their fifteenth year is quite satisfactorily established. That many trees never bear fruit, or very late is not surpris- ing, given the localities in which the authors have mostly seen such trees i.e. in dense, overcrowded forest thickets. Planters would find a way to improve upon such conditions, and to provide their trees with" the conditions of location, of soil and moisture, supple- mented, if necessary, with manures, required for the well-being of so valuable a crop. We have some indications of what these conditions should be, from the accounts given us by many competent observers. Mr. Elliott, Forest Officer, Xortheni Nigeria, says of the nuts found in the Province of Xupe, Northern Nigeria, " this nut is m "great demand throughout the whole of North Africa, and it " fetches locallv almost double the price of the kind with i or 5 " cotyledons. Tlie trees grow in sheltered valleys at an elevation of " from 450 to 550 feet above the sea. The soil is a deep, black, " sandy loam and is kept in a continuous state of moisture l)y the "streams that are found in each valley." (Kew Bulletin, 1906, No. 4). That the Cola tree is a grateful tree under kindly treatment is also evidenced by the following statement of Mr. Dawodu m his report of his tour "througli the Lagos hinterland, at the request of the Government of Lagos in 1898. " The Kola tree abounds in these parts. The trees were all in ~" a most flourishing coiulition, always bearing heavy and abundant "cro])s. Lideed, the Ekiti Country is famed for its Kola trees " and the cultivation of them is brought to great perfection by the " natives." In passing, it will be noticed that in Mr. Elliot's report just quoted, the polycotyledonous nuts are only worth about half the price of those with" only two cotyledons. As stated at the begm- ning of this paper, the species C. niiida is the one with two coty- ledons, and ('. acuminata is the species with the plural cotyledons. Thus, the statement that C. niiida is the species that supplies the best nuts is here confirmed. A further confirmation of this fact is found in the Peport on the Agricultural Department for the year 1914, issued by the Government of the Gold Coast in which it is stated that : " Only one European Company has given any attention to "this product (Cola) and their plantations are now in bearing. " No ])articulars are available of the past year's work, but it is " understood that a proportion of their crop is the white nut,^ which "fetches a relatively higher price than the ordinary Colas." 84 According; to the nomenclature of the Cola trees, as fj^^iven by MM. A. Chevalier and E. Perrot, the trees with all white nuts, and with only two cotyledons, belong to the species Cola niiida var. alba: this white Cola, then, must be regarded as the best one to propagate. Tlie great excellence of MM. Chevalier and Perrot's work is nnfortunately marred by their pessimistic strictures on the future of Cola as a planting industry, strictures which would almost raise a doubt as to their opportunities of observing the Cola tree under fair conditions of growth, and which, at any rate, are without the least justification. The autliors would have us believe that the Cola tree is ab- solutely refractory to cultivation : that many of the trees only l^ear male flowers and never fruit, which is not at all unlikely where, as found by the authors, tliey grow under unfavourable conditions, either, in the midst of dense forest thickets, or at unsuitable alti- tudes of 800 metres above sea-level. Again, we are told : " the fruit pods are far apart from each ■" other in the tree, and the harvesting must be slow and difficult." Now, the authors may never have thought how the Chinese or natives of this country bring down, with their long poles, bunches of coconuts from 80 to 90 feet up in the air, but it is hardly admissible that they should ignore the fact that the pods of the Cola nuts fall of themselves at maturity, and that the cost of har- vesting need only be the cost of picking them up off the ground ; for such is tlie case. Lastly, we are informed : " Planters at San Thome liave ■" assured us that the most vigorous trees only yield a few kilos of ■" nuts in a year and that the crop was not worth the money spent *' on it," and, if my memory serves me right, the maximum crop to be expected from a tree, would be some 10 kilos of nuts. The reports given above from competent observers go some way towards dispelling such unfounded pessimism. But the following extract from the Report of the Government of the Gold Coast for 1914, should effectually dispose of the matter: on page 31, it is said : "Cola. — The white cola trees are making fair progress.... *' the 93 numbered trees produced 72,029 nuts. Four trees pro- " duced no fruit at all, and the highest individual yield was 5302 ■''nuts. . . .one tree produced over 4,000 nuts — 4 trees over 3,000 — *' 6 trees over 2,000 ; and 7 trees over 1,000." These figures lead to conclusions very different from those expressed above and I shall not labour the question further. But it is an understood thing that the introduction of a new crop in any country has to fight its way against detractors. It was the ease of quinine at its first introduction in the East: it was the case of Liberian Coffee in the early eighties; and it was the same with Rubber of which it was said, in the early days, that it would not pay to tap before 8-10-12 years — that plantation rubber was unsuitable for making this and for making that: all cobwebs which time and fact have brushed awav. 85 Possibilities or C'()l\. It is probable that, at the present time, even allowing for a great increase of the demand from Europe for Cola, the introduc- tion of its cultivation in a new country would not be without some risk, except on a limited scale. But it is not impossible to con- ceive in the future, a vast increase in the use of Cola, in these countries, should the natives acquire, as they do, almost to a man, in West Afri(-a, and right away north, in Morocco, and Tripoli, a taste for the Cola nut, as a sut)stitute for the betel-nut. We have in the Countries round us, millions of people who chew the betel- nut and we know how assiduously and how laboriously the practice is carried on. Avhen a ])erfect quid is desired. Ko doubt the areca-nut is not without its virtues: it is re- garded l)y some, as a prophylactic against dysentery: like Cola, it provokes salivation and therel)y allays thirst: it sweetens the breath, although it blackens the teeth : these are virtues enough to •explain the use of the betel-nut throughout Eastern Countries, But it has none of the exhilarating and sustaining ])owers, against times of stress, which the Cola nut owes to its component alcaloids caffeine, theobromine and betai'n — to say nothing of the nourish- ment which its high starch-c-ontent affords. Pkopektiks of Cola. We have all heard of the ])ropcrty of Cola, of making palatable muddy or polluted water ; of its well-nigh marvelous effects in allaying the cravings of hunger and of thirst, and enabling those who eat it to endure prolonged effort, physical or mental, without fatigue. The following extracts of a letter of the British Consul at Bahia. to the Manpiis of Salisbury, then Foreign Secretary, puts these things in a graphic form : Bahia, Sept. 6th, 1890. My Lord, " I have tlie lionour to bring under your Lordship's notice. . . . '"' the great powers of endurance and strength in lifting heavy loads " and transporting them to long distances, in this tropical climate, " possessed by the West African negroes in these parts, which " personal observation enables me to attribute to the free use ^' of the Kola bean. The West African carriers at this port, who ^' use Kola, are not physically superior to the Brazilian negro, and ^' yet the African, through constantly masticating Kola, can endure ■" labour and fatigue which no Brazilian can withstand, and where "^ it takes S Brazilian negroes to carry a load with difficulty, 4 ■" African porters carry it cheerfully, almost always, even when " ascending a hill, singing and clianting the whole time, as they *'' trudge along, but never without a bit of Kola bean in their "mouths. The Brazilian spends in rum,. .. .three times what the " African lays out daily in Kola nuts, which are not intoxicating — " not injurious in any way, act as a nutritive, quench thirst and '^' produce vigour and freshness. " I have seen a bag of sugar of 80 Kilos (179 pounds English) "" carried by an aged African negro, after biting a piece of Kola 86 " nut, and traiispurtc'd a distance of 4 miles, in an hour and a '" «|uarer. witliout oiu-e takinoj it off' his hea°. so that the angle which they take to the axis .is a little larger t'.ian in the White Yam. They are sessile and though the base is broad, it is not so broad as to cause the bract .to be refiexed. The buds are more stout than those of the White •Ouinea Yam, from base to apex more pear-shaped but laterally dis- tinctly three lobed from the strong curvatures of the sepals. The sepals are white and they just part in flowering to one third of their length. The petals are brownish and .shaped like the sepals, but smaller. Within are six introrse anthers on short filaments. It appears exceeding probable that the White and the Yellow Yams have been confused in books, which should not l)e, as they .are abundantly distinct. Leaves of the Yellow (Guinea Ya,m, one quarter natural size. That on the left is the common form; that on the right the form confined to the bases of ■the stems. 3. A. Hainan Yam apparently Dioscorea BELOPHYLLOIDES. The lower block of Plate vii shows the tubers and leaves of a species of Dioscorea which was introduced into Singapore from the Chinese province of Hai-nan by a servant of Mr. G. P. Owen ; and Mr. Owen presented tubers to the Gardens, The return that they give is small; and they are uneven so that if peeled for cooking a large part of them is lost; but they are excellent cooked. This yam lias not as yet flowered in Singapore, and there is some doubt as to its name; but it appears to be Dioscorea belo- pliylloides, Praiu and Burkill. 4. Dioscorea dumetorum. The top block of plate viii illustrates Dioscorea clumeiorum, Pax, an African ally of the Tndo-Malayan D. liirsuta (D, triphylla, 91 Linn, in part or I), daemona, Boxh ) . Just as D. liirsuia is a most important famine food of India and Malaya, so does D. dumetorum .appear to be a famine food in Africa; but it appears to be more, for whereas D. hlrsuia has given no cultivated races, D. dumeforum has; and the conflicting statements of travellers as to its utility .are to be explained in the light of this. Two very distinct races are in cultivation in Singapore : in the one the tubers are lobed; in the otlier the tubers are star-shaped. The plate shows both. The bluntly lobed tubers were from a stock received as Nfamko from the Gold Coast ; while the star-shaped tubers from one called Esura in Southern Nigeria. With the original tubers of Nfamko was received a memorandum stating that Nfamko is edible but medicinal. Esura has been eaten in Singa- pore without causing any discomfort, but it is slightly bitter. Bearing the name of Esura there are again two races distin- guished by tbeir colour, the flesh in one being white and the flesh in the other being yellow. That this should be so is most interest- ing because I). Jiisinda exhiloits the same variation in colour being sometimes yellow and sometimes white, but as regards it as yet the colour has not been shown to lie a racial cliaracteristic. When D. dumetorum sprouts, it tlirows up a stout prickly shoot, with alternate leaves ;_ and these leaves have the peculiarity that the base of the petiole is bent downwards sharply in such a way as to aid the plant in climbing by preventing the stem from slipping back over its support. It is most interesting to find in D. dumetorum as well as the White and the Yellow Guinea Yams — .species all of the same region — the need of holding to its support met in a slightly different way. The leaves of D. dumeiorum are compound; at the apex of a prickly petiole are three leaflets, which when young are sparingly hispid above, then glabrescent, but on the back at all times densely shortly hispid-pul^escent. The middle leaflet is obovate, and usual- ly very long acuminate; tlie lateral leaflets are of the same shape in the inner lialf, but as regards the outer are cordate, and often with a lateral lobe. Towards the apices of the stems the middle leaflet is often smaller than the lateral leaflets. Inflorescences arise in the leaf axils towards the ends of thp ;stems. If male a pyramid of spikes is produced, which may be up to 10 cm. long : the axes and the bracts are densely stiffly pubescent, .and the thin glabrous orbicular-ovate sepals peep out from among the hairy bracts. These sepals exposing the green ovate petals open at flowering rather more widely than do those of the flowers ■of the White or the Yellow Guinea Yam a movement facilitated by thinness; they are ovate and rounded above. The petals are only a very little smaller than the sepals; and there are six introrse stamens within. The female spike may attain as much as 70 cm. when the fruit is ripening; it carries some 30 — 40 floAvers. The fruits are •elongated and very like those of D. liispida. 92 DiOSCOREA PENTAPHYLLA AND All ALLIED PLANT. The lower l)lock of plate viii illustrates some Indo-Malayan Dioscoreas of the same section as D. dumetormn. First of all there is- Dioscorea penfaphylla, Linn., var., Linnaei, an edible variety' of that usually inedible species, cultivated in Southern India and Ceylon. It is the D. pentaphylla which Linnaeus had from Ceylon in his Herbarium, — a variety which probably was more commonly culti- vated there in his time than now. Cooked properly it is a very good vegetable, but as the figures show it buries so deeply that the labour of digging it up is considerable, and the return is small. It is likely therefore for all time to remain rather a curiosit}' than a commodity. The stems and the leaves in this variety are much smaller than those of most of the varieties of D. pe7itap]ii/Ua, and it is almost deserving of specific rank. The leaves are relatively small and the stem is wiry, prickly and pnrple-flecked. In Singapore, it flowers 6 — 8 months after the shoot has ap- peared above ground, and later considerably than the varieties of D. penfaphi/Ua from Xorthern India that liave lu'cii grown ex|)eri- mentally alongside it. The four tul)ers at the top on the right of the same l)U)ck re- present Dioscorea peniaplnjlla, Linn., var., iiialaica. The parent tuber came from a garden hedge in Penang wliere it was but small ; but in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, tubers weigliing up to 9638 grammes or 21^^ lbs. have been raised. The variety may be found here and there through the Malay Peninsula, and usually in garden fences. The four tubers on the lower row to the rigiit represent two Philippine stocks. They are numbered 196 and 198. No. 196- furnished figure 5 on p. 207 of volume iii of the Philippine Agri- culturist and Forester; and Xo. 198 furnished figure 6. The first is certainly ascribable to Dioscorea pentaphj/lh. Linn. Its big clavate tubers have very soft flesh, and keep very l)adly. It flowers regularly. But Xo. lOS refuses to flower. However the stems and leaves exactly match Philippine herbarium specimens which bear the number "Ahearn's collector 1971" froin Bizal and these have female flowers; but the female flowers are not altogether adequate to place it and fruits must be sought. It also matches exactly the sterile specimens of Ramos 12176 to which the note is attached "tuber edible." The tubers are most abundantly lobed and with soft white flesh. As it grows in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, it dies down in 6 — 7 months, i.e. as D. pentapliijlla var. Linnaei is coming into flower. It produces an abundance of Indbils about 1 — 2 cm. long with a rough brown skin like shagreen. I. H. BURKILL. PLATE VIi: Dioscorea dumetorum, Race No. 3X2 above and Race No 346 below. On the lelt of the half - metre measure two tubers of Dioscorea pentaphylla, van, Linnaei, origin Ceylon : on the right above, four tubers of Dioscorea pentaphylla, Var., malaica, origin Penang : on the right below, tubers of two Dioscorea allied to D. pentaphylla, Nos. 196 and 198 origin Luzon. 93 THE SECOND PHASE IN THE HISTORY OF THE BOTANIC GARDENS, SINGAPORE. The history of the Botaiiie- Gardens from tlieir foundation in 1859 to the year 1874 was given in the last number of this Bul- letin. Up to 1874 the Gardens had l)een the property of the Singa- pore Agri-Horticultural Society, which beconiing unable to main- tain them any- more in a fitting condition sought the Colonial Government in that year with a request that tlieir property and their del)ts upon it should be taken over, and the Gardens main- tained out of public funds. To this the Government of the Settle- ments agreed, placing the Kaffles Library and Museum Gomniittee in charge until such time as the legislation which the case required could be passed. Tlie legislation was passed in 1878 as the " Eaffles Societies Ordinance, 1878"; and upon January 1st, 1879 a Com- mittee consisting of the Colonial Secretary, the Colonial Engineer, and one unofficial member (Mr. R. Campbell, who had been the last Secretary of the Agri-Horticultural Society) assumed charge of the Gardens for the Government. But for the four years from January 1st, 1875, to the end of 1878 the Gardens had already been carried on by means of Govern- ment funds, and the Government had authorised the Raffles Library and Museum Committee to apply to the Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, for a Superintendent. To them Sir Joseph Hooker had sent out a very young man, Henry James Murton, son, it seems, of a Cornish nurseryman : and he had arrived in Singa- pore in Octol)er, 1875. He had halted in Ceylon on the way to- visit the splendid (hardens there, and make his first acquaintance with tropical conditions : and he arrived with lil)eral donations of plants from tlience. He was too young to be over Xiven, who had been the Society's Superintendent and now had the title of Manager, yet had to be by the terms of his appointment: this difficulty however was solved by Niven taking leave; and while on leave he unfortunately died. Murton carried on alone for a short time when Xiven had gone, until a Head (gardener was appointed from England, named George Smith. Smith arrived in the early part of 1877; but died suddenly in April, 1878. Next in succession, in June, 1879, Walter Fox arrived from England, having been appointed by the Secretary, of State to be Murton's second. For the care of the animals of the Zoo Murton had had the help of one. H. Capel, but only from some date in 1876 into 1877. The I)uildings in the Gardens when Murton came were, (i) the house that he occupied which is now the Director's, (ii) an orchid house, (iii) a shed with birds in it, and (iv) cooly lines. The roads were more numerous than now and narrower. They M'ere not well surfaced, and their edges were limited l^y earth drains : but as many of the visitors were horsemen out for exercise, and visitors of this class had been more in preponderance when the gates were open only to subscribers, a soft road was in some de- gree suitable. The Main Gate Road was embanked along the 94 Lake side, the lawn beiiitf hollow upon the east of it. Trees were plentiful, especially fruit-trees of the commoner species. The flowering bushes were extensively cut over in order to meet the de- mand for bouquets to which th» subscribers had a right. There was a croquet law^i on the side of the Bandstand Hill ; and near by the Gardens Jungle approached the Bandstand a little more closely than now. Bands ])layed regularly, and visitors took advan- tage of them for a promenade. The property which the Agri-Horti- cultural Society had bouglit in 1866 was undeveloped. Murton entered upon his duties with great energy. Directed by a Gardens Sub-Committee of the Raffles Library and Museum Committee, he corresponded with all the Agri-Horticultural So- cieties and Botanic dSardens in the East from Hongkong and Bris- bane to Mauritius, obtaining exchanges; he corresponded with Kew, and received many plants thence. Hi exchange he sent out plants of local origin, chiefly orchids. TTis new introductions he ])lanted all over the Gardens, until in 1878 and 1879 we find liim tom- plaim'ng of the lack of space for more. His work was much do- minated by the rapid growth of the Zoo, the developed parts of the Gardens becoming dotted with enclosures for animals. He com- menced an economic garden upon the undeveloped property, and planted extensive beds for cut flowers near to it. Unfortunately he was unstable and careless. That which in- terested him he did; that wliich did not, he was ready to neglect; and therefore the Gardens Sub-Committee kept a tight hold on him, which the Government Committee tightened. This he resent- ed. He grew absorbed in the Botany of the island, and compiled a manuscript flora, neglecting the Gardens for time to work on it, and neglecting his accounts which were found in confusion, aiul which he would not attempt to put right. Then followed in 1880 his dismissal. In 1881 he died in Bangkok, his death perhaps hastened by his having burned the candle at both ends. ^^ His qualifications had been good. Within five months of his arrival h~e had determined the cultivated plants in the Gardens, and made a list of them. He had bought from Collins wdien Collins was dismissed from the Museum, a collection of dried plants, mostly picked out of well-known herbaria and he appwrs to have in- creased it by his own collecting; he pressed the Government to buy it, and it appears that they did ultimately, but it had suffered considerably before Mr. Eidley first saw it.* In 1877 he travelled much, first visiting Kedah for plants, then Gunong Pulai in Johore (June), and later, that he might study the sources of Gutta pori:ha at the suggef:-tion of Sir Joseph Hooker, he made under Sir Hugh IjOw's dire( tioD a long journey in Perak, visiting the Taiping Hills, (!unong ]^>ubo and the neiglibourhood of Kami)ar. A full aecoiint of this journey was printed in the Government (lazette 1878, pp. 101-110. No later journeys are recorded. His influence upon the Gardens can hardly be described with- out first giving some account of the Zoo, as its growth and rapid * Vide Ridley in the Gardens Report for 1889, p. 7. 95 removal rather adversely operated against him. Tliis is an account of it. Immediatelv it was generally known that the Government M'oiild maintain a collection of animals in the Gardens gifts poured in. Sir Andrew Glarke presented a Two-horned Rhinoceros, Sir Ernest Birch a Slotli Bear, Messrs. Brinkmaim and R. Jamie each a Samhhur Deer, Captain Kirk two Orang-utans, the Acclimatisa- tion Society in Melbourne an Emu, one Great Kangaroo, three Bed Kangaroos and a Bush tailed Wallaby, — all in 1875; and in 1876, the King of Siam a Leopard, Mr. Hargreaves a Leopard, i^lan of the Botanic Garden showing the old and new roads. All roads made since Niven went are dotted : all roads closed since he went are cross shaded. R, is where the Rhinoceros' enclosure was : D, the deer enclosure : M, the Monkey House : K, the Kan- garoo and Emu pens; A, the old Aviary : C, the first Carnivora house: 0, Murton's Office. the Sultan of Tringganu a Tiger. These were in addition large numbers of gifts a smaller animals. All the large animals needed expensive arrangements for accommodation. For the Rhinoceros an enclosure with a house and a wallow were made near Napier Road by the foot of the lake. For the Deer an enclosure was pre- pared against Garden Road: for the Kangaroos and the Emu pad- docks were fenced adjoining Cluny Road near the Office Gate; the Carnivora were given a house at the north east side of the Band- stand hill where the Agri-Horticultural Society had had an Orchid House. The aviary was erected on the east side of the hill. At the expense of a Chinese merchant of Singapore, Mr. Cheang Hong Lim, an ornamental iron structure was put up as a Monkey House (completed April, 1877) near where the Herbarium now is, to be- come the ceiitre of the Zoo after Murton had gone. 96 The expenditure of building all except the Monkey house fell upon the Governniont grant and was too much for it so that Mr. Krohn in the Annual Keport for 1875 wrote " the money allowed although quite sufficient for the upkeep of a Zoological (iarden of fair dimensions, is quite inadequate for the erection of suitable houses for the various animals." At first two privates of a regiment stationed in Singapore were •employed as keepers; then in 1876 Mr. C'apel, for whom a small house was built below the Aviary. But Mr. Chapel's pay, small as it was, made a large hole in the grant, and in 1877 he asked for a rise, which led to a decision no longer to retain him ; Chinese next and then Javanese were resorted to as keepers, the system of using Javanese lasting until the end of the Zoo. There were big losses among the animals; for instance in 1876 some evil-disposed person or persons killed a Bear, the Emu and a Cassowary in one night; the Rhino* died in 1877 and two Kangaroos, and in 1878 both of the leopards. Losses so large caus- ed the Committee to take the important decision of limiting the collection to small animalsf ; and they sent the Tiger and Orang- utan and a number of other animals to Calcutta, as exchanges for Indian birds (Report 1879, p. 6). The year 1878, thus, saw the * The skeletons of the Rhino, and some other animals are in the Raffles Museum. t The following footnote is from September, 1877, which shows how just died. — a MS list of the animals in the Zoo on 27th large the Zoo was. The Rhinoceros had 1 Tiger 1 Heron 2 Leopards 3 Manchurian Cranes 2 Dingo Dogs 2 Pelicans 1 Jackal 3 Black Swans 1 Binturong 1 White Swan 1 Sun Bear 2 Water Rails 1 Fish Tiger 30 1 — 40 Teal and Mandarin Ducks 1 Civet Cat 2 Wood Pigeons 2 Common Carys 2 Nicobar Pigeons 1 Rabbit 1 Green Pigeon 1 White Rat 3 Ring Doves 1 Plying Fox 3 Common Doves 1 Kangaroo 2 Pa'rakets 2 Red Deer (Bucks) 1 Blood Brested figeon 3 do. (Does) 2 Horned Owls 3 Sambur Deer (Does) 1 Sonnerat's Jungle Cock 1 Sambur Deer (Buck) 1 Large Parraket 2 Opossums 2 Crested Peacock Pheasants 1 Kawoo 2 Fireback Pheasants (Cock and Hen 1 Orang Outan 1 Pheasant (Cock) 2 Wou-Wous 2 Rufus tailed Pheasants 2 Black Monkeys 1 Golden Pheasant 1 Spider Monkey 4 Ring Neck Pheasants 1 Bear Macaque 4 Guinea Fowls 1 Red face Macaque 2 White Eagles 4 Porcupines 1 Falcon 1 Cissowary 4 Hvwks 5 I'igtail Macaque 3 Sparrow Hawks 1 Emu 4 (browned Goura Pigeons 3 Peacocks 1 pair Argus Pheasants 1 Manila Duck 97 end of the ambitioiis Zoo<^ commenced in 1875. Deer were retained, as inexpensive to feed ; and when in 18TT the fence of the first en- closure across the lake became rotten (it must have been a wooden structure) they were acconnnodated in the now empty Kangaroo enclosure temporarily : but it in its turn began to go to pieces in 1878 (Keport p. 6) : and in 1879 their old enclosure was repaired with a strained wire fence, and within it they remained until much later giving at times a lot of trouble by breaking bounds. Mean- while the other enclosure for the large animals were swept away more quickly than they had been erected. The uncontrolled growth of the Zoo, must have made a great difference to the Gardens; and it was well that as it had to go, it went so quickly: by 1879 equilibrium had been reached again. The short stay of the Tigers had caused the old orchid house to be removed and some terracing on a small scale to be done; the short stay of the Kliino liad caused some levelling to be carried out, and ultimately its wallow became a Water lily pond : the erection of a house for the Keeper C'apel left the Gardens in possession of a building which was afterwards useful for a number of years, as a gardener's house, and then under Cantley for his clerk. We will take the year 1879 as a convenient one, for a des- cription of the Gardens under Murton. They were then in their twentieth year: Murton had done his best planting; and the Zoo had become stable. The visitor in 1879, approaching the Gardens from town, found at the entrance what Cantley afterwards called " heavy masses of masonry doing duty as pillars.'' Passing between them, he would have found two roads — neat roads newly bordered by brick drains* one road leading straight forward, the other ascending to his right, and bordered by a particularly large drain. This road on the right soon after was closed and a pathway laid instead along its line; but in 1879 the visitor who followed it was conducted to the Herbarium King Eoad, and could cross it and proceed first on a path, then on a road, nearly straight to the southern face of the Bandstand hill, and on his way he would have passed the new Monkey house noting there that the roadway had been recently altered. The other road, leading straight forward from the main gate is that which persists ; at a little distance it was joined by a small path, by which anyone approaching from the Barracks could enter the Gardens through a turnstile upon a small bridge. A little further than this small path, the road reached the foot of the Lake and then followed its margin to another fork, the right arm of which now persists as the Main Gate Eoad, and the left § To limit the Zoo to -^miller animals was the first decision : to limit it to Malayan animals was a later de'^ii^ion. For an account of the anim ils in the Zoo when it was Ma'ayan, vide Ridley in the Journal of the Straits Branch of the R->yal Asiatic Society, No. 40, 1906, pp. 133-194. * M'lrton had been allowed to dig laterite from Goodwood Hill for these roads until the supply of good material there had been exhausted. Turf for the Lawns he was allowed to draw from Fort Canning and Magazine Hills. 98 as a footpath. Tlie road on the left in 1879 completed a loop witli the other of the roads from the Main Gate, while that on the right — the persisting road — led straight towards the Office Clate and on the top of the hill joined the Bandstand-Herbarium King system of roads. On the Main-Gate Road near the Gate Xiven had had rais- ed beds which obscured the unevenness of the ground ; these raised beds had been removed, and a certain amount of smoothing had been done by Murton, — not as much as was subsequently done, but sometliing — which still left the lawn too low on the left. From that lawn, Murton had newly removed large trees and a row of Betel palms which lined the boundary stream: clumps of Sago ])alms he had allowed to remain, as they persist still : in front of them he had planted many of his new introductions, and where the Betel palms were he had planted a row of palms of the genera Sfcvensonia and Kentia. Past the second clump of Sago palms Xiven had had two small ponds which Murton had dug into one, at the end of which, had the Zoo grown as its promoters hoped. Alligators w^ere to live; the near half of the pond was occupied by Waterlilies including Vicforia regia, and the further half by the Lotus lily. Just beyond this pond had been the Rhinoceros en- closure with its wallow. Much levelling had been done to accom- modate this animal which lived for such a short time in captivity, and had left the place improved ; while the wallow, at first closed np, was later converted into a small pond. From the Main Gate to this point upon the north of the Road the visitor in 1879 would have found the hill side dotted over with disappointingly young plants, being Murton's new in- troductions planted in some order, Conifers near the Gate, Cy cads near the turn by the foot of tlie Lake. The trees of Camarina sitmafrana, now so effective, were then three years old, and could not have been effective then. The visitor on arriving at the foot of the Lake found himself in front of the strained wire fence by which the Deer, whose en- closure was between the Lake and Garden Road, were ineffectively prevented from getting loose and doing damage in the rest of the Gardens. Xo path existed at that time west of the Lake. The islet in the Lake was occupied chiefly by a large Ficus. Following the Lake side the visitor might have noticed that the Lawn on the right had been newly raised to the level of the road, so as to do away with the old embankment ; this Lawn is sometimes called in tlie older papers the " main Lawn," and by that it may be judged that it was more open than now. If the visitor had kept beyond the fork of this road to the left, following the Lake side, he would have been led to two small rather unfinished terraces§ upon the side of the Bandstand Hill where Murton had his office and an orchid house, as well as lines for coolies. The Orchid house was occupied in 1879 by miscellaneous plants, largely annuals, for the orchids had been placed on trees §Cantley smcothei them in 1882. 99 about the CJardens. Beds of annuals were upon the terraces early in 1879; but this form of bedding was stopped during the jear on account of the expense. The Office had big eaves, alike for affording a shelter against rain to visitors, as for ripening off plants of periodic growth. It was damp, and Murton kept no books in it. The orcliid house was low and covered witli creepers. The neighbourhood had been open- ed out considerably by removing old trees. The visitor having reached the office could take the Lower Eing Road in either direction, or ascend the steps to Niven's lower terrace, and so reach the Bandstand, or if he cared he could pro- ceed towards the Main Gate again down an avenue of palms between flower beds to the Monkey House, round which new planting had occurred in order to give shelter to the Monkeys, and where, as said, the road would have been found broken. This break was with the intention of preventing carriages from reaching the Monkey House, pedestrians instead being encouraged by means of four new paths one made out of the old roadway each blocked against car- riages by a stone pillar.* If the visitor had entered the Gardens by the Office Gate, he would have found leading to the left the line of a closed- np road with a row of Araucarias on its gouth side. Three of these Araucarias still stand. The road had been the end of the Main-Gate Eoad, unintentionally so constructed as to lead strangers who had entered at tlie Main Gate out of the Gardens at the Office Gate. Such an arrangement, not unsuitable when the visitors were the subscribers to and owners of the Gardens, and therefore familiar with the turns of the roads, was unsuitable when the Gardens were becoming a resort for anyone and everyone: and the Sub-Committee ordered the closing of the end of the road. The road to the right was that M'hich still persists — being apparently the first road made in the Garden of the Agri-Horticultural Society. Ascending it the visitor passed the end of the Herbarium Ring Road and then had on his left Murton's new palm plantation. On his right were more Araucarias in a row along the side of Gluny Road as far as the old Kangaroo en- closure, and a path led near tliem and gave a branch up hill to the Aviaries upon Niven's lower terrace. The visitor would have found the roads about the Bandstand much as they are now. They had been narrower and the U])per Ring Road had been limited by a circular border which Murton had removed, as being an obstruction upon Band evenings ; and he had thereafter been able to throw an extra eight feet into the road. He had also done away with many beds upon the upper terrace and substituted Crotons in tubs. The lower terrace was bedded with shrubs. The Aviary was upon it to the east of the Hill ; and to the north-east, to which Niven's terracing had not extended, but where * Two of these stone pillars are still in situ. 100 the Agri-llortifultural Society had had an orchid house, surround- ed by trees, Murton had cleared considerably, and had 'made small terraces on one of which the Carnivora House had been placed. At its back trees had stood, which up to 1877 wore heavily fes- toned with the beautiful indigenous climber Thunhergia laurijolia. Unfortunately it kills its supports; and no sooner had Murton commenced to construct a fernery under the shade of the creeper, than the trees began to fall; he wrestled with the situation by scaffolding, but this perished; and in 1H79 there was little but an untidv corner, where the fernery had l)een commenced. Moreover Murton complained bitterly of the way in which his best ferns were stolen from this place. The Carnivora cages had been re- moved before 1879; and in their place Murton had planted a collec- tion of Bromeliads. Behind them, across the Lower Eing Eoad and screening off the Propagating yard, was a tongue of virgin jungle, whicli is now cultivated for shade plants, and contains Slioreas with other typical forest trees: however the tongue has been lengthened slightly by newer planting. West of the Bandstand hill the paths were not at all as they are now. Flower-beds were about the head of the Lake ; and no screen of trees such as is now, but a plantation of Pomelo trees and trees of the Kenari nut, witli behind them cooly lines, and a shrubbery near the Tyersall Gate. Along the Maranta Avenue was a long border with shrubs. Garden road had not ceased to be a public thoroughfare; and the Palm valley was untidy. Its slope under Garden Road had served Murton for a source of clay when he needed it, and so been bared : then he had smoothed it somewhat and tried to get it grassed over : toward Cluny Eoad it was covered with Gleichenia fern. An old cart track leading into the valley he had filled; and from the top, where he seems to have planted ])alms, a path was made down to the hollow which he had developed as an Economic Garden. In this Economic Garden in 1879 the visitor would have found patches of coffee, — Arabian, Liberian and Cape Coast, — the latter two being introductions of 1877: the first as elsewhere in the Peninsula was- suffering from the attacks of Heniileia. He would have found Tea, Cacao and Sugar-Cane. The Canes were good introductions from overseas, and were much pilfered. He would have found Ipecacuanha struggling, and Cardamoms, Avocado Pear, and all the various rubber trees that Kew could send out, including Hevea, as well as 4000 pots of the local Gutta Singarip {Willughheia firma) wliich it was tliought had a future, and 2<)00 pots of Eu- calypts. He would have found also Teosinte, Maize, Mahogany and various fruit trees. There was a raised path limiting the Garden on the north and beyond it swamp forest. If the visitor had followed the path west- wards he Avould have found large beds for flowering shrubs which Murton raised with the purpose of saving the flowers in the more puldic parts of the Garden from being cut for bouquets. Murton had for the Garden in the year 1879 from Govern- ment $7,580, and by subscriptions and sales a further $370. Out 101 ■of it he was able to spend over $3,000 ou coolies' labour, so that as the Avage was $5 per mensem (and had been $4), he liad fifty men in employment besides his overseers, and that is more than the Department has been able to retain in the '" Botanic (larden " for very many years up to the present year. In the year 1879 the Government authorised the Gardens to commence planting a piece of land called the Military Reserve which lies to the north. This land is what is now known as the ■" Economic Garden." The first occupation of it began at once and a shed for Cliinese coolies was erected, and a house for the Road foreman employed in the Gardens. This Military Reserve was not altogether waste when taken •over; its lower parts had been planted in indigo ])y Chinese, who lived on the slope among fruit trees. The low land seemed to Fox who hap]ie]ied to have been at Kew when Cross had returned from Para with his first Rubber seeds^ to be just the kind of ground which Cross descril)ed as suited, and he took the young Hevea trees in the I'alm valley to it. He set to work also planting on the higher ground, but single lianded after Mnrtoirs fall could do little, Murton's last work for the Gardens was the compilation of a Gardens' catalogue which was printed and published; but is not available in tlie Settlements, because Cantley suppressed it as alto- gether unreliable (Report for 1882, p. 13), Xathaniel Cantley, a native of Thurso, X.B., Kew-trained and for a time Assistant Superintendent of the Botanic Gardens in Mauritius, was now ap])ointed to succeed Murton. JTe arrived in the Colony in Xovember, 1880, but was forced by illness to take leave in March, 1881. Again Mr. Fox acted while Cantley voy- aged to England via tlie Cape. Sick as Cantley was when he went on board, he had some two thousand botanic s]3ecimens cut from the trees in the. Gardens and their neighbourhood which he dried on the voyage with a view to getting them determined at Kew. It appears that many of these found their resting place in the Kew Herbarium. Cantley resumed charge at the end of 1881, and presented a programme of work to the Gardens Committee which obtained a])proval. First of all be it said that the Government had the formation of a Forest Department in mind, and with that in view Cantley proposed tiiat the Military Reserve should carry a series of Malayan timber trees. This was approved; and l)ecause the space in the Botanic Garden for new introductions was, as Murton com])lained, restricted, Cantley wove into his series of Malayan trees, all tliose of his new introductions which had an ■economic value, until gradually tlie importations exceeded in num- ber his Malayan trees. At tlie same time into the Botanic (larden he ])lanted th'> things tliat had not an economic interest. Xext lie made, with aii])roval, two nurseries, one for ornamental plants in the Botanic Garden, and one for forest trees in the Military Re- serve. The second covered several acres adjoining Cluny Road and extending back a couple of hundred yards to where traces of it ■exist still in groups of certain trees. He arranged for the sale of plants from these Xurseries. Tliirdly he asked for, and got, a 102 suitable office building wherein he could house a Herbarium and a library. Then he named the staff required, and the alterations necessary in the Gardens to bring things into order, including the adequate labelling* of the collections over which Murton had com- plained of considerable difficulty, and for the effective policing of the grounds by day and by night. Cantley was a great advocate of order. The arboretum he planted in botanical sequence on the system ot Bentham and Hooker with one end at the Chmy Road entrance to the Economic Garden and carrying the series eastwards. He had made in 1883- 85 from near the foot of the Lake to the Tyersall Gate a series of flower hedsl whereby the visitor was introduced to this system in ornamental plants ; but the impossibility of filling the beds with plants suited to the climate broke his scheme down. Thirdly when Murton's palm collection wanted replanting, he proposed to arrange it according to the " Genera Plantarum." What Cantley meant in 1882 by saying that the Singapore Gardens had never been a " Botanical Garden," was that this botanical orderliness which so appealed to him was not present, nor the plants labelled. He had extensive flower beds on the Lower terrace of the Bandstand Hill, which held no less than 20,000 plants ; and in 1886 made more at the Main Gate. In administration this love of order did much for the Gardens; for instance, Murton had left cooly lines in three places, and Mr. Fox had complained that numbers of men were continually walking about at night who when questioned always had the excuse that they were proceeding from the one set of lines to see their friends in another, and that this conduced to thefts: Cantley concentrated the eoolies in his new propagating yard partly in new buildings, and partly in buildings left by Murton. CapeFs house because the clerk's house. To a place near to the Propagating yard he took the Plant Houses : and to a place near enough also and furthermore conveniently reached by visitors he took the Gardens office. Putting forward the need of a building in whicli Flower shows could be held he induced the Government to build in 1882 between the office and the Propagating yard the Large Plant House : and it has been used again and again for that purpose, the collection of pot plants within it being removed temporarily. The Zoo he concentrated in 1885 at the Monkey House, erect- ing new aviaries like l)rackets on either side of it: and encircling these again for shelter with trees and shrubs. Thus Cantley cleared the Bandstand Hill of all buildings; for the office was no longer wanted, nor the little very unsuitable orchid house, nor the cooly lines ; and a Eosary was made where they had been : the Aviary also disappeared from the lower terrace. The Eosary beds were just as the beds containing Cannas are now. "Murton's labels had been painted by convicts in the jail J There is preserved in the Hublic Works Office a :ground plan with levels showing the Main Lawn covered with flower beds and the curves of the paths to the old Monkey House altered. This plan, which is undated, appears to have been connected with Cantley's desire to maintain a co'lection of bedded plants illustrating Systematic Botany. 103 but ijistead of grass had walks between them. Upon the top of the Hill he planted in 3882 Arancarias and Crotons, and placed ornamental vases and garden seats. At the head of the Lake he launched an undertaking which failed. He removed the flower beds; and a big cistern liaving been made in 1886, he threw up mounds which were to be irrigated and to support delicate ferns. While this was being done, he altered the footpaths on that side of the -hill so as to conduct visitors to the fernery, and lie planted trees round the cistern to hide it. Xorth-east of the Bandstand hill close to where Murton's fernery had fallen, he made another fernery. Here he had forest overhead, and by thinning it, and throwing the surface into mounds into which stone was inserted, he obtained a very suitable place. Funds did not enable him to finish it rapidly and what was started in 1883 was not completed for a long time. The shrubberies all along the border of Cluny Eoad to the Large Plant House he first made. New gate posts were erected at the Main Gate in 1885 and topped with globes in 1886. By the kindness of Messrs. (Tilfillan, Wood & Co. he was allowed to place a hand pump across the Cluny l?oad and pump water to the Plant Houses from the head of the little stream that runs there. He did not follow up Murton's scheme of raising flowers for Iwuijuets at the west of the old Economic Garden, but laid out what we now call Lawn P in stiff rectangular beds for the purpose. In the Ecoinomic Garden in 1883 he experimented with European vege- tables. Cantley's staff for working the Gardens consisted of himself, Walter Fox, a clerk, a foreman gardener and a propagator, both the latter two selected as being able to read and write, a label-printer H mason and a carpenter. Three constables were quartered in the (ifardens each taking a day and a night beat in turn just as the watchmen do now. Li the first three years of his service in the Colony the Government grant was -$1<),()0() which was expected to cover all expenses, with the help of $750 to $850 from subscriptions and sale of plants. Hi 1886 tlie pays of Cantley and Fox were ex- cluded, and the Government vote put at $7,000. The forest vote maintained the planting upon tlie Military Reserve. Cantley, as time went on, became more and more tied by his Forest work. Then at the end of 1887 his health again broke down and he went to Australia on leave where he died. Mr. H. i!^. Ridley succeeded him in the next year. But before Mr. Ridley had arrived in the Colony a little " Guide to the Botanic Gardens, 1889,'' had been prepared by Mr. Fox and \Vas in tlie press. As it gives an account of the condition of the Garden at the age of thirty years, the reader is referred to it. All which here follows will be but a statement of su])sequent changes taken seriatim in order that it may be clear what of that on which the eye of the visitor of 1918 Tests, was absent in 1889. I Mr. Ridley's service marks the third period in the history of the Gardens : and it will not be reviewed. The four outstand- 104 inof re.snlts of it are: firstly, the excellent Herharium of the Higher plants and ferns of the Malay Peninsula, whereby he is now en- abled to write a Mora of the Peninsula ; secondly, the considerable planting of Pul)ber, whereby as the Peninsula enormously bene- fitted, so too the Gardens obtained a large income enabling them to be maintained without an increase of the Grovernment's vote althoi;gh the relative value of the vote was much reduced with the fall of the dollar; thirdly, the housing of the Gardens' staff upon the Military Keserve ground ; and fourthly, the commencement of publication of results. He was in charge of Forests up to 1901 ; but from 1892 tlie Military Eeserve or Economic Garden ceased to be maintained out of a Forest vote. It is not given to everyone so admirably to round olf his service as Mr. Eidley is doing: he will finish his Phanerogamic Flora of the Peninsula in retirement. Meanwhile the Gardens have entered upon their fourth period, with two outstanding objects (1) to ex- tend the study of the Botany of the Peninsula to the Lower Plants,, and (2) on the horticultural side to widen the efforts in acclimatisa- tion by the use of all those o]jportuuities which selection and plant-breeding afford. For l)oth pur})oses officers have been ap- pointed, but the War has delayed the start. APPENDIX. Changes subsequent to Cantley's deaili ivMch have made differences^ in the appearance of the Gardens. There is nothing which throws greater difficulties into an understanding of the Annual Re])orts of the Gardens than their inconsistences in the names of buildings and roads. The same plant house, for instance, is in one year the " Shade-plant house "~ and in another the "' Aroid house " : and what is true of the plant houses is still more true of the roads. In 1913 names were given to the important roads, that they might be cited in Police regula- tions, and they were labelled : since when the whole of the Gardens has been divided into areas which, in the Botanic Garden, are de- noted by letters, and, in the Economic Garden, by numbers. In the Botanic Garden the letters denoting each area appear upon the labels to the trees. The accompanying map records them ; and the reader may find it a guide to him in ruiming through the following list of the more noticeal)le changes made since Cantley's death. Ghaxgks nkar the Main Gate. A brick boundarv wall with iron railings was erected from the Main Gate to the Office Gate, 1904. Cannas, first introduced into the Gardens for bedding in 1894,. have been made of great use near the Main Gate since 1914. The little path towards tlie Barracks across Lawn A. was closed in 1912. Small ])aths round the ponds were closed in 191fi. A new coral-bordered outflow was made from the Lake to the Ponds, with falls upon it, 1918. 105 Plan of the Bo- tanic and Econo- mic Gardens show- ing the "lawns," "areas," or "blocks" into which they are divided. The Lawns and Areas in the Botanic Garden are designatedby the letters of the Alphabet. The Blocks in the lower part of the Economic Garden are designa- ted by numbers. The position of the Gardens' building is indicated. For the fullest preservation of the amoenities of the Botanic Garden, most of the quarters are in the Economic Garden. Changes about the sides of the Lake. The embankment of the Lake was raised' one foot, 1890. A path through Lawn F. was made and a collection of Legu- minous trees planted along it, 1889. An oil engine was installed within a clump of trees at the junc- tion of Lawns E. and K., l)y which water is supplied to the Band- stand Hill, Fernery. Propagating Yard and Plant Houses, 1907. 106 The islet, was planted witli the larger plants now on it, 1891, cleared of undergrowth and turfed 19U-i, but the undergrowth has returned. A kiosk on Lawn E. was erected as a shelter, 1907. Changes about tiik head of the Lake. C'antlev's mounds for ferns were planted with Sansevieras and other succulents, 18M.s-t.s.* But a still more striking difference is in the pose of the male flowers. On the left a female flower of H. confusa with bu'ls of two male flowers (a third has been broken off). On the right a female flower of H. brasiliensis and three male buds. Note the smaller flowers of the first and that the male buds bend earthwards. On the left a male flower of H. confusa in section and on the right a large one of H. brasiliensis which is very variable in regrad to size of its male flowers. Note the blunt perianth lobes of the first. The panicle in H. hrasiliensis carries up to 300 flowers of which, always if well developed, the terminal flower is female; and file better developed the more female flowers are there, terminating the stronger lower branches, up to about 7 in numljer. Thus a panicle that is weak may be wholly male, and the stronger and larger it is, the more in number are the female flowers on it. All these female flowers take their position as regards the earth from the axis tliat they terminate, and that position is generally in some measure such that they are directed upwards or obliquely upwards : but the divergence of this angle from the vertical is determined by the angle at which the branch takes off from its parent axis and again this by the angle at which the parent axis stands. The panicles produced by tree Xo. 1844 — H. confusa — are narrower than those of H. hro-nlirnsis, as much because the angle at which the side axes take off is smaller, as because, at least in tree 1844, they are of lesser size. The weakest panicles are Avholly male as in H. hrasiliensis. and the stronger carry more and more female flowers upon the lower side-branches up to 5 or 6. * J. Hnber, Novae contribuicoes para o generc Hevea in Boletim do Museu Goehli, vii, 1910, pp. 200-216, has discussed at some length the size of the flower, as a character b}- which species and groups of species may be distinguish- ed f om each other. 115 The perianth of the female flower in H. hnmliensis is of a dull mnstarcl yellow, and if normal consists of five ovate acuminate sepals coherent in tlieir lower third into a cup, which is of a greener tint inside than the lobes. This cup is almost filled by the ovary, around the base of which is a slight circular swelling being the disc which may be just damp with honey; five slight thicken- ings extend up the cup as the midribs of each part of it. In H. eonfusa, the perianth lobes are ovate and blunt, and the cup ex- tends to half their length; they and the cup are straw-coloured with a magenta line down the middle from the tip or near it to the very base inside. Outside they are covered with short hair. The top of the ovary is conspicuously blunt with sessile stigmas. Often in H. brasiliensis the first flower of a panicle to open is a male flower ; but after all the female flowers are over, there are males that follow in considerable numbers. The male of H. brasiliensis is like tlie female in perianth, but smaller and hardly pale green within the cup. The staminal column carries two rings of five anthers. The pose of the flower depends upon the axis which bears it, and it may face in any direction. The male flowers of H. confusa, like its female flowers, are smaller than those of H. brasiliensis, blunter, different in colour, being straw-coloured: they have fewer anthers, and by the bending of their pedicels they face more or less earthwards. Outside they are hairy. This bend- ing of the pedicels gives a very good distinguishing mark which the herbarium student cannot note so well as the field student. The seeds are as figured by Hemsley in Hooker's I cones Plantarnm, plate 2575 : but tree No. 1844 gave flowers with blunter perianth-lobes than the figures on plate 2574. Hevea panciflora is known to produce h3'brids with //. brasi- liensis, and so far it seems that these hybrids have no value. A sample of rubber from the tree was submitted to Dr. Frankland Dent. Government Analyst, Straits Settlements, and another to the Director of Agriculture, F. M. S., for kind submis- sion to Mr. B. J. Eaton, Agricultural Chemist in the Department of Agriculture. These two samples on analysis scarcel}' differed : they contained about 95 per cent of a substance chemically rubber but lacking the physical properties cequired in commercial rubber, probably as Mr. Eaton suggested a polymer of caoutchouc; and they contained also rather under 2 per cent of resins. The samples were too small for a vulcanization test. They were small l)eeause the tree yielded so grudgingly. I. H. BURKILL. MANGO PESTS IN SINGAPORE. In no other part of the tropics are mangoes more badly i^est- ridden than in Singapore. Locally produced fruit is therefore neither abundant nor of good quality. There is nothing in Singa- pore to compare with the great quantities of fine " carabao " man- 116 goes produced in the Philippines. It would be a catastrophe im- measurable if the mango pests of Singapore were introduced into the rhili])piiies. Among the mango pests of Singapore, three are very cons- picuous, one insect — a psyllid, — and two fungi. The psyllid pro- duces a leaf gall the size of a small pea, and these are sometimes so nnmerons as to occupy a large part of the surface of the leaf. When the jnsect is mature, the gall splits open at the top, the acute segments recurving. These insects secrete considerable quan- tities of honey-dew, and this may account for the astonishing growths on the same and neighbouring leaves of a sooty black fungus, Meliola luangiferae Earle. This fungus was described from Porto Rico but has been found to be practically pantropical in dis- tribution. Between the psyllid and the fungus, the leaf has little chance of performing its natural function. Certain trees which have escaped the psyllid and the Meliola may have practically every leaf scattered thickly with the small Teddish brown nodules of an extremely serious fungus pest, Zimmer- mannieUa Irisjiorn P. Tlenn.. and under tliis load the leaf soon dies and falls. The investigation of these pests should proceed from two points, first beginning M'itli the psyllid, and second to determine the degree of parasitism in tlie ZimmermannipJla. It is entirely probal)le that remedies can be devised to control these and keep the trees clean and healthv. C. F. Baker. FUNGI FROM SINGAPORE AND ALSO FROM PENANG. " Fungi Singaporenses Bakeriani." [Tlie following enumeration is of fungi, collected with two exce])tions. by Professor I". F. Baker during his short service with the Govermnent of the Straits Settlements: and enumerated by Prof. Saccardo in the Bulletino del Orto Bot-anico Peale di Xapoli. Vol. A"I, (1918) at the pages given after each name. In the Journal of the Eoyal Asiatic Society, Straits Branch, Xo. 78, 1918. ])p. 67-72, will be found descriptions of sixteen others under the title of So)iu> SitKinpore Bolpfinae — a joint paper by M. X. Patonillard and Prof. C. F. Baker: and again in the Bulletin de la Societe Mycologi(iue de France XXXIV, 2e fasc. is described by M. Patonillard a further fungus Echinodia TJteohromae from dead Cacao branches in Singa})ore.] Ed. PrcciMA CLAVisi'oijA Ell. and Barth. Singapore Gardens, on Andropogon nardux v. cilronella Akcidium BALAXS-i: Cornu. Penang. Government Hill, on Agatliis alba (Burkill) .. Aecidium cassi-E Bres. Singapore, Tanjong Pagar, on Cassia lorn (Burkill) p- 40 p- 40 p- 40 117 GrvAPirioLA MACROSPORA Penz. and Sacc. Singapore Gar- dens, on dying petioles of Plectocomia .. . . p. 40 DiMKitosPOKiUM ALBOMAifGiNATUi^r Sacc. s]). Hov. Singa- pore Gardens, on dying leaves of Sterciilia . . . . p. 40 DiMKiuuM sixoAPOKEXSK Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore, Eeser- voir Woods, on dead leaves of Rliodomijrtus tomentom p. 41 Meliola M.VNGirEK.E Earle. Singapore Gardens, on leaves of Mangifera indica, — the Mango . . . . . . p. 41 Meliola 3:tiiiops Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore. Gardens, on living leaves of Cassia fistula . . . . . . ]j. 41 Meliola nepiielii Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on leaves of NepheUum lappaceum, — the Eambutan . . p. 4'? Meliola reticulata Karst. et Roum. Singapore Gardens, on leaves of Ficus urophylla . . . . . . ]). 4? Meliola mangostana Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on leaves of Garcinia mangostana, the Mangosteen . . p. 4'? Meliola malacensis Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on leaves of Worryiia suffruticosa (Belongs in the genus Meliolina Sydow) . . . . " . . . . p. 43 MiCROXYPiiiUM tenellum Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gar- dens, on dying leaves of Cinnamonnim i)iers . . p. 43 EosELLixiA AMBiGENS Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on dead leaves of Da nionorops . . . . . . p. 43 DiDYMELLA OLiGOSPOliA Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on dead branches of II cvea hrasiliensis, the Para rubber tree . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 44 Sph^eeella heveaxa Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on dead leaves of Iferea hrasilieusis, the Para rul)ber tree Sph-eeella lasiaxa Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on leaves of Lasia IteierophyUa Winterixa bakeriaxa Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on dead leaves of Livistona sinensis ISTeoteotteeia pulchella Sacc. gen. and sp. nov. Singa- pore Gardens, on rotting limbs of Hevea hrasiliensis, the Para rubber tree CEBATOSPHiEEiA suBicuLosA Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on leaves of Fagraa auriculata Eutypa ludibunda Sacc. v. tieveana Sacc. var. nov. Singa- pore Gardens, on dead limbs of Hevea hrasiliensis, the Para rubber tree . . . . . . . . p. 46 Ceyptovalsa miceospoea Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gar- dens, on rotting limbs of Hevea hrasiliensis. the Para rubber tree . . . . . . . . . . p. 46 Peroxeutypa heteeacaxtitoides Sacc. sp. nov. Singa- pore Gardens, on dead limbs of Hevea hrasiliensis and Cassia sp. . . . . . . . . . . p. 47 Valsaeia cixxamomi (Ces.) Sacc. Singapore Gardens, on dead bark of Eugenia, grandis, Jambu ayer laut . . p. 47 Hypoxy^lox miceospoeum Ces. Singapore Gardens, on dead bark of Cassia sp. . . . . . . . . p. 47 p- 44 p- 44 p- 45 p- 45 p- 46 118 Hypoxylox effusum Nits. Singapore Gardens, on rotting bark . . . . . . . . . , . . p. 47 Hypoxylox effusum Xits. v. viridarii Sacc. var. nov. Singapore Gardens, on rotting bark . . . . p. 47 NuMMULARiA puxcTULATA (B. et Rav.) Sacc. var. indica Sacc. Singapore Gardens, on dead limbs of Gluta henghas, the Renghas tree . . . . . . p. 48 NUMMULARIA REPAXDOIDES Flick. var. SINGAPORENSIS SaCC. var. nov. Singapore Gardens, on dead limbs of Hevea hra,nliensis, the Para rubber tree . . . . . . p. 48 Daldixia coNCENTRiCA (BuU.) Ces. V. ESCHOLzii (Ehrenb.) Singapore Gardens, on dead trunk of Hevea brasiliensis, the Para rubber tree . . . . . . . . p. 48 Kretschmaria sixgaporexsis Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on rotting trunks .. .. ..p, 48 Xylaria (Xyloglossa) polymorpha (Pers.) Grev. Singa- pore Gardens, on rotting trunks . . . . . . p. 48 Xylaria (Xyloglossa) tuberiformis Berk. Singapore Gardens, on stumps of Hevea hrasiliensis, the Para rub- ber tree . . . . . . . . . . p. 49 Xylaria (Xyloglossa) obovata Berk. Singapore Gardens, on stumps of Hevea hrasiliensis, the Para rubber tree p. 49 Xylaria (Xyloglossa) sco'piformis Mont. v. heveana Sacc. var. nov. Singapore Gardens, on trunks of Hevea hrasiliensis, the Para rubber tree . . . . . . p. 49 Xylaria (Xyloglossa) variaxs Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on rotting trunks . . . . . . p. 49 Microthyrium grammatopiiylli Sacc. sp. nov. Singa- pore Gardens, on GrammatopliyUum speciosum (Be- longs in the genus Dictyothyrium) . . . . p. 49 Microthyrium browxeanum Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on Broivnea, grandiceps and Saraca sp. (Be- longs in the genus Dictyothyrium) . . . . p. 50 MiOROPELTis applaxata Mont. var. galeari.^ Sacc. var. nov. Singapore, Changi, on Galearia affinis . . . . p. 50 MiCROPELTis margixata Mont. Singapore Gardens, on dying leaves of Zalncca echilis and Zalacca waUichiana p. 51 MiCROPELTis TRiMERA Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on dead leaves of Gustavia insignis . . . . p. 51 AsTERixA TRACHYCARPA Svd. Singapore Gardens, on Der- ris sinuata . . . . . . . . . . p. 51 ZiMMERMAxxiELLA TRisPORA P. Henn. Singapore Gar- dens, on dead leaves of Mangifera indica, the Mango tree . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 51 Pleoxectria heveaxa Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on rotting trunk of Hevea hrasiliensis, the Para rubber tree . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 51 Hypocrella discoidea (B. and Br.) Sacc. Singapore Gardens, on living leaves of Schizocapsa plantaginea . . p. 52 Lembosia paxdaxi (Rostr.) Sheiss. Singapore Gardens, on dying leaves of Pandanus utilis, and P. penangensis p. 52 119 Lembosia hormosiana Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on Orinosia sumatrana . . . . . . . . p. 52 Lembosia heptapleuri Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on H eptapleurum sp. . . . . . . . . p. 53 Lembosia gloxioidea Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on dead limbs of Hevea brasiliensis, the Para rubber tree . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 53 Hysterium heveanum Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on dead limbs of Hevea brasiliensis, the Para rubber tree . . . . . . . . . • . . p. 53 Phyllosticta gustavi.'E Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gar- dens, on dying leaves of Gustavia insignis . . . . p. 54 Phyllosticta faraday.e Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gar- dens, on dying leaves of Faradaya papuana . . . . p. 54 Phyllosticta D-EMOxoropis, Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on leaves of Da'tnonorops sp. . . . . p. 54 Phyllosticta dubia Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on dead calyces of Dianthus sinensis . . . . p. 54 PHYLLOSTicrA PALMiGEXA Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gar- dens, on dying leaves of Dictyosperma alba . . . . p. 55 Phoma ixocarpi Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on decaying fruits of Inocarpvs edvlis . . . . p. 55 PiioMA AGAVES Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on dead peduncles of Agave rigida . . . . . . p. 55 DoTiiiORELLA STRATOSA Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on dead liml)s of Piscidia erytlirina . . . . p. 55 DoTHiORELLA RUGULOSA Sacc. sp. nov. -Singapore Gardens, on dead and dying stems of Hibiscus sabdariffa, the Eozelle . . . . . . . . . . p. 56 Haplosporella sycoxophila Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore ~ Gardens, on dead bark of Ficns elastica, the Rambong fig . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 56 Diplodia ixocarpi Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on rotting fruits of Inocarpus edvlis . . . . . . p. 56 Diplodia hibiscixa C. et Ell. v. sabdariff^e Sacc. var. nov. Singapore Gardens, on dead stems of Hibiscus sabdarijfa,. the Eozelle . . . . . . . . p. 57 Botryodiplodia cerebrixa Sacc sp. nov. Singapore Gar- dens, on dead branches of Cecropia peltata . . . , p. 57 Septoria cyrtophylli Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on leaves of Cyrtopliyllum jragrans, the Tembusu . . p. 57 Septoriella coxformis Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gar- dens, on living leaves of Ficus sp. . . . . p. 57 Septoriella biformis Sacc sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on living leaves of Ficus alba . . . . . , p. 58 Leptothyrella calophylli Sacc. sp, nov. Singapore Gardens, on living leaves of Calophyllum floribwidum p. 58 Glceosporium zibkthixum Sacc. sp, nov. Singapore Gar- dens, on leaves of Durio zibetliinus, the Durian . . p. 58 Glgeosporium ixocarpi Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gar- dens, on rotting fruits of Inocarpus edulis . . . , p. 59 120 Gl(eosporium palmigenum Sacc. sp. iiov. Singapore Gardens, on dead leaves of Attalea cohune, the Cohune nut palm . . . . . . . . . . p. 59 Melanconium melanoxanthum B. and Br. Singapore (iardens, on dead petioles and rachises of Calamus sp. Pleclocomia sp., Korthalsia grandis, Livistona sinensis,. Zalacca edulis, and Licuala sp. . . . . . . p. 59 Sepedoxium dubium Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on leaves of Licuala sp. . . . . . . . . p. 60 €oxiosPORiuM VACUOLATUM Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gar- dens, on dead stems of Calamus sp. and dead leaves of Licuala sp. . . . . . . . • . . p. 60 Cladosporium elegaxs Penz. v. singaporense Sacc. var. nov. Singapore Gardens, on dying leaves of Citrus acida, the Lime tree . . . . . . . . p. 60 Hadrotrichum atkomaculans Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on dead stems of Calamus sp. . . . . p. 60 Helminthosporium spirotrichum Sacc. sp. nov. Singa- pore Gardens, on leaves of Cyrtophyllum fragrans, the Tembusu . . . . . . . . . . p. 61 Helmixtiiosporium subsimile Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore, Ponggiil, on leaves of Bruguiera eriopetala . . . . p. 61 Helminthosporium macrurum Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on rotting rachises of Licuala sp. . . . . p. 62 Cercospora virens Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on Licuala sp. . . . . . . . . . . p. 63 Stilbum incarnatum Wakker, v. DioscoREiE Sacc. var. nov. Singapore Gardens, on rotting roots of Dioscorea sp. .. .. '.. .. . . . . p. 62 PoDOSPORiUM PENiciLLirM Spcg. Singapore Gardens, on leaves of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa . . . . . . p. 63 PODOSPORIUM PENICILLIUM Speg. V. CLERODENDRI SaCC. var. nov. Singapore Gardens, on leaves of Clerodendron serratum . . . . . . . . , . p. 63 PoDOSPORiUM coxsoRS Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore, Ponggul, on leaves of Bruguiera eriopetala . . . . . . p. 63 Arthrobotryum socium Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gar- dens, on dead rachises of Plectocomia sp. . . . . p. 63 Hymexula socia Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on dead limbs of Piscidia erythrina . . . . . . p. 64 Ch.^tostroma cladosporioides Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on dead caryopses of Paspalum sp. . . p. 64 ExosPORiUM MACRURUM Sacc. sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on dead leaves of Plectocomia sp. . . . . . , p. 64 ExosPORiUM (Bakerella) exim.ium Sacc. sp. nov. Singa- pore Gardens, on dead leaves of Areca catechu . . p. 64 Tetrachia sixgularis Sacc. gen. et sp. nov. Singapore Gardens, on living leaves of Clerodendron penduliflorum and Ficus alba . . . . . . . . . . p. 65 (89 species and varieties, 67 new.) 121 ACCLIMATISATION TRIALS OF LIMA BEANS (Pbaseolus lunatus). The following varieties of Lima beans were received from Philadelphia U. S. A. on 23rd July, 1918: Xo. 1. Siebert's Early. ,, 2. Purple improved bush, „ 3. Small Lima or Sieva pole. „ -4. Dreer's Wonder bush. „ 5. Fordham's bush. „ 6. King of the Garden. ,y 7. Dreer's improved pole. ., S. Henderson's bush. On 31st July, 8 beds, 18 feet by 3| feet numbered 1 to 8, and labelled, were, after a preliminary liming, sown with 28 seeds of each variety, one for each bed. The soil had been previously manured and had given a crop of maize. Bed No. 2 showed no sign of germination, a second sowing, and a trial in pots gave a like result. Bed Xo. 7 gave only 6 germinations with shrivelled leaves of no vitality. A second sowing gave nothing. The two beds were dug up. During August and September, the remaining six beds were kept weeded, and stirred, each plant receiving a light earthing up. In the records kept, the growth of the beds is set down as follows : N"o. 1. Siebert's Early. 30th Sepictnher. ''"The plants have come up very strong — a strong climber, with heavy foliage and a fair show of flowers, A sparse crop of ])road pods 3^ to 4 inches long, with a kink at the tip — with two or three beans per poil, which, I fear, will not develop to full-size seed."' lofh Odoher. (76 days from sowing), four mature pods were plucked, but only two beans were found fit for seed. Xo. 3. Small Lima or Sieva Pole. 30th September. A thriving plant; a strong and healthy climber, by far the best of all the Limas, Very heavy foliage with abundance of small pods 2 to 3 inches long, ^ inch broad, Xot attacked by white fungus, which is prevalent on neighbouring beds. In this case, as in Xo. 1, the foliage was so dense that it had to be thinned down, and the stakes had to be braced to (support the Aveight. The excessive flowering had also to be checked by pinch- ing back the tops — which also tends to strengthen growth below. Xo. 4. Dreer's Wonder Bush. 30th September. As its name implies, does not climb. Only a few beans are showing: they are very broad (one inch) with a pronounced kink at the tip. Spots of rust are noticeable on many pods. 122 Xo. 5. Fordham's Bush, SOfh tSeptemhcr. Abundant flowering, but no pods formed as- yet. ISTo. 6. King of the Garden. 30th Septeniher. A climber, but a weak and unhealthy-looking plant. A very few pods are visible of the very broad kind, 4 inehes^ long. lo October. This bed is now showing a fair number of pods some of which measure 5 indhes in length : but many are flat con- taining no seed, or abortive seed, Xcjj 8. Henderson's Bush. A squat, leafy bush with a number of small pods, eight on the average, to each bush : the pods, 2 to 3 inches long, contain most- ly 3 seeds. It seems to resist the white fungus which has killed many plants on beds Xos. o and 6. This beau is, after Xo. 3^ Small Lima or Sieva Pole, the most promising of the Limas. Yet a second bed, sown on 16th 8e])teml)er on a previous ground-nut plot, had failed. As mentioned, a fungus, taking the form of a white hoar- frost, particularly visible in the early mornings, or after rain, alon^ the lower parts of the stems, had attacked the vines in all the beds except numbers 1, 3 and 8 : its effect was deadly on the plants attacked, which gradually dried up and decayed. All the Limas, except Xos. 1, 3 and 8 were therefore dug. up and eliminated from this trial. The progress of these 3 beds is recorded at length in the Journal; but in order not to unduly extend these notes, Xo. 1 Siebert's Early may be at once eliminated as a failure, for although it is still growing in the garden, it seeds sparsely and the pods are badly filled. Xo. 3. Small Lima ou Sieva Pole. A remarkably prolific vine, without, so far, trace of rust, or of the fungus which has attacked the other beds, and which, after microscopic examination, was identified by Mr. Deshmukh as Colletotrichum lindemuthianum. October 9lh. (70 days from date of sowing) plucked a few pods, which gave IG fairly large, flatfish beans which were, soon after, planted on a separate bed. October 10th. The foliage is so thick that it has to be thinned' for the second time, to allow at least a partial access of the sun to the pods. October IJith, 7.j days from date of sowing, collected 70 pods which gave 151 beans, of which 110 were selected for seed. October loth to 23rd, the following crop was gathered in daily pickings : 546 pods yielding 1187 beans, of which 814 were selected for seed. 123 October 2.'itli to 9th NovcDiher, the following crop was gathered. 255 pods yielding 583 beans, of which 309 were kept for seed. After 0th November, a large number of pods were picked, but many were found to be empty, or with abortive seeds, or in some cases, germination had already started within the pods. The fungus referred to above had now attacked this bed also, and none of the beans, from that date, were kept for seed. So far, tlien, from lith October when cropping began, to 9th November (i.e. from 75 to 101 days from date of sowing) the nett result of the crop was : 871 pods yielding 1921 beans of which 1233 (i.e. 64:%) were kept for seed. This was obtained from 28 seeds sown at the origin, on the 31st July, 1918, and corresponds to a yield of 31 pods and ■6S beans for every seed sown. November loth. There are still a number of pods on the plants but they are all, more or less, badly infested with maggots, and very few are fit, even, to eat. The bed is to be dug up. (The bed was not dug up as explained below). It may here be mentioned that the shells of the Lima bean are quite uneatable, V)ut the bean itself affords a quite excellent dish. The Lima is, I believe, not much thought of in Europe. De- caisne does not recommend it : but it is held in high estimation in America. If personal taste may find expression here, the writer's opinion is that the bean is equal to the best French Soissons : it is farin- aceous and melting in the mouth — and, in every way, most palate- .able. Second Generatiois;. Of the 1233 beans originally selected for seed, 556 had been sown in 15 beds on the 24th October, 1918; but there were many failures, and, on examining the remainder of the selected seeds, the reason of these failures was revealed. It was found that, by keeping, many of the beans selected as perfect for seed, developed defects, which "were not, at first, apparent in the fresh beans. Small speeks would appear under the skin of the beans, generally on or near the rim, sometimes also round the eyes, which specks very soon developed into a cancerous growth right through the whole substance of the beans; and, a few days after the sowing of such beans, it was found that, on opening, the two cotyledons were eaten through and through with rot. This showed the necessity of keeping the beans for sometime before sowing, to give time for the disease to reveal itself, and, henceforth, all the beans underwent at least ten days' drying, during which a second and a third selection was gone through. The drying of the beans must take place in the shade, for the skin of the Lima is not thick, and if put out in the hot sun, the skins are apt to crack. 124 The failures of the previous sowing were made good, to their original number, namely 556, but of these a good 15 per cent wa& destroyed, partly by minute larvae, Melolonfltids; introduced into the soil by immature cowdung. partly by night insects which ni]) the stems clean off. The croj). as recorded, day by day, iu the Journal, was therefore obtained from about 470 beans of the second generation. The pickings, begun on 6th January, 1919 were stopped on. the 31st March and the result to-date (12th April) is as follows: — Xumber of pods picked . . 11174 oz. Perfect beans selected for seed 9294 weighing 269^ Imperfect beans but eatable . . 5228 „ 77^ Uneatable, diseased, maggotty, etc. . . . . 38^ 470 plants have therefore given, so far: 11174 pods containing 14522 beans weighing 347 oz. or 24 ])ods and 30 beans for each seed put in the ground. As the crop is only half way through, no final figures can be given at present. Pending the early resumption of plucking, the beds are receiving a light hoeing and a mulch of fallen leaves, and prunings of the dead stems. Before passing on to the record of the new crop i.e. that of the third generation now begun, it should be here mentioned that, under local conditions, the Lima bean becomes peremiial, that is^ to say growth is continuous and, on the same plant, may be seen, at the same time, mature and immature pods, and flowers. In Burmah, where the Lima bean is cultivated as a field crop, the same perennial habit of tlie plant has been observed by Mr. van Buren (Tro])ical Agriculturist, June, 1918). The original bed, sown on 31st July, 1918. which, as pre- viously stated, it was decided to dig up (but which for some reason was not dug up) is still giving crop, and at date of writing, new racemes of flowers are opening (255 days from date of planting). At first thought, this continuity of growth would appear ta be an advantage. The writer himself took it to be so, and seeing the bed ]jut forth new flowers, it was manured and, in due course, new crops of beans came on. But it is a question whether it is not the more profitable course, after the main crops have been taken,, to root up the plants, and put the beds to some other cultivation which will get the benefit of the improved soil brought about by the bean cultivation : or again, if the crop is to be l>eans. whether it is not the better course to dig up the old vines, enfeebled by previous crops, and replant with fresh seed. In both cases, a thorough tillage of the soil will be neces- sary, with an application of manure, and there will be no saving on that head, while the crops of the new planting will, I believe, be much greater than if the old plants are allowed to "carry on" as perennials. There are moreover, other reasons which tend to militate against perennial cultivation of the Lima beau. 125 The Lima beau has the well deserved reputation of being a very robust plant, branching profusely, and carrying a very dense foliage. If left to grow as a perennial, the beds form a tangle of stems, of branches and leaves, old and new, which it is almost impossible to keep in trim, and if any insect pest or fungoid dis- ease descends on the beds, it is very difficult to cope with. Should moreover, the weather be very wet, which was the case here, these pests take such a hold on the old plants, that on a field scale, many would be killed. It was possible, dealing with only one bed,, to keep the disease, anthracnose, in check, but even then, it was only by dint of frequent sprayings that the crop could be saved^ and that only partially. Another efl'ect of the prolonged stay of the plants in the ground, is that, unless the poles, on which the vines are trained, are of wood which resists the wet, they are liable to rot and break down after some months, and it is no easy matter to prop up again in anything like order, the resulting medley of broken sticks and tangled stems. This last remark does not apply to the case of field cultiva- tion as practiced in Burma where the plants are not grown on poles but left to trail on the ground. Lastly, the crops fall off', on tlie old beds, and they are not equal to those o])tained from newly planted beds. TiriBD Generation. From selected seeds of the second generation accounted for in the preceding pages, which seeds were submitted to further selec- tion after trial in pots, 15 beds were planted with 455 seeds. The planting, begun on lltli January, was finished on the 25th of the same montli 1919. It was limited by want of suitable land. CKors Obtained from 3itD Generation. 1st to oth April 548 pods gave 968 perfect beans weighing 23 oz. 7th to 9th „ 958 „ 2114 „ „ 48^ oz. 11th „ 1173 „ 2740 „ „ 67 oz. Totals to date 2679 5822 137ioz. These figures show, at a glance, a marked improvement on the previous crop and this is brought strongly in evidence if the results of the two crops are put side by side : the figures stand as follows : — Number of pods. Perfect beans Weight. Imperfect beans Weight. Uneatable Weight. 2nd Generation 11174 3rd Generation 2679 4294—2691 oz. 5822— 137i oz. 5228— 77i oz, ^None. 28i oz. 2-i oz. ]26 In the first crop, each pod contained only 1.3 of beans, where- as in the second crop each pod contains 2.1 beans. The first crop had 5228 imperfect beans; imperfect in ap- pearance, in shape and colour, defects which, while not rendering them uneatable, would certainly detract of their marketable value. The second crop, although it was examined with greater closeness than the previous one, had not one such bean. Of beans uneatable, maggotty, etc., the first crop had 38^ ounces for a total weight of 337 ounces or 11 per cent, the second crop had 2.36 for a total weight of 137^ oz. or l.TO per cent. Again, if we compare the weights of the two crops we find: 2nd Greneration 14522 beans weighing 337 oz. or 2.32% beans. 5rd „ 5822 „ ^ 137| oz. „ 2.36% The greatly improved quality of the beans of the latter genera- tion is attributable to better weather conditions, secondly to ab- sence, so far, of fungoid disease, and thirdly to more severe selec- tion of the seeds which, one by one, imderwent three sortings before sowing. The Mature Bean. The pod of the Lima bean, Avhen approaching maturity, is, at first, of a bright yellow colour, which turns in on© day or at ihe most in two, to a true khaki colour; at this stage, the beans are loose from the shell and, on shaking the pod, are heard to rattle inside. Then, is the time to pick them: if picking is de- layed, dehiscence takes place and the beans may fall to the ground. The pods which, at maturity, are not of a true khaki colour, but which show streaks of brown or purple, or which are mottled' green and brown, have almost invariably damaged beans, the stains being due to the decomposed state of the beans brought about by maggots or to the cancerous condition induced by ColJeiofrichum Undemu- fliianum. The beans selected for seed should be pure Avhite — opaque — uot glossy but " mat " to use the French term. Any beans which, after keeping for a week, show a shrivelled skin or any discolora- tion whatever, or which take a semi-transparent hue, should be dis- carded: but such beans may be perfectly good to eat. The beans selected for seed should be firm to the feel, and hard under the nail. The diversity and irregularity of shape, and of size of the Lima beans has perhaps contributed, as much as anything else, to prevent their more general acceptance in Europe, for this uneven ness necessitates a rather troublesome sorting before marketing. For that reason, some care should be given to this matter of shape in the selection of the beans for seed, with a view to attain a type of true kidney-shape. The two predominating contours, I find, are the boomerang-shape, (but full on the inside) with a rather sharp apex — and the kidney-shape of the ordinary garden bean, but with the inside curve less pronounced. The boomerang-shaped bean is almost always flat and large; the kidney-shaped is less large but it is rounder, plumper, fuller. 127 For that reason, given two beans of sound quality and of about- the same weight, one of the boomerang-shape, the other of the kidney-shape, the writer would choose, in preference, for sowing^ purposes, the latter one, even if somewhat smaller in size. Time will show whether the type breeds true. The im])ortance of a severe selection of seeds is very soon ]:ealised by planting this bean. From 60 per cent of germinations obtained in previous sowings, the latest sowings in the garden& commonly show from 90 per cent and upward of germinations. Another very common feature in Lima beans are the striations converging from the rim to the hilum (eye). These striations, much more marked on some beaus than on others, are due to a tendency to reversion to the original red or purple coloured type. Seeds showing that character in a marked degree should be rejected for planting purposes, the purple coloured type containing, it is said, prussic acid. If the beans are not destined to be planted, but merely for table use, their character may differ, in some cases, very widely^ from the description just given. In the first place, the pods should be picked when they are of a light yellow colour, without waiting for the shell to turn to khaki colour. The beans themselves, instead of dead white, may be glossy, and the converging striations do not matter. Lastly, the shape is also of secondary importance although it affects the market value to some extent. The Bulletin of the Imperial Institute (Vol. 15, No. 4) con- tains interesting reading on the subject of the Lima Bean or " Rangoon white bean.'' The following figures speak for them- selves : " Forms of Phaseolus lunatus are largely grown in Burma. " The two most common forms grown in Burma are the red-seeded " and the white-seeded kinds." '^' In Burma, Phaseolus lunatus, is a favourite crop for field " cultivation, 340,000 acres being devoted to the white variety,, ''and 94,000 acres to the red variety in 1916-1917." " The quantities and values of pulse, including peas, exported "overseas from the Province during 1916-1917 were: 1,439,000 " cwt. value £791,208." " Of these quantities, 1,138,000 cwt. were exported to the " United Kingdom." The large shipments to Peninsular India are not included in the above. " Seeds are usually dropped into furrows in rows about 1 " to 1| ft. apart : they are also sometimes broad-casted, mixed " with maize, and are covered with soil by harrowing. When sown " with maize, the stems of the maize plants serve as supports to- " the trailing stems of the beans, but when sown alone, the stems " are allowed to trail over the ground. The crop generally takes " five months to mature." The writer has tried experimentally the planting of Lima beans with maize: but the result was somewhat disastrous, both 128 the maize and the beans giving returns much below the average; but the chief objection to this mixed planting is that, in twining themselves round the maize stems, the bean stems strangle the maize cobs and arrest their development. In other respects, also, the practice followed by the writer differed widely from the above. First of all, the seeds were not sown broad-cast or dropped in furrows, but each bean was sown separatel}', the most advantageous distances being found to be 20 inches on rows one foot apart with 3 such rows per bed. Secondly, the plants were not left to trail on the ground but were supported by poles, 4 poles for each 13 plants with transverse sticks on top. Planted on such lines as are here indicated, one acre of land affords room for 250 beds 30 feet long by 3^ feet wide with alleyways, each bed accommodating 45 plants in 3 rows of 15, at the distances specified above. Thus, one acre would ac- commodate about 11,000 plants, of which 10,000, under favourable conditions (well selected seeds and careful watching for pests) could be expected to reach maturity in tliree months, and to yield an average of two ounces of beans per plant, resulting in a crop of 1,250 pounds of beans. It is impossible to draw up an estimate of the cost of a crop 'of beans to fit all conditions. But, given agricultural land under normal conditions, cleared of jungle and stumps, a land, say, of light secondary growth, which can be cleared and drained at small cost; a land, which can be got ready for the plow, or the changkol at a cost, say, of $20 per acre — then the expenditure could be figured as follows, for one acre: Clearing and draining . . . . . . . . $20.00 Labour; changkoling, raking and earthing up H coolies for 3 months at $15 . . . . . . . . 67.50 Seed beans, 16 pounds (selected) at $0.40 . . . . 6.40 4,000 stakes at ^ cent . . . . . . . . 20.00 Fungicides and insecticides . . . . . . . . 10.00 Tools and appliances . . . . . . . • 8.00 Superintendence . . . . . . . . • • 5.00 Estimated expenditure . . . . $136.90 If the plow is used instead of the changkol, the labour bill would be reduced by about $18. The subsequent crops would cost less by about $50 but, if the soil is a poor one, manuring would have to be done at a cost of $25 to $30. The planter would have the option, also, of leaving his crop on as a perennial, or of digging up and re-planting. Good lallang land might very profitably be put under a bean crop, for it should be observed that by its heavy foliage, the bean supplies a dense cover and, during the 3 months which the crop demands, the lallang will be kept under. 129 Eeferrinp- aoain to the above extract from the Bulletin of the Imperial Insfitute, it is there stated that the bean crop in Burma takes 5 months to mature. As a matter of fact, with three successive crops, the writer lias found that the crops mature in between 75 to 85 days and the piekinos are heaviest between 90 and 100 days. This is attributable, in the writer's opinion, to the fact that the plants were prown on stakes and not left to trail on the ground, as is the ease in Burma. The beans grown on stakes are more open to the action of the air and sun, and the maturing of the pods is therefore much more rapid. The results amply justify the extra expense of buying and puttin<^ up the stakes and, moreover, the beds are better accessible and in case of outl^reak of disease it is much easier to watch and to keep in check. The stakes themselves serve, to a certain ex- tent to o-nard the crop against fungus and insects by a smearing ot them with strong Bordeaux mixture made adhesive by the addition of treacle, or sago. Before closino- these notes the writer would call attention to the fact that as sh'own by the crop records given above, three crops were obtained from the 31st July, 1918 to the 12tli April, (date of writino-) and that the fourth crop now partly planted or being planted, should, if all goes as in the past, be ready for harvesting by the 12th of July i.i. four crops in less than one year irom the planting of the first crop. Conclusions. Whether due to absence of fungus, or to more severe selection of the seed used, or to better weather conditions, the improved qualitv of the Lima bean at present being hai-vested is manitest and it bears proof that the bean has not suffered degeneration through change of climate and of habitat, and it may now be con- sidered as definitely acclimatised. ^ Mathieu. A PROGRESS REPORT ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE GREATER YAM, DIOSCOREA ALATA -IN THE BOTANIC GARDENS, SINGAPORE. When reporting upon the cultivation of the Greater Yam in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, in 1917, attention was called to the circumstance that the plants had ])een grown spaced ^ '^> ^ ^ee^' a-d that in competition between each other at such a distance they had produceu smaller tubers than in the earlier years. But snace forbad aoain in 1918 that the distances between them should be iici'S, and consequently the yields of ,1816, for instance were not attained. Moreover there was not -liable quite so mh manure; and the want of it has a so had an effect The 1918 croT> was consequently less abundant than the crops of 1916 and 191?. 130 The num})er of races grown toiifether on the ground was 93. The average yield was 3.77 lbs. (1712 grammes) per hill. In the following table the three years are compared: — DiOSCOREA AlaTA. THE GREATER YAil, EaCES NOT Eequirixg Earthing rp. Year 1916. 1917. 1918. No. of hills 582 520 299 Area occupied ... 11,3.30 sq. feet 3,120 sq. feet 1,794 sq. ft. being an area .260 .072 .041 of a hectaire .105 .029 .017 Number of sets which grew .559 424 273 which failed 28 84 26 Return (1,810,076 grs. I 3,969 lbs. 961,117 grs. 2,118 lbs. 467,^14 grs. 1,030 lbs. Yield per acre 6.89 tons 13 16 tons 11.21 tons per hectaire 17.239 kilos 33,142 kilos 27,489 kilos Average yield per hill i. e. failures included (3.110 grammes j I 6.83 lbs. 1,849 grs. 4,07 lbs. 1,563 grs. 3.44 lbs. Average yield per plant which grew ( 3,238 grammes i 7.14 lbs. 1 2,267 grs. 4,99 lbs. : 1,712 grs. 3.77 lbs. It is considered that the time has come to discard a large number of the races which have been grown. It is scarcely neces- sary to give any account of them, for it would serve no useful purpose to do so: they are no longer of much interest. But it will be nseful to record the reasons why others have been kept; and this will be done next. Thirteen races have for the past three years of careful com- petitive trials, year by year, yielded more than the average. Eleven of these thirteen have been kept, the race Xo. 132 being discarded as too similar to the race 76 to be required, and the race 140 as too near to the race 128. The eleven retained are: — 131 Gardens No. 22 44 50 52 G4 66 76 100 128 170 192 Origin. Name under which received. Philippines, do. do. do. do. do. do. Saigon Sylhet, India Port Darwin, N. Australia Gold Coast. Uhi, white, No. 1031 Ubi, red, No. 1025 White Bohol Figured. No. 1040 Ubi, white, No. 1046 Sinanto Khoai noc trang No. 35630 GB.IINo. 2pl.i. do. pi. ii Philip Agric. Ill p. 207, fig. 17 G.B.I No. 11 12, pi 2, and II No. 2 pi. i an lEururuka nkakyi G.B.I. Nos. 11-12 pi. iv. G.B.II. No. 2 pl,i These differ greatly among themselves, for instance: — Magenta sap at all depths in races Nos. 100, 128. under the skin only Nos. 22, 44, 140, 170, 192. '', not present . . Nos. 50, 52, 64, 66, 76. Tubers branched distinctly in races Nos. 44, 100, 170. lobed rather than branched Nos. 22, 50, 52, 64, 66, 192. , neither lobed nor branched Nos. 76, 128. flattened in races . . . . Nos. 22, 44, 50, 52, 64, 66, 100, 170. „ not flattened . . . • Nos. 76, 128, 192. It may be noted that the races with flattened tubers which yield heavily, are in all cases either lobed or branched : And again it may be noted that none of the long deep going yams are among these races. In foliage the above eleven varied greatly. No. 76 has a prickly stem. No 50 is a yam that has been cultivated for three seasons in the garden of Mr. G. P. Owen, in Singapore ; and in the first of them he obtained a tuber weighing 26 lbs. He gave sets irom it to Mr W E. Hooper who obtained a still larger tuber with a girth of 52 inches and also to Dr. W. F. Samuels who at Tanjong Rambutan, Perak, also got large tubers. It is believed that the following promise a yield of more than the average, but did not give it because of some mischance : there- fore they have been retained as if heavy yielders along with tliose enumerated alcove. The mischance is the case of No. 102 was due to the necessitv of interrupting the growth of the tubers, m the first season of trial before their time was complete, in order to bring them into the same period of growth as the others; and m the case of No. 10 the mischance arose from thefts : m the case ot all the other, the start in 1916 was with undersized sets. 132 Gardens No. 10 48 60 102 166 Origin. Name under which received. Figured. Philippines do. do. Saigon Fiji Tugui, finger shaped No. 1057 No. 2712 Kinampay ubi Khoai mo. No. '/0705 G.B. I. No. 9 fig. 2 on p. 299. The relation of these to the average (as 100) in the succes- sive vears was : No. 1916. 1917. 1918. 10 183.23 97.13 22.14 48 5 7. 7 8 84.61 125.00 60 -60.41 88.97 165.36 102 39.41 69.17 158.12 166 14.89 80.90 104.21 These five, like the eleven proved lieavy yielders enumerated ahove, var}' greatly amon Walsh Ltd., No. 32, Baffles Place, Singapore. c)J Printed at tbs Methodist Publishing House, Singapore. DEPARTMENTAL NOTICES. A list of plants which can be purchased at the Botanic Gardens, in Singapore and in Penang, can be had upon application. The same list appears at intervals in the Government Gazette. The Gardens' Bulletin is published as material becomes avail- able. Its price is fifty cents a copy, post free, or in advance for every volume of twelve numbers, post free : — Five dollars in the Straits and Federated Malay States. JSTine and a half rupees in India and Ceylon. Thirteen shillings in Europe. Reproduction from it is not prohibited. o a- CO C c/5 CO a "3 c o o o o o CO 0^ O 1 l K O o cn CO a 3 C o o o u 0) o CO i^ ■ < ■ SB" /a o CO c en CO Q. 3 C o o o o CO THE G3RDEIN5' &ULLETIIN, 5TR3IT5 5ETTLEnENT5. Vol. II. Issued September 12th, 1919. No. 5. RACES OF THE COCONUT PALM. In a recent nuniher of the Philippine Af/ricaUaral Review, A'ol. XI., 1918, page 13, Mr. P. J. Wester lias remarked that ex- isting literature seems to indicate the Coconut palm to have "pro- bably not more than thirt}' five distinct varieties " and he adds that such is a remarkably small numher considering the antiquity of its cultivation and its wide distribution. "\^niether this he right or not, investigation only can prove, In -Singapore Islau'l fourteen exist, twelve dilfering from each other in the nut, and two differ- ing also in growth. With this issue of the Gardens" Bulletin figures are given of the nuts of these Singapore races. The commonest races in the island are known as Klapa jan- tong, Klapa Inilat, Klapa besar, Klapa sepang and Klapa laga; from the first four most of the Singapore copra is made; but Kla]M laga is too small for copra and is sold cheaply at about one •cent a nut for ordinary domestic use. The two dwarf coconuts, Klai)a ]3uyoh which is green, and Klapa gading which is yellow, are now becoming much more com- mon than they were. This is on account of a i)reference due to their very early yield : l)iit Klapa gading is still rare enough for seed-nuts to fetch oO-fO cents each. Klapa nipah seems fo ])n)mise l)ig yields, but is not common. It and Klapa hijau. whicli is also rare, are good iiuts for copra making. The others have special uses. Kla])a dadeh produces little detached granules of endos]jerm in the milk — not Ijy any means in every nut but' in 4 or ."> ])er cent, and is eaten with sugar as a delicacy. ' Klapa kuning has more sugar in the milk than most -other coconuts and for that reason is reserved for eating. The nuts of the Klai)a biji are eaten young. Those of Klapa wangi are reserved for making medicines as the "meat" has a ])leasant scent .suggesting ])andan. Tlie slu'll of Klai)a sekol is fancied for cups. AiiiMKi) Bis ITa.ji Omak. 144 ECHINODIA THEOBROMAE, Pat. {Translated fruiii ihr Fri'ncli.) TJii.s fmiu^u? was collected in the Botanical Gardens at Singa- pore by Professor Baker on dead branches of Theohrowa Cacao — the Cocoa tree (Xo. 5410). It lias tlie appearance of a small cushion, convex. orl)icular. al:)out two centimetres in diameter, eight millimetres thick in the centre., with thin margins applied to the surface towards the ivise but free and a trifle raised forward, creamy white, ])ri-tlinoiuts which cover the whole surface of the plant are evenly cylindric. slightly ejdarged clavately upwaixls,. obtuse at the top, sometimes enlarged at the base, ordinarily simple though rarely ])rovidcd with one or two lateral outgrowtlis. They are inde])en- dent of each other or else united in pairs or threes; their height is- about one millimetre, aJid their thickness as they emerge from the stroma 200-300 microm. The thin jnarginal part appears fimbri- ated by quite a series of these points. Each ])oint taken by itself possesses the constitution of a StUhum, that is to say it consists of an axis of thin filaments very compact, which taking origin at the place where the fungus is aflfixed upon its support runs right through the stroma, and ends bevond in a little free column covered with fructifications. The colour of this axis is reddish oclire. and tu follow it through the paler general mass is easy. The hyphae of the periphery of each " StiHium " diverge to- wards the exterior and end each in a wreath of conidia. These are C()k)urless, smooth, ovoid, narrowed to l)oth ends, straight or a littk' curved at the l)ase, measuring 9-12 x 4-(i microm. The method of the develojunent of these conidia is very peculiar. The oldest is the lo-west. That which follows it appears not at the extremity of it, but near to its summit a little to one side; the third is nioujited upon \\w side of the second and so on with all that follow giving rise to a sympudial wreath of 6 to 10 conidia. The hyi)hae themselves of the axis of the " Still)um " measur- ing 3 to o microm. are septate here and there, and each of their joints arises from that which has gone before on the side near the apex. 145 As jet we do not- Know the perfect form of this fundus, Ijiit if we take into consideration the o-eneral appearance of the plant, — its consistency, the presence of I)nckles in the tilaments, — ^the supposi- tion that it is derived from a Polypore near to Coriolus has nothing improbahle in it. This genus Ech inodia coukl he characterised hy saying that it is a compound Stilhum in which the conidia are produced sym^io- dially. M. X. PaTOUILLARD IX THE BuLLETIX DE LA SoCIETE Mycologique DE Fbaxce, XXXIA', 2nd Fasicle. LIGHTNING AND HEVEA. Dr. A. A. L. liutgers in the Arcliicf voor de Fiid)hercultuur in Ncderland.^rli-Indie. IJT.. 1919. Xo. -1, p. 163, ascribes certain cases of bleeding of rnl)ber trees to lightning. His article contains beautiful clear figures illustrating the cases. Similar damage to a group of trees was observed a few years «igo by Mr. F. (i. ^lillar on the Tangga Batu Estate, Malacca, and mycologically examined for me by Professor C. F. Baker, and Mr. R. M. Pichards who found no fungal cause. The damage liad been done two years before the bleeding began to be noticed ; and' the hleeding was found to result from the stretching and slight rup- turing of the bark by reason of the gro^vth of the wood being ex- cessive over the callus and included rubher of small old wounds. Dr. Rutgers remarks that in certain spots trees may suffer from more than one storm: and if the explanation is correct, as it well ,xnay be, one of the damaged trees on the Tangga Batu Estate had been peppered liy liglitning discharge twice. I. H. Bl liKlLL. THE COMPOSITION OF A PIECE OF WELL- DRAINED SINGAPORE SECONDARY JUNGLE THIRTY YEARS OLD. This little study of secondary jungle is a mite oidy towards the comi)rehension of the great com])lex ''rain forest"' of Malaya. It is an attemi)t to make use of the clearing of a small area, with a more or less known history, where nature had Ijeen for thirty years at her work of reconstruction. Many hundreds of such studies are needed, and the iuterest in tliem will grow as the problems to he solved become more and more apparent upon (.-omparison of results. At present sucli comparison is impossible : for this study is Init a beginning. The study was uudertaken in Decemljer last in the following way. The area to l)e cleared was in all about two acres, but to sort and determine all the ])lants over it was impossilile: this being 146 so, a surface of about one third of an acre in two parts "was re- sen'etT for analysis, the limits l^eing marked by stretched wires: over the rest an attem])t was made to determine all the species established, but not to ascertain their relative abundance. The larger secondary trees, as they were felled, were all measured that; the depth of the vegetation might be determined. The work was done under the supervision of a Foreman-Gardener who preserved twigs of every plant for determination. When his men came to the area reserved for special study, they proceeded first to the removal of the smaller undergrowth, sorting tlie plants into s]3ecies, and counting the number of each ; then of the larger undergrowth in the same way; and lastly of the trees, which in their turn were measured. The seedlings and small plants upon the ground coukl not be counted as they suffered a good deal from trampling; their numbers consequently were estimated. As will l)e seen later the result showed nearly 100,000 plants to the acre. As far as can be ascertained the history of the jungle had been as follows. Xot less than fifty years ago forest covered the ground; it was felled with the exce])tion of one tree of Shoren macroptera, Dyer, one tree of Alsfonia anf/ii,< for a few years. But secondary jungle was allowed to come in which therefore was about thirty 3'ears old, at the clearing in 191S. The hill slope faces north west, and is well drained. i^aturally the jungle bore some impress of the former culti- vation. Most noticeable of all were the big trees of Alhizzia moluccana, towrrijig above all the others, except the Sltorea and the Alstonia. These Albizzias were in the hal)it f)f fruiting freely and dropping innumerable seeds into the bottom of the jungle; ))ut the seedlings of the seeds which germinated could not grow under the shade, so that the Alhizzia showed no regeneration. The Sliorea, too, fruited freely and its seed germinated; but no seedlings were found of any size, pliowiug that tlie conditions were equally unfavour- able to it. It is tliought that the Alhizzia and Shorea failed from quite different causes, the Alhizzia seedlings from want of light, the Shorea seedlings from want of deep forest soil and moisture. An old Mangosteen tree stood dead in the jungle, its foliage space having l)een closeii up. Elsewliere a little circle thirty-six feet across showed where another tree had been until re- cently. The ground of this circle was occupied l)y tlie grass and sedges, Ischaemum midicum, Linn., Sclcria .'^innairoisis, Eetz., and Sderia liehecarpa, Xees, into which .Jledi/otis congesta. K. "Br., had intruded, and where there were many quite young seedlings of Anisopliyllfn dif<>ir.ha. Hook., and Mararavrpi friloha, Muell. At 147 a small distance further on stood, newl}- dead, an exotic Lef2:uminosa (Gardens' Xo. 1404) which has never l)een determined. The Gardenias and Ixoras had altog-ether gone ; but nippeastrum had persisted at the foot of some big Albizzia ; , and Tacca cristaia,. Jack, was in plenty perhaps as a relic from cultivation. The jungle itself was about forty-five to fifty feet from the aipper leaves to the soil, as is shown by the measurements of n numl)er of the larger secondary trees composing it, (vide the annexed table, where they are in the order of their height with their cir- cumference in a second column). The size of the largest tree of each species in the ta1)le can be found easily, because the authority for the scientific name is appended only where the species first finds mention. Into the trees climbed a few woody climbers, e.g. Tetracera assa, T)V. Arfahotri/s suareoleny. Blume,? Unona discolor, Yahl. Caemlpinia Nuga, Ait. Uncaria pteropoda, Miq. Smila.r. harbata. Wall. Smilax niegacarpa, A. DG. Calanm.s. A limited num1)er of e])iphytes were present, e.g. P.sychotria ovoidea, Wall. Acriop.ns javanica, Eeinw. Pleopeliis sinuom, Wall. Drijnwglossuni pUoselloUlcs. Presl, A croffich^im .scan'dens. Bory, most of them growing in the forks of the branches of trees of ArthrophyUnm, but a few on Admandra diimosa and Fagraea jragrans. Pleopeliis sinvosa was tenanted by ants. Herbs under the trees were few. Tacca cristaia. Jack, was the commonest, and. l)esides nippmstruni in one spot and the grasses and sedges of another spot as given above, almost the onlv herba- ceous plant. A List of the Ti;i;i:s ahovk ;!() Fekt ik Height, excluding THE FEW LARGE TREES AVHICII WERE NOT FELLED. Height of Girth at tree. breast h eight. Name. 97 feet. lOG ins. Ficus polgt^yce, Iiidl. 79 „ 44 ,, Durio zibetJiinns, DC. m „ 40 ,, do. 68 „ 3fi ,, Adinandra diuiiosa. Jack. nn „ 34 1 Diirio zihefhinus. 32 Arforarpiis j)oh/p]iema. Pers. 148 Height of tree. Girth at breast height, Name. 65-1 feet. 29 ins. Bhodamnia trine rvia, Blume. 64 }} 27 -'J ElaeocarpuK petiolatus. Wall. 631 >} 44 >} Eugenia lineata, Duthie. 63 }} 1 41 ,•? Bhodani nia trinervia. 62 5? 34 32 •J I.ronanlhes reticulata, Jack. Rliodam nia trinervia. 61 JJ 32 ;j Hevea brasiliensis, DC. 60 }} 31 J? Rliodam nia trinervia. 59 •5 19 7? Albizzia moluccana, Miq. 34 5J 1 Llaeocar/nis petiolatus. 58 JJ 46 .'J Artocarpus s]j. 57 }} 28 7? Arthroplnjlluin diversifolium, Bhime. 35 >} BJi odd in nia trinervia. 22 7! Pitliecolohiuvi lobatuni. Beuth. 551 }) 40 5? Elaeocarpus stipularis, Blume. 40 » do. 55 !} 29 n do. 541 >} 26 55 Arili rojih ijUuiu dicersifolium. 54 >> 42 ?,> Gordonia singaporeana, Wall. • 33 55 Artocarpus Lal-ooclia, Roxb. 16 55 Fitli ecolobium lobatuni. 53 }} 31 J5 ArtJiropIt i/llum diversifolium. 26 JJ do. 23 55 Adinandra dumosa. 15 55 Sijmplocos fa'sciculata, Zoll. 521 » 34 55 Artliropli ijllum diversifolium,. 28 55 Cupania paJlidula, Hiern. 22 55 Artli ropJi glluni diversifolium. 52 >} 36 55 Artocarpus Lal'OocJi a. 28 55 Si/ni plocos jusciculata 511 >> 22 55 ArfJi ropJiijIluni diversifolium. 51" J7 38 55 Sym plocos fasciculata. 32 55 B ]i 0 da m n ia triner v ia . 49^ 5J 20 17 55 5' Hevea brasiliensis. ArtliropJiyllum diversifolium. 49 J5 24 55 Symplocos fasciculata. 22 55 Durio zibetliinns. ■ 21 55 Arfli ropli ijlluni diversifolium. 18 55 do. m }> 27 55 do. 20 55 Artocarpus Kunstleri, King. 48 }} 22 55 A rth ropli i/llum diversifolium. 20 55 do. 15 55 Artocarpus sp. m >5 28 26.1 i 55 ArtliropJij/lluni diversifolium: Bli odaii'i nia trin ervia. 149 Height of tree Girtb at breast height, Name. 4n feet. 47 „ 46i 46 45 44^ ,, 44 „ 10 ius. 32 „ 24 „ 23 „ 20 „ 24 „ 22 „ 29 „ 26 „ 24 „ 1' „ 2.S ',! 21 „ 20 „ 1' „ 22 ., 18 „ IS „ 15 „ 24 „ 24 „ 20 20 „ 20 „ 18 „ 18 „ Arthrophyllmn diverslfolium. A din an dra dum osa . Arihroph yllum divcrsifulium. do, Symplocos fasciculaia. do. Adiivindra dumosa. )Sy7nplocos fasciculuta. Artocarpiis sp. Artli ro phijU urn di r c rdfo liii m . do. Litsaea firma. Hook. f. lili oda ni n ia frinervia. Arth rophyllum diversifolium. Uurio zihethinus. Macaranga triloba. Muell. Symplocos fa^iicuhita. do. Artocarp us polypli etna A rtli ropli yllnm diversifoHitm . Pith ecolobinm lohatiim. Symplocos fasciculaia . Fygetim polysfachyum. Hook. Syin plocos fasciculaia. Elae 0 carp us slip u laris. Gironniera nervosa. Planch. rUhccolohiiint. lohatuni. 14 ?' Arihrophylluv) diversifolinm. 43| „ 28 7> Ficiis. 20 ,, Ma cava n r/a irilol a 16 55 Arih ropli yllum diversifoUum. 43 „ 30 ,, Elioda III n ia irinervia. 25 Falaqu ium, hancanum. 24 ^ Pill odam nia irinervia . ' 24 55 do. m „ 21 55 .4 rill rophyllu in diversifoUum . 18 ?•> A rtocarpus Kunsileri. 16 ,, A rihrophyllum, diversifoUum.. 12 5' Tlmonius wallichianus, Val. 43 „ 24 ArihropJi i/lhiin diversifolinm. 20 55 ' do. 17 5' Pliodam nia irin ervia. 16 5" Piihecolohivm lobafum. 15 55 Arih ropli yllu m diversifoUum. 1 15 55 Neplielium lappaceum, Linn. 1 14 55 1 A rihrophyllum. diversifoUum. 150 Height of 1 Girth at ; Name. tree. breast h eight 42 feet. 13 13 ins. 1 Sym plo cos fascicii la ta. Macaranga triloba. 41 „ 20 20 J' 1 Artli roplij/lhim diversifolhim. Syniplocos fasciculala. 18 ?? 1 do. 17 A rthroph yll inn diversifoUum. 14 >.' 1 Si/inplocos fasciculata. 404 „ 20 12 .'J 1 '? 1 ArfJirophi/lhiin diversifoUum. do. 40 „ 16 12 ?? 1 do. do. 9 ?5 nUiecolobiiim lobatuni. m „ 16 Sijntploros fasciculata. 39 .. 2o 20 IG -■>) do'. Eugcuia sinmlans. King. Mangifera foetida, Lour. 15 ,. Sidero.rijlon malaccense, C. B. Clarke. 14 75 .S' //'//; plocos fasciculata. — }} A rtucarpus. 38^ ,. 20 14 io J? 5,' • J 7 Ehodaninia trinervia. Cinnamomuhi iners, Eeinw. Artocarpus. 38 „ 22 Ficus alba. Eeinw. 21 J? Cinnamom urn iners. 16 'J Artocarpus k'unstleri. 16 7? Artocarpus. 15 77 Si/nt plocos fasciculata. 15 77 Arth ropli 1/11 uni diversifoUum. 1 9 ., .lo. 1 — 77 Gordon ia singaporeana. Pggeuni polystacliyum. Eugenia- variolosa, King. 37 ,, 1 18 1 IS 77 7 7 Arthropliyllum diversifoUum. A rtocarpus Knnstleri 36i „ 1 18 7' Eugenia grandis. 36 „ 1 16 77 Gordon ia singaporeana. 351 ,, 1 32 77 Flacourtia Rtikam. 35 „ 1 20 77 Cin na ni o m n m in ers Timonius iralUcliianus. m „ 1 31 ,, A di nan lira duinosa. 1 21 7 7 Cinuanioniujn iners. 1 20 77 do. 1 16 ,, Ficus. 1 14 ., Gordonia singaporeana. 1 " — " 1 Adinandra duniosa. 151 Height of tree. Girth at breast height Name. 34 feet. I 15 ins. Ciniiainoiimin iners. 34 „ 14 ?j Gynotroches axillaris^ Miq. — 5? Symplocof! fascic u la ia . — J? Macaranga triloba. 33i „ 18 5? A rthro p h 11 u v i div ersifo Hum . 9 ?J Symplocos fasciculata. 33 „ 30 ?> Timonius ivallichianus. — 7? Clero dendron disparifo liu m . — yy Pithecolobium lobatum. — J7 Timonius loallichianus. — ?.•> Eugenia grandis. 32i „ — J? Kurrimia paniculata. Wall. — J7 GynotrocJi es a.nllaris. 32 „ 23 77 Ficiis. 14 77 Symplocos fasciculata. 10 77 Macaranga triloba. 9 75 Timonius ivallichianus. ■ — 77 Adinandra dumosa. 31i „ 1 13 77 Gironniera nervosa. 31 ,, 1 — 77 Cinnamomum iners. — 7? 1 do. 30i „ 1 10 77 1 Pithecolobium clypcaria, Benth. Among these trees Rhodamnia, presumably destined to ultimate suppression, was still aggressive. The tallest Arthrophyllum diversifolium in the jungle was 57 feet high. This is probably about its limit, and the further growtji of other trees would have tended to its suppression also. Possibly the age of 35 years for this kind of jungle is its zenith. The tallest Macaranga triloba was 45 feet; and it and others showed signs of decay. The zenith of the species appeared to be past, and it seemed mainly to owe a place to the dying of old fruit trees. However large and old, these Macarangas were tenanted by ants. Melastoma malabathricum, had long lost its hold upon the ground. The means of analysing this jungle over the whole two acres being wanting; two areas were taken respectively of 5800 and 7880 square feet or together nearly one third of an acre. The areas were defined by means of wires, and then from each in turn (1) the six foot high or lesser woody plants were removed, and deter- mined. (3) the 6-18 feet high woody plants and (3) the trees. The plants not attaining two feet were not counted but their num- ber was estimated. Adding the two areas together, there were on this area of nearly one third of an acre: — 152 378 trees of 18 feet aud more. 2,728 woody plants of 2 feet to 18 feet, about 27,342 smaller plants — mostly small woody seedlings. 30,4-18 in all. or to the acre 9(5,660 plants. The woody species of two feet in height or more, found on this area, are enumerated in the list opposite. In point of in- dividuals, the following among them were most alumdant : — Anisophyllea disticha . . . . . . . . ,345 Cinnamomum iners .. .. .. ., .. 321 Rhodamnia irinervia . . . . . . . . 242 Elaeocarpus Mastersii . . . . . . . . 199 Gironniera nervosa . . . . . , . . . , IQQ Arthrophyllum diversifolium . . . . . . 164 Palaquium hancanum . , . . . . . . 144 Eugenia grandis .. .. .. ., .. 139 Timonius ivallichianiis .. ., .. .. HO Macaranga triloba . . . . . . . . . . 107 etc., the rest under 100. It is particularly worthy of mention tliat almost all of these •have more or less fleshy fruits which are distributed by birds or monkeys. im oraers most m evidence were :- - Myrtaceae . . . . . . . . , . , . 444 Ehizophoraceae . . 431 Lauraceae , . . 348 Urticaceae . . . 334 TiLIACEAE . 235 Euphorbiaceae 181 Araliaceae , . 164 iSapotaceae . , . 163 Ternstroemiaceae . 124 EUBIACEAE TJ_ .'_ _•_ _ J i • . J 1 _ i IT T r» 1 • 1 • 1 . 121 It is interesting that the Eubiaceae which in species is so varied in high rain-forests is but the tenth order down the list, that the Anonaceae is still further down and that the Ternstroemiaceae which in the damp Gleichenia-gvovm secondary forest of Sing- apore is so abundantly represented in Adinandra, should be but the ninth order of the list. It is probably correct to say that the re- latively good drainage of the bit of the secondary jungle under study accounts for the low place of the Ternstroemiaceae and for the abundance of the orders Urticaceae, Myrtaceae, Tiliaceae, Sapota- ceae and Lauraceae, as well as for the absence of Gleichenia, Nepenthes, etc. 153 Enumeration of Woody Plqnts identified upon thi two areas selected for Analysis. (16) DiLLEXIACEAE. 1 plant. Te tracer a Assa, DC. 1 „ Teiracera sylvesiris, Eidl. 9 „ Wormia stiff ruticosa, Griff. 5 „ ^\ormia Scortechinii, King. (5) Anoxaceae. 1 „ Artahotri/s suaveolens, Blunie. ? 4 „ Unona discolor, Yalil. (3) Magnoliaceae. 2 „ Eadsura scandens, Blume. (57) BlXACEAE. 57 „ Flacourtia Bukam, Zoll. and Moritz. (92) GUTTIFERAE. 7 „ Garcinia eugeniaefolia. Wall, 2 „ Garcinia Mangostana, Linn. 83 „ Calophylluin sp. (124) Ternstroemiaceae. 96 „ Adinandra dumosa. Jack. 28 „ Gordonia singaporeana. Wall. (4) Malvaceae. 4 „ Durio ziberthinus, DC. (19) Sterculiaceae. 16 „ Sterculia rubiginosa. Vent, 3 „ Sterculia laevis, Wall. (235) Tiliaceae. 36 „ Elaeocarpus petiolatns, Wall. 199 „ Elaeocarpus Mastersii, King. (23) Linaceae. (1) Simarubaceae, 1 „ Eurycoma longijolia. Jack. (6) Bdrseraceae. 6 „ Canarium PlancJionii, King, (2) Meliaceae, 2 „ Sandoricum indicum, Cav, (4) Olacaceae, 3 „ Lepionurus sylvestris, Blume, 1 „ Gomphandra penangiana, Wall. 154 (•i) Celastkaceae. 4 „ Kitrriniia panicidata, Wall. (1) Ilicaceae. 1 „ Ilex macrophylla, Wall. (2) Ampelidaceae. 2 „ Leea samhucina, Willd. (37) Sapixdaceae. 29 ,, Cupania pallidula, Hiern. 8 „ Nephelium lappaceum, Linn. (3) Anacakdiaceae. 3 „ Melanochyla amiciilata, Hook. f. (32) LEGr:\Lixo,sAE. 1 „ Pterocarpus IncUcus, Willd. 1 ■ „ Caesalpinia Xiiga, Ait. 4 „ Adenanthera pavonina, Linn. 25 „ Pithecolohium lohaium, Benth. 1 „ Fithecolohiitnt angulatum, Benth. (2) KOSACEAE. 2 >j Pygeuin polystackyum. Hook. t'. (431) EinZOPHOUACEAE. 86 „ Gynotroches axillaris, Miq. 345 „ Anisopliyllea disticha, Hook. (444) Myrtaceae. 242 „ Rliodamnia trinervia, Blunie. 139 „ Eugenia grandis, Wioht. 51 „ Eugenia simulans, King. 12 „ Eugenia variolosa, King. (11) Melastomaceae. 4 „ Pternandra echinata. Jack. 7 „ Melastoma malabafhricuni, Linn. (164) Aealiaceae. 164 „ Arthropliyllum diversifolium, Blunie. (121) KUBIACEAE. 2 „ Uncaria iiieropoda, Miq. 7 „ Bandia anisophylla. Jack. 110 „ Timonius wallicliianus, Val. 1 „ Cantliium molle, King and Gamble. 1 „ Psychotna ovoidea. Wall. (163) Sapotaceae. 19 „ Sideroxylon malaccense, C. B. Clarke. 144 „ Palaquium hancanum, Burck. 155 (76) Styeacaceae. 76 „ Sijmplocos fasciculata, Zoll. (4) Al'OCTXACEAE. 4 „ Alstonia angiistiloha, Miq. (4) LOGANIACEAE. 4 „ Fagraea jragrans, Eoxb. (I) ACAXTIIACEAE. 1 ., Erant]ie)iiiiin nialdccense, C. B. Clarke. (II) Verbexaceae. 3 „ Vitex piihe.scens, Yahl. 8 ,, Clerodendran disparifollnm, Blume. (348) Lauraceae. 321 „ ('innamomum, iners, llehiw. 9 „ Alscodaphnr ? 6 „ Notltdphoehc umhellifora, Blume, 11 ,, LitsaeafiriHa,'\\ook.i. 1 „ Jjilsaea nii/ri.'ificap folia. Wall. (2) Til y:\eelaeaceae. 2 „ (jonystijlus Maiiigat/i. Hook, f. ( 181 ) ErPHORBIACEAE, 1 „ Bridelia tomentosa, Blume. 1 ,, (HcistantliHfi lieterophyllus. Hook, f, 2 „ (Slochidion .mperhum, Baill, 5 „ (Uochidion hrunneum. Hook. f. 1 „ Aporosa fruticosa, Muell. 49 ,, Micro desmia caseariae folia. Planch. 2 ,. Baccaurea nbotleyana, Muell,- Arg, 13 ,. Baccaurea sp. 107 „ Macaranga triloba, Muell. -Arg. (334) Urticaceae. 190 „ Gironniera nervosa. Planch, 3 „ Ficus alba, Eeinw. 10 „ Ficus 2Iiquelii, King. 1 „ Ficus chrijsocarpa, Peinw, 42 „ Artocarpus Scortechinii, King, 1 „ Artocarpus Lakoocha, Eoxb. 2 „ Artocarpus polypliema, Pen, 85 „ Arlocarpus superba, Becc, (1) CUPULIFERAE. 1 ., Quercu.'^ Lauiponga, Miq.? 156 (5) LiLrACEAK. SmiJax harhata, Wall. Smila.r. megacarpa, Roxb. Dracaena sp. 34 ,, Undetermined. Some attention was given to the size of tlie leaves in tlie jung-lc. On tlie whole none were larger than those of Macaranga triloba, which have an average size of 500 sqiiare cm. Those of Ficus varied from 150 to 350 square cm. Others were measured thus : — Tacca cristata on the average about 180 Baccaurea . . Hevea hrasiliensis Tim onius n-allicliia n us- Cinnamoin inn iners A rth roplii/lhim diversifoli A Istonia ang ustiloha Fill odamnia trinerria Elaeocarpiis petiolatus Eugenia simulans PitJiecolohium lohatvm Durio zihefhinns A dinan dra du mosa Vitex piiheftceiis, leaflets Flacourtia Rukami Sgmplocos fascicidata Psji cliot ria oroidea Anisopligllea di^sficlia These are only a few measurements and a vast array must be collected sooner or later by botanists in order to estabish the relationship of size of leaf to t^^^es of forest. It has been said aibove that fruit trees had been planted over the ground before the secondary jungle was allowed to spring up. The presence of these trees complicates the history somewhat, but the changes of the vegetation may have been as follows : — 1st stage. Fruit trees standing in Lallang grass {Imperafa arundinacea) . 2nd stage. Melastoma malahathricum, bird dispersed, sprang up through the lallang, followed by the equally l)ird distributed Bliodamnia trinervis and Fagraea fragrans, while through monkeys visiting the fruit trees all manner of just edible fruits that the monkeys feed on Avere drop]ied about them. 3rd stage. In a ring round the fruit trees with their roots partly in the damper soil under the fruit-trees' shade, and their leaves just beyond the shade, sprang up Eugenias, Sj/mplocos fas- cicidata, Timonius, Cinnamoinum iners, Arthrophj/Uum diversi- foUum. Of these by its quicker growth Artliroph yllum prospered. nt 180 yriuare cm. . iro to 19i» S(|uare em. . 120 to 300 90 to 100 GO to 100 90 to 140 90 to 110 40 to 50 ;, about 60 ,, 00 to '" 20 to ^0 30 to 40 20 to TO 25 to 30 15 to 18 about S jy 1 to 9 ]57 Macaranga Iriloha with explosive fruits also appeared, ])ut perhaps its seeds may be able to lie dormant for a long time. ■ith stage. Macaranga prospered but reaching the limit of its growth, other trees began to shade it, and to cause it to lose place. 5th stage. Arihrophyllum diversifoUam gained a con- spicuous place, like the Macaranga to lose it as the associated species of greater height got aliove it. This is the point at whicli the jungle in question, thirty years old, ai)])eared to be. And at it Ggnotroc/ies axillaris had become the conspicuous small tree of the undergrowth. With years as the ground conditions ])ecame more and more those of the permanent forest Giiiiotrochex would have lost plaice to Anonaceae, Mj/risti- caceae and shade loving Eubiacme, while forest lianes of the Legu- minosae, Ampelidaceae, and Apoci/naceae would have been alvle to grow and to add to the density of the canopy. Then ultimately the condition would come in when the giant forest trees of the Dipterocurpaceae, Meliaceae, Lpguminosae, Malvaceae, etc., are at home. Tentatively I jnit this at upwards of one hundred years from the upspriugii]g of the first growth of the secondary jungle. It is interesting to note some of the absentees from the secon- dary Jungle under study. In the first place there were no Loran- thaceae. It is hard to say why. Maesa Avas absent and the whole of the Coiinaraceae. Salacia was expected, but was absent too. The followiug larger trees were not found, Xanlhophi/lhvm, Pyre- naria, Glf/cosmis, Ochanostachgs, Scorodocarpus, and Gonocarj/iim. The want of regeneration of Shorea has already l)een commented on. AMien the grouiul had been cleared, the rubl)ish was 1)urned in small bonfires. Immediately a dense growth of seedlings of Alhiz- zia sprung up, started into growth by the scorching of their imper- vious seed-coats. These seedlings had bacterial nodules upon the rootlets, and it is evident that the species could be used as a green manure. A little later weeds came in. Elcusine indica was the commonest grass at first, but Paspalum conjugatum took possession of the soil with greater rapidity and was accompanied by Paspalum sanguinale in patches. Two sedges appeared Ci/perus iimhellatus and C. Irya and a supply of the following weeds, Physalis minima, Capparis Ilidlettii, Alternanthera sessilis, Poazolzia indica, Melochia corchorifolia, Synadrella nodiflora Vandellia crusfacea and S permacoce ocynioides, all having small dry seeds except the first. Then spreading like the Paspalum appeared Trichosanthes wallichiana, Commelyna nodifora, Merremia hastata and Passiflora foetida. There appeared a few plants of Clitorea caianijolia and of Blumea halsamifcra and a good sprinkling of the seedlings of the following trees, Commersonia platyphlla and Trema, with Melas- toma malabathricum and Solanum verhascifolium. There was also plenty of Clerodendron scandens. I. H. BURKILL. 158 TWIN NUTMEG SEEDS. On a tree of the Xntmcg, Mi/iistica fragrans. TJnu., o;rowing- in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore,, one fruit in ahout a thousand has heen found with two seeds. The seeds, each wrapped in its mace, had flattened each other so as to l)e completely scaphoid. They stood arising from the base of the ovary with their raphes op- posed. It is not known if such a condition has been oliserved in the Myristicaceae ; but for two seeds to stand similarly is normal in some genera of the allied order Anonaceae. I. H. BURKILL. DIOSCOREA ALATA, THE GREATER YAM, RACE No. 50. On p. 131 of the last issue of this Bulletin it was stated that a particularly large tuber of the "White Manila Yam, Gardens' Xo. 50, had been raised in Singapore by Mrs. AV. E. Hooper. The opportunity is here taken of figuring it along with some other yams, the figure being the topmost of the three u]Don the accompanying plate. The tuber weighed 29 lbs. or 13.16 kilograms after lieing nine months in the ground. The measure encircling the tuber is in inches. I. H. BURKILL. DIOSCOREA KEGELIANA, GRISEB., THE YAM POULE OF THE WEST INDIES. Dioscorva l-egeliana is a yam of only slight utilit\', found wild in the island of Trinidad and in British Guiana. Its tuber is a curious disc-like ])ody at the end of a slender root, with a surface thickened in lozenges just as in the South African T estudinaria, so as to present the appearance of the shell of a tortoise. The opportunity is taken here of figuring it on account of its botanic interest. It lies horizontally in the soil and produces abundant secondary roots from its surface. Its flesh is scarcely fit for human food, but in the West Indies is said to be fed to pigs. I. H. BURKILL. Photo by Mrs. W. E. Hooper. Dioscorea alata — The Greater Yam, a tuber of large size. Dioscorea esculenta — the Lesser Yam. -Three Papuan races; 424. "Memu," 428. "Tailukava." & 432. "Diba." Dioscorea Kegeliana — "Yam poule" of the West Indies. YIELDS OF THE LESSER YAM AND OF SOME AFRICAN YAMS In the Gardens' Bulletin, Vol. 1, pp. 396-399 (191?) an illus- trated account of the Lesser Yam — Dioscorea esculenta, (Lour.) Burk., was given. The purpose of that account was to indicate its root-characters and to show how the several races, then in culti\ation, differed from each other. Those races came from India, French Indo-China and the Philippine islands. Since 1917 three races from Pa]:)ua have heen introduced into the Botanic Grardens, Singapore, by the kindness of His Excellenc.v Judge J. H. P. Murray, Lieut.-Governor of Papua : they liear names ascribed to the Hanuabada language, and are apparently from the country to the west of Port Moresby. These three races are figured on the plate with this issue. One of them is quite unlike any of the races experimentally grown earlier ; the other two are like the Philippine race " Buga '"' in general characters. All three produce male flow- ers, and are wild in Papua. This production of male flowers in wild races is one of the most curious things ahont Dioscorea esculenta, which otherwise produces no flowers at all. To under- stand how the female flowers alone should bave Ijeeu lost is im- possible with our present knowledge. The wild and cultivated races which have been grown in the Botanic Gardens are : — Wild. Cultivated. "Buga" of the Mountain Pro- "China alu '" of Assam. vince of Luzon, also called " Goradu " of the west Deccan "Carot'^ in Pangasinan, Luzon. of India. " Pora alu " of Chittagong. "Tailukava" of Papua. "Tugui" of Luzon. "Invod" of Palawan. " Deba " of Papua. " Khoai tu bua " of Saigon. " Khoai cliach " of Saigon. "Memu" of Papua. " Tu-cu " of Saigon. " Moa alu " of Assam. All the four known ivild races produce few and large tubers. That the Papuan races produce large tubers, will be apparent to the reader on glancing at the new plate. They number usually not more than six. But the smaller tubers of the cultivated races are much more numerous. The individual tubers of the wild races have been weighed up to 2722 grammes or 6 lbs. In the races " Buga," " Tailukava " and " Deba," rootlets are abundant upon the tubers ; but in " Memu " they are almost absent. At maturity the flesh is stringy; but if eaten immature they are palatable enough. Moreover a few tubers can be removed at a 160 time without uprooting the plant whieh like the " Cut-aud-come- again 3'am "' of the West Indies goes on growing. In the race ■" Buga," the tubers are ]n'oduced very diffusely upon the ends of certain relatively long slender roots of which they are the terminal parts. But as the slender part does not die at the end of the reason a new plant springing from the spot where the old plant stood exhausts the diffusely produced tubers through their "stalks"; and the diffuseness does not lead to a crop of new plants radiating from the old centre, unless pigs or some other animal or some accident may have l)roken the connection, in which case the isolated tuber gives origin to a new plant upon its own account where it lies. Diffuseness, therefore, is iiot an immediate means of dispersal but a guarantee against animals uprooting all the tubers and so des- troying the plant com])letely. So far the Pa})uan races have shown themselves less diffuse than ■•' Bnga."' The duration of the growth of these wild races Avould seem to be aljout ten moiiths, when " Buga," for instance, may return two and a half, three or even four kilos by weight of tubers per hill, not edible tubers, but tubers too stringy for the ta])le. The yield of edible tubers should be taken at an earlier date and would be less. Of the cultivated races, ""' Kiioai tu bua " in character of its tul)ers a])proaches the wild races, but yet is quite distinct. It yielded large returjis at longer periods than did the Avild races, — a matter for study. In classifying the races it is convenient to put it A\-ith the wdld races thus: — Few and large tubers, Tubers rooty. Tubers roundish, on long stalks . . Buga 284 Tubers roundish, on short stalks . . Tailukava 428 Tubers similar but- more elongated . . Deba .432 Tubers not rooty. Tubers turni]j-like tapering or toed . . Memu 424 Tubers flattened and lobed . . . . Khoai tu bua 288 More numerous and smaller tubers. Tubers lohed, rooty fMoa alu 286 (2 Indian and 1 Pliilippine race) . . ^Goradu 296 [Tugui 274 (Tugui 278 "jPora alu 300 (2 races of Indo-China) Tubers sausage-shaped Tubers rooty (1 Indian and 1 Philippine race) . . ]p^"^ ^^■^J q Tubers not rooty Eelatively thin 161 Eelativel}' thick (2 Philippine races) . . . . jf ^^'^f ^ ^^^^ ^'^ ^ ^ (Invod 280 In what eastern country Dioscorea esctdenia took its origin, still remains obscure: bnt the demonstration that wild Papuan races exist with characters similar to those of the Philippine wild plants, strengthens the idea that eastern Malaya is perhaps its home. Wild plants fonnd in India and Indo-China wonld then be but relics of ciiltivatiou, — a view reasonable enough until or unless it can be demonstrated that India produces wild races which differ from those there cultivated. Greater thorniness is not dilfereuce enough ; for undisturbed wild plants of the races which produce thorny roots get an accumulation of these thorny roots above them, which gives an impression that they are thornier than neighljouring cultivated races : and it is well to be on guard against a false deduction there- from. If left in* the ground over their full time, the new plant depletes the old tubers, and any digging at a wrong season results in a loss of return. It seems that the species as a whole divides the year into about two months resting, and ten months growing. If dug at eight months the yield is relatively small, but the tubers are much l)etter for the table. If dug about two months later and in the resting period which follows the yield is at the maximum. If dug soon after ncAV growth has started the yield may be miser- able. When the race Buga was left in the soil until new gro^i;h had started the return was 500 grammes per root instead of 2000 to 3000 : and when left two months longer it was 1700 grammes. So also with other races. It is recognised that some races mature a little earlier than others ; but as yet exact information is not avail- able. The return of the lesser Yam is less than the return of Dios- corea alata after the same number of months of growth. var. spi/iasA. 1 Lobed tuber of the race Tuqui 274 ; 2 3 Sausage shaped tubers of the races Bulucan Yam 276 and Tuqui 278; on the right the large tuber of " Buga." 162 ti 1 o >> o •^ a ® w X 6 Oh eS t. a o -2 6 1- It 6 03 .2 o 2 a, 11 03 P. o 1 -* F^ •pOAHJ 8 rH 00 •xnvJi^ 0^ CD CI CO uBOBina CO O rH o 1 o ^ ! >o •nonj. t~ 00 CO •qoBqa t- o C5 CO cc iBaqx 05 o t~ rH C- . 00 rH :- rH >« . CO CO PSIUTJI^ '> '"' ;s '"' :3 rH •5d9^ (M mSnj, t- CO il -u a -^ O ■?LS c a) »o >o t- mSnj, s| o 1-1 OO Ol ■§ £ t~ CO •np'BiO-r) o St: CO o o a^ c^ 00 lO •ni'E "80 J^ o o 00 CO •BTiq-ni CO CO iBoqx C<1 "* •nmaj^ CO 03 ui o 1-1 o o i-H 1-1 CI 1-1 r-l -i2 a sq^uoK •Sna pa's >0 CO r-^ CO •■^ '7 o pa^n-eyj :s '"' S«! • r-1 •" T-H > iq 'S '"' •ijaa^a rH (N (N CO CO C-l c .2 '■+3 UI eo'Bdg ^ X X X X « Striin'Ei.i tM t> o •r^ Feb Nov. last A No ce!z fee 014. If;-ang-aii alo 4904 ( 7544 ) l5112f 1819 5856 338. Odo 3175 3142 2273 3111 348. from Paradeniva, Geylou . . 1502 4975 1553 4662 AvKiucfE Yields in Grammes of Dioscorea dumetorum. Pax. Gardens No. and Name July 1915 to Feb. 1916 Mar. 1916 to Dec. 1916 Dec. 1916 to Jan. 1918. Feb. 1918 to Apr. 1919. -342. 1 Nfamka . . . . | Esura white 'Esiira yellow do. Kamfu yellow Kamfu 1247 1677 1 2328 639 Feb. 1915 to Nov. 1915. Jan. 1916 to Dec. 1916 Dec. 1916 to Jan. 1918. Feb. 1918 to Apr. 1919. 344. 346. 374. 382. 392. 2636 3090 1361 2331 6126 1417 624 794 2063 1180 1123 397 936 1 1979 1 498 1 1764 4196 I. H. BURKILL. SOME NOTES ON THE POLLINATION OF FLOWERS IN THE BOTANIC GARDENS, SINGAPORE, AND IN OTHER PARTS OF THE MALAY PENINSULA. The daily round in the Botanic Gardens, Sino^apore, with visits of inspection to Penang or to other places in the Peninsula have afforded scattered opportunities during seven years, of making notes upon the behaviour of insects in regard to flowers. These notes will be brought into one view here. 166 Apis. Beaders assuredly know what an important role the Hive bee, Apis mcllifica, Linn., plays in the fertilisation of flowers in more northern climates. That domesticated Apis is absent from the Malay Peninsula, h\\\ Apis indica, Fabr., is present and is ver}' ; c o bJD C 'Si o a) be o •a c OS 4) o ^ C q Cti. 'S. S =2 o ~ X 2 5P < ? <6 ?H JjJD o 5 g fc- ^ a o o i^ §" 'S ^ iSh ^ Cl (U s^ O Oi d BO a cb fl •^ 6 s^ » O u Oi o « •QJD o -d § o c a Oi rt o ^ a. a ^- fj s 3 c >. - O-TJ rt 01 >-. O "S 6C C OJ Pj fl o ■« G 08 OD o a 1 3 Oi o a 6 o bf) bO 3 cS 13 a 5 J ^ f3 &. bC 'C r?5 . CD la 0) 3 a a a a 2^ T3 :S ^1 -El bO "5 o •« bjD C r^ a Ir-t bO IS a bo 5 ^ S =e S 'i "3^ iS to >> ^ •f* i^ a ■;* i> ^ ro ^ :; 2* ■>^ « ^ o ^^ >i o cy S^co 5 ':i o y CD 1^ a V >i c- •y. •rJ a DC n bC '5 bb ~ =e H o C/J ~ a ;s S s^ •^ s -^ -- x; tq K; 168 ^ S ^ •It vi a « ^ is 5? =^•0 g "o -^ c8 a "^ bo T3 l-H _p a -^ "S .« <« a g ^1 u o ^ i^ ^ O a> o ta -c C/3 a ^^ '& , _c £ cu eS 6C 1Z . fl 0 a ^ c3 ^ ca J^ Oi es ;-4 C3 3 ?= *« c 6 cc c CQ _a ^o 'a. ^ 0 s _ "5 S 'ri fe cu a c C c ^ « r '^ cfl BO •■" < 0 i d 'o o 0) 1^ ^ 5 V c a a 1 "i P 03 ^ 3 1 ?: O 1 5, 55:2 5t 0 =5 ■sT k cf , a a CO "S & CO a 60 c tt; 0 c 01 0 CU ce 00 rt u o _o OB c tt a cc -5 a !/3 o ■a o 0^ Cu a o o > to 5 3 'o o 0 .== ij a "3 E cZ _a t/3 < c a C3 U o a G & o W a a a ^ ^ ~ ^ "te C- (^ 2^°" ^^ ?" ■?; ^ _c; i c« O .s ^ a ~ k ^ i g « 1^ r^ s 5 a. 1 S at c 0 .2 "S 0 <^ 1 9 04 0 CO tr jj ^ g O ■S ^ ■«7< 0 S 0 -*r ''N ^ 6 169 Apis however on the palms is overwhelminoiy foujid on male flowers, or on flowers in their male stage, obtaining food without giving what would seem to be an adequate return. It is also in- teresting to see it collecting pollen from the fallen male flowers of Arenga saccharifera. This wdiich it has often been seen to do in the Mala}' Peninsula, has been described also from Calcutta (Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal N. S. xii, 1916, p. 264:), where both Ajiis indica and A. forea were seen doing it; Apis indica only has been seen doiug it in Singapore. Barl)osa Eod- rigues (Les noces des Palmiers), has recorded that bees visit fallen flowers of the palm Galielma speciosa in Eio de Janeiro, adding that the}' fly u]~) into the crowns of tlie trees subsequently and pollinate the female flowers. Apis indica lias lieen seen sucking honey from fallen Howers ■of the Durian, Diirio zihetliinus. \}i\, in fSinga])ore. Apis dorsata has been observed to go from calyx to calyx of Lencas linifolia, Spreng., obtaining honey after the corolla had fallen, and at the same time neglecting intact open flowers upon the plants. In the table of the flowers visited by Apis indications are given of the frecjuence or rarity of the insects upon the plants named. All orchids appear to be Imt rarely visited. Dendrobium cruraenatuni, for instance, despite its conspicuousness and scent, rarely attracts a bee; l)ut Apis dorsata- is w\dl suited for the pollination of its stigma and has been seen ui)nn one of the rare occasions of its visits to do it. Another orchid, (' ginbidinm finlaysonianum, is rarely visited by Apis dorsata. but when visited the visits are eft'ec- tive. Brooke and Hewett ha\e recorded the insect as a rare visitor to the flower in Sarawak, just as it is in Singapore (Journal of tlie Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, jSTo. 5-1, 181. p. 106). Ridley in that Journal, (Xo. -14, 1905, p. 238) records Api>- dorsata 3.8 a visitor to (jraunuafopJi i/lluiit speciosuni, Bl. « Xylocopa. Larger than Apis and much more obtrusive, are the Xylocopas, large l)ees with strong jaws, l)y which they tunnel into dead timber to make their nests. The males are unim]Dortant as ])ollinators, but the females get all their food and the food of their yonng u])on flowers. Two sjjecies are coniinon, i.e. the large black -V. latipes, Fabr., and the smaller yellow and black X. aestuans, Lei^el. ; a third X. coerulea, ].e])el., is not uncommon. Xylocopa latipes is a great robber of flowers, Avhich it rapidly bites open by means of its jaws, biting usually in the middle line just above the calyx at the lu'arest available ])oint for the honey. It lias been seen systematically biting the following flowers: — fpoinoea digitala, Linn., in the Botanic (lardens, Singa]wre, the plant being a native of the Tropics generally. Bignonia niagtiipca. Bull, in Singapore, the plant being a native of Xew Granada. 170 Tecoitia Uiicoxylon, Mart., in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore,, the plant heing a native of the West Indies. Jacaranda ovalifolia, E. Br., in Sincrapore, Tampin, Mahicca. and Jasin, the tree being a native of South America. iSchlcgelia parasitica, Grise))., in Singapore, a native of the West Indies. ThunJx'rgia ercefa. T. Anders., in Singapore, a native of East Africa. As>/slasia coromandpliana. Xees, in Singapore and in Penang, a native of the East Indies. Eiirllia macro pliijlla. Yahl, in Singapore, a native of South America. Wheii biting the flowers of Asysiama it works at tlie rate of T to 11 per minute: and the male insect has been seen doing the same along with the female. When ro1)ljing Jponinca paniculata it tears open the buds ready to expand, an act already described by Mr. H. X. liidley in the Journal of the Straits Branch of the Eoi/al Asiatic Society, No. 34, 1905, p. 229, as done by it upon the slightly smaller Ipomoea palmata, Forsk., a species also pantro- ])ical. Tulndar flowers upon which X. Jatipos lias l)een seen to visit in the intended way are: — Fafjrara fnujrans, Eoxlj., in Singapore, Fagraea racemosa. Jack, in Penang. Thiinhergia grandiflora, lioxl)., in Singa]K)re, Penang and Te- bong in Malacca. Thiinhergia laurifolia, Lindl., in Singapore and Penang. Eranthoniim reticulatum, Hort., in Singapore. (kiryopteris iralUchiana, Schau., in Singapore. All these are eastern plants, whereas the tnbidar flowers which the bee robs are often American. The close connection of the bee Avith the two Thunl)ergias has been remarked in the Journal of the Asiatic Sociefi/ of Benqal. X. S. ii., IDOfi. ]i]i. ."ill-.-jH and xii., 1910, p. 245. XyJocojin lalipfs seems to be the insect most suited To the U].)- side-down Leginin'nosae. and in Singapore regularly visits the flowers of : — Caiiardlia ensiforuiis, DC. Cf III rose III a Pliuiiicri. Bcnth. Apparently flieir fruit setting is almost (lei)endant upon the insect. X lalipi's \isits many Tieguminosae which carry their flowers ill a normal wav, such as: — 171 Dioclea la-vocarpa, Mart., in Singapore, freely. Derris tliyrslflora, Benth., in Sino-apore, rarely. DoUclios Lahlah, Linn., in Penang and Biitterworth . Cajanus indiais, Spreng., in Singapore. Pterocarpus indica, Willd., in Singapore. PeUophoriim ferrugineum, Kenth., in Singapore, freely. Cassia corymhosa. Lam., in Penang. Cassia alata, Linn., in Penang and at Alor Gajah. Cassia javanica, Linn., in Penang. Cassia siamea, Lam., in Singapore. Saraca thaipingensis, Cantl., in Singa]X)re, freely. Saraca derlirmfa. Miq., in 8inga])ore, freely. Saraca indica, Linn., in Singapore, freely. It is a particularly bnsy insect upon Dioclea,. Pelfophonnii and the Saracas. It lias been recorded as visiting also : — Crato.rglon poh/anthuni . Korth., in Singapore. Pterospernium acerifoUiim, Willd., in Singapore. Adinandra dmnosa. Jack, in Singa])ore. Hiptage MadJiablofa] Gaertn., in Singapore. Eugenia zejilioiica. Wight, in Singapore. Melasfnma niiilahathricinn, Linn., in Sijiga|Jore. at '^^rain])iii and at Alor Gajah. Turnera, odorata. Eich., at .Tasin. Morinda citrifolla, Linn., at Tam]nn. Lantana Camara, Linn., on Government Hill. Penang. Gram matoplij/lJ inn spcciosam. Plume, in Singapore. Of these it is common and diligent upon Crafo.rijlon particularly, it is more often seen on Melastonia malahathricnrn than the ex- tremely meagre return of honey Avould seem to justify. On the flowers of Granunatophylliim it is not at home; it tries one or two and in the writer's experience soon quits the |)lant ; Ijut when observed by Mr. H. N. Eidley, in the Journal of the Sfraiis Brancli- of the Royal Asiatic Society iSTo. 34, 1905, p. 328, it commonly visited the flowers, and by its weight so depressed the lip that it did not pollinate them. It is rather clumsy upon the flowers of Turnera, rarely taking all the available honey, because it treats the flower as if bilaterally symmetrical. As a consequence of its considerable weight the flower nods when visited, and the bee then visits either above or below the sexual organs but not both, ancl does not make a circuit of the five nectaries. Tlve pollen of the plant may thus l)e cauglit on the bee's back or on the bee's belly; but it has been seen that quite a sufficient amount may l)e carried. Xylocopa aestiuins bites flow^ers just as X. lalipcs does. It settles outside and make a hole in the middle line of most of tliem : but on Dolichos Lahlah it may settle and turning to the left bite a hole u])on the right side of the calyx where the honey is most 172 accessible to its short tonguie. That it should bite upon the right side and not u})()ii the left is most interestino-; for Bo)nhus liaeinoir- lioidalis, Smith, a Bum1)le Bee of the Himalaya has Ijeen recorded (Journal of llir A sialic Society of Bengal, X. S. ii, 190G, p. 524)' as biting upon the right side of the corollas of a Scutellaria. Such a development of a left-handedness in Bees might be invoked to account for the peculiar trvist found in flowers so distinct from one another as Dicliptera in the Acanthaceae, Fedicularis in the Scro- phnlariaceae, Plocoglotlis in the Orchidaceae, and others. It has been seen to l)ite the calyces of Clitorea Ternatea, Linn., in Malacca. l)ut no record has been preserved of the position of the bite. A', aestiians has Ijeen seen using old liok's in the tlowers of Clitoria cajanifolia, Benth., in Singapore, holes which it may have made in an earlier part of the day. but it was not seen at the luting. These holes were also on the right si(h^ of the flower. It has been seen luting tlic following flowers in the middle line of the corolla, — Torenia Fournieri, Linden, in Singajjore. the phuit being a native of Indo-C*liina. Biai)ore, tlie plant being a native of India. fiuellia tiiberosd, Linn., in Malacca, the jdant being a native of America. .Ls'//.s/a.s'm coromandel'iana. Xees. in Singajiore, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and at Tebong in Malacca, the ])lant l)eing Indo-Malayan. Ilosra Lohhii Ih'dl.. in Singapore, the jdaiit being a native of Borneo. The counti'ies of the origin of the flowers bitten l)v the two Xylocopas, A. hilipes and .\ . aeslnans jiave been given above after each Jiame. Six of the plants are native of the Xew World, ami con- sequently are new sources of food which our gardens ]n*ovide i:o these insects: eight are native of the Old World, l)eing one from Africa ami se\en from the Indo-Malayan tropics. Like A', lalijies, X. aeslnans has been seen upon ui>side-down Leguminosae, but on Canavalia lineata, DC. only, and this only at Pangkalan Balak upon the coast west of ^lalacca. Ft pollinates other Leguminosae. notably: — Crolalavin slrlahi. IX'.. all through the 'i'erritory of ^lalacca, freely. Dcrris III i/rsi/lora , Benth., iu Singapore, freely. riiaseoliis hniahif!. Linn., in Singa])ore, freely. Faclii/rrli izus angnlalus, liich.. in Singapore, freely. Felloplionnii ferrugincuin , Benth.. in Singapore, fi'eely. Plerocarj)us indica, Willd., in Si]igapore. 173 It lias already been recorded as a visitor to Crofalaria striata, in the Jonnial of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, X. S. xii, 1916, p. 247. It visits also the followin^^^ Ijilaterally symmetrieal flowers: — - Xanttiophi/Uiini Curtisii, King, in Sing-apore, freely. Hiptage Madliahlota, Gaertn., in Sino;apore, freely. Melastoma nialahathricum, Linn., in Singapore. Stacliytarplieia jamaicensis, Schau., in Singapore, rather free- Coleus Blniiiri, Beiith., in Singapore. GramniatopJigllum speciosum, Blume, in Singapore. The rate at which it works upon the flowers of Xanfltophi/llum (.'vrfi-sii is 20 to 2.5 flowers ])er minute. On Asystasia coroma- deliana it wa.s observed in Malacca to go to 25 flowers per minute sometimes Inting, sometimes using old holes. On Antigonon lep- topus different individuals have been seen to visit, one 20 flowers per minute, another 31, another 10, another 16, one 50 flowers per minute (2. viii. 1915) and one 52 flowers per minute (8. viii. 1919). X. aeduanx is not at home upon the flowers of Grammato- pliyllum speciosum : but every now and then it may be seen seeking their honey and generally standing on the back of the column where its visit is useless to the flower, pushing its tongue over the shoiilder of the column. Mr. Eidley had not seen it to remove the pollinia {Journal of the Straits Branch of the lioyal Asiatic Society, ^0. 11, 1905, p. 22S), nor has the writer. It has been seen to go in consideralilc numl)ers to the do"\\i]- wardly directed flowers of : — Adinandra dinnosa, Jack, in Singapore. Miniiisops Elengi, Linn., in Singapore. Ardisia liuinilis, Vahl.. in Singapore, and also to the following: — Cleonie lieptapliylla. Linn., in Singapore. Hibiscus schizopetalus, Hook, f., at Tampin. collecting pollen. Corinarus semidecandrus, Jack, in Singapore- ^fiuiosa pudira, Linn., in Singapore and at T(^bong. Malacca, collecting pollen. Eugenia lineata, Duthie, in Singapore. Eugenia, zeylanica, Wight, in Singapore. Passifora foetida, Linn., in Singapore. Passiftora raddiana, I>C., in Malacca and in I'ampiji. Turnera uhnifolia. I^inn., in Singa])ore. Turnera odorata, Rich., \\\ Jasin, freely. Cosmos sulphnrens, C'av., in Malacca. Morinda citrifolia, Linn., in Jasin. Fagraea racemosa. Jack, in Penang. Petrea voluhilis, Linn., in Penang, freely. BucHngtiantia cehissima. F. v. Muell., in Singapore, frequently. Antigonon leptopus, Hook., in Malacca, frequently. Antigonon guufemalense. Meissn., in Malacca. 174 It is unsiiited for pollinatinfr Passifloras, passino; under the anthers in making a circuit of the flower. It has been seen seeking hone}' in vain iijmn tlie iiowers of Solaniiin indicum, Linn. XyJocopa coeridea is a much rarer insect than -Y. latipes or X. aestuans. It seems to show a ])reference for flowers which face earthwards, and in Singapore has l)een seen chiefly upon Adinandra diunom. Jack, from which it appears just' able to extract the honey. The angry buzz which it often gives in the attempt would appear likely to canse loose ])ollen to fall upon it. It visits in Singa|)ore also Mimusops Elengi. Linn. On Government Hill, Penang, it has l)een seen at 2000 feet uiwn Adinandra duinosa. It has been seen near l].i()li upoji the very differently disposed flowers of iMntnna Cainara, Linn. An uirdeterniined Xj/locopu lias l)i'e]L seen on Vite.c irifolia, Linn, f., near Tani])iii. sucking lioney (2T. vii. 1915). AXTIIOrilOKA. A nthuphoni zuiuda, Linn., which is a bee smaller than the above named, species of Xylocopa, but larger than the s])ecies of Apis, has been seen upon the flowers of : — Dcrris thyrsifora, Benth., in Singa])ore. Mimosa pudica, Linn., collecting ]X)llen at Tiioli. Ardisia Iniinilis. Vahl. in Singapore. Stach yiarpheta jamaicensis, Schau., in Ipoli. Stadiyfarplipfa niiifahilis, Vahl, on Government Hill, Penang. Mi: LI PON A. The little bees of the genus Melipuna are excessively common in the Malay Peninsula, ]ierhaps in greater numbers than Apis. The_y get tlieir food off flowers, making nests in holes with a resinous lining: they may be seen at coagulating latex sometimes trying to carry it ofi' for their homes. Meli|)()nas liave l)een seen upon the following flowers: — Dillenia indica, Linn., in Singapore, collecting pollen. Impafirns Ridleyi, Hook, f., in Kuala Lnnipur. ffcriiiera macropli ylla, Wall., in Singapore, at honey and col- lecting pollen. Dcrris fliyrsifioni. Benth., in Siiigapore. Cassia fistula, Liun., in Singapore, collecting pollen. Mimosa pudica, Linn., in Penang, collecting pollen. Mrlasfoii/a malabathricum, linn., in Singapore and in Penang, collecting pollen. M(dasfoina dcceinfidum, Jack, in Penang, collecting pollen. Bticckia frnlescetis, Linn., on Government Jlill, Penang. Ardisia hum His, \'ahl. in Singapore. Laniana Camara. Linn., at Tanjong ^lalim. Thotlra yrandifiora, I'ottb., on Gunong Tampin. conecting polU'ii once only. 175 Antigonon leptopits, Hook., in Malacca. Dictyosperma album, W. & D., in Singapore. Oreodo.iu regia, H. B. K., in Singapore Nipa fructicans, Tlnmb., at Port Swettenham, collecting pollen. Cocos niicifera, Linn., in Singapore. Hovialonema coerule.scens, Jungh., in the Selandar forest, Malacca, imprisoned in closed spathes. Upon the flowers of such plants as Cassia and Melastoma, as it visits the stamens only, it does no good in the way of pollinating them. Small undetermined Apiids have been seen upon : — Melastoma malabafJiricum, Linn., in Singapore. Pelrea rugosa, H. B. & K., in Singapore. AsystaMa travancorica, Bedd., in Singapore. Asystasia coromandeliana, Nees, in Singapore and Malacca. Ipomoea pes-caprae. Sweet, on Pulau Tiuman. Mimosa pudica, Linn., at Batang Malaka, Malacca. Afitigonon lepiopus, Hook., in Malacca and Klang. Vespidae. Wasps often eat as much animal food as vegetable food, and therefore are less useful to flowers than the bees. The big Vespa cincfa. Fabr., to which Mr. Ridley ascribes the pollination of arammatophyllum speciosum (Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, No. 44, 1905, p. 228) goes to flowers at - times for honey, and at times to prey on bees. The writer has never seen it pollinating any orchids, but has seen it sucking honey upon the flowers of Viti■^<' in Penang and of Antigonon leptopus in Malacca. Other wasps have been seen upon the flowers of Morinda citri- folia, Linn., near Tampin, and Scypliiphora hydrophyllacea, Gaertn., at Port Swettenham, on Baeckia frutescens, Lmn., at Penang', and on Emhelia dasytliyrsa, Miq., near Alor Gajah. Butterflies and Moths. Flowers particularly suited for fertilisation by butterflies have not come under observation to any great degree. Among the fol- lowing, only I.rora and Scyphiphora are really suited. Eugenia lineata, Duthie, many butterflies in Singapore. Miissaenda erythrophylla, Sch., a Papilio, in Singapore. Ixora niacrothyrsa, B. & T., a Papilio, in Penang. Yeronia cinerea. Less., Lycaenids, in Singapore. Roupellia grata, Wall., a Hesperid, in Penang. Lantana Camara, Linn., two or three species of butterflies at Tanjong Malim. 176 Stachyiarpheta jamaicenis, Schau., three butterflies in Penang and Maiacca. Asystasia coromandeliana, Nees, a Lycaenid, in Sin<2^apore. Scyphiphora hydroyhyllacea, Gaertn., a butterfly, at Port Swettenhain. Bracaena fragrans, Ker-Gawl., a Hesperid, in Singapore, The observation of a Hesperid trapped in a flower of Dipla- denia Ilarrisii recorded in this Bulletin, I, No. 10 p. 355, was made again upon April 4th 1917, the species of Hesperid being the same. Flies such as Syrphids and Muscids are at times quite com- mon on open flowers. Sun-Birds. Bird fertilisation is much less common in the topics of the Old World than in the tropdc-s of the New. However there is one little sun-bird, which visits flowers in the Peninsula commonly, namely Cyrtostomus pectoralis, Horsf. In the Botanic Gardens, Singapore it has been seen upon the following flowers: — Hibiscus Rosa-sinensis, Linn., and its garden hybrids, com- monly. Saraca thaipingensis, Cantley. Dipladenia Harri^ii, Hook., taking advantage of holes made by squirrels in the swollen base of the corolla-tube. Russelia juncea, Zucc. Riisselia sarmentosa, Jacq. CJcrodendron Thomsonae, Balf. Dcndrohium secundum. Wall. Carina, garden hybrids. Dictyosperma album, W. & D., possibly eating small insects. Elsewhere it has been seen upon Erythrina lithospeniia, Blume, (Batang Malaka, 30. i. 1916) and on S tacky tar ph eta mutabilis (Government Hill, Penang, 31. vii. 191T). Bird-visits to the flowers of Hihiscus are well known, and they appear eft'ectively to pollinate the flowers. Birds are re- corded as visitors in Zanzibar, India and Java to them. Russelia jvncea has been recorded as bird-visited in India, and Canna as bird-visited in South America and South Africa. The common Malayan squirrel, sometimes goes to flowers that, offer plenty of sweetness such as Erythr-ina or Durio, where the destruction done is out of all proportion to the good. I. H. BUKKILL. The Gardens' Bulletin STRAITS 5ETTLE[iEINT5 Vol. 2 Issued January 31st, 1920. No. 6 CONTENTS. Page. Mr. Lawrence Niven .. 177 A Guide to the Palm Collection in the Botanic Gardens 177 The Fungus Flora of Hevea brasiliensis .. 186 Tuba-root as an Insecticide . . .. 192 The Angsana Tree . . . . . . . . 197 Echinodia Theobromae, Pat. . . .. 199 Paddy in the Economic Gardens . . .. 199 Notes on Hevea confusa, Hemsl. .. 205 A pest of Lima Beans .. 205 On the pollen of Carica papaya .. 206 Some trials of food-plants in the Economic Gardens .. 206 Coconiit bud-rot .. 208 Eeviews of local publications . . .. 209 Rainfall Kecords .. 211 - To be purchased at the Botanic Gardens, Singapore ; or from Messrs. Kelly and Walsh Ltd., No. 32, RaflleB Place, Singapore. Printed at the Methodist Publishing House, Singapore. LAWRENCE NIVEN Superintendent of the Botanic Gardens Singapore, 1860-1875. 'L1BRA?^Y NEW YO^K THF bstan;^:au GARDEIN5' BULLETIN, 5TRAIT5 5ETTLEnEINT5. Vol. II. Issued January, 31st 1920. No. 6. Mr. Lawrence Niven. Mr. Lawrence Xiveii coimiienced work at the Botanical Gardens almost as soon as they were opened by the " Singapore Agri-horticultural Society," which was formed in 1859. The Gardens were developed in 1S61-6.2 and after successful shows in the former year, it is recorded that " The Society had obtained the part time services of Mr. LaAvrence Niven as Superintendent." Mr. Xiveii was also superintendent of an adjoining nutmeg plan- tation, so that he could coniljine the two very well. He earned the thanks of the Committee for " his taste in laying out the Gardens," iind Mr. Buckley records that he made the Gardens very attractive by large l)eds of pretty flowers. He is also mentioned with praise in the Gardens Guide puhlislied in li889. The title of his ottice, which was more honorary than remunerative, was chaiiged in 1874: to Manager, the Government then taking over the Gardens. Mr. Xiven retained charae until the arrival of Mr. James Murton in 1875. \y. Makepeace. A Guide to the Palm Collection in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore. But two brief notes liave so far lieen puhlislied on the fine collection of Palms growing in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore. The first in the " Agricultural Bulletin, S. and F. M. S." (Vol. IIT, p. 249) in 1904, the second in the same dournal (\'ol. Y, p. G) in 1906, both presumably by Mr. Kidley. In the fourteen years since the last article was written many additions, and it is feared several losses, have to ])e recorded and accordingly it seemed desirable thorouglily to investigate the collection again.. Tlie ])resent paper is the outcome of this work. In the first ])aper of Mr. Ridley, entitled " The Palm Collec- tion of the Botanic (wardens, Singapore," the cultivation and pests of the palms has l)een rather fully treated, and a list of the palms 178 ill (iiltivatiiiii ill the (iardeii- is appendfd. In the second paper is a list of new palms introduced into the collection since tin* jmhlication of the earlier ])a])ci'. The present pajier is written with the ohjeet uf drawing- at- tention to the coMectiou and in providing a guide and brief des- criptiun for \ isitors to the Gardens, Avho are interested in Palms. It has been written in a semipopular style accordingly and botanical terminology, synonymy, and citations of other works are given as sparingly as jjossihle. A sliort description of the collection is first given witli a general comparison of the ])roniinent features of the palms. 'This is followed by a list of the genera represented and a brii'f note on eac-h s[)ecies, sulticient to enable tlieni to iletermined at sight. Only those species whose identity has been i-stablished eithei- from actual determination or from previous records as found on the lal)els have been mentioned. There are still several not yet niamed. many of tliem quite young, luit until they ])roduce flowers and fruit it is impossible to determine them accurately and they have accordingly been omitted. The collection of ])alms is (piite a representative one. including s])ecies from most tropical countries. Xo s|)ecial arrangement, except in one or two instances, has been followi^d in planting and the result is by no means disi)leasing. A fairly large piece of ground near the Gardens Office, has been exclusively ]>lanted U]> Avith palms, and from the lower end of Maranta Avenue down to tlie Plant Xnrsery there extends what is kiunvn as the Palm Valley, and as the name implies, the valley has been reserved almost entirely for ])abn specimens. On the west side, several species have been (piite successfully planted in clumps, notahly — f'fi/chos- perma McArthnri, WendL, Ci/rfosfacln/s LaL-lri, Recc, Mnriinezia (■(Anjotaefolia, H. B. K., Pinauf/a Kulilii, PI.. Iiliopalultlastr hv.r- aiulra, Scheff., On cos per ma jilamentom, PL, 11 eferospaihc elala, Scheff., Oreoflo.va regia, H. P. K., Sievensonia (/randi folia, I)un(\. Vcrsrliafdiia splendida,. AVendl.. PiDcliorapliis anguslo, Becc. Apart from these two s])ecial ]jlaces, many specimens arc scat- tered over the remainder of the Gardens. Small avenues have been phinted in one or two places, as for example, the a\enue of AreiKpi siivchitrifi'm, Labill., near the Tyersall Poad entrance. There is also an avenue of !>id)al FahueJfo, Lodd., another not quite comph'te of Rhopalohlwyif Jicrandra, Schett'., interplanted with Fhoeni.r rujiicola, Anders. This latter gives (piitt- a pleasing' effect, the tall RhopaJobhtste hexandra with its droo])ing leaflets, and the beautiful curved leaves of Phoenix rupicohi, make a very pretty picture. Another avenue which must l)e mentioned, is of ('ijrtoslaclii/s Ldkka, Becc, the " Piiiang I>ajah," "Sealing Wax Palm." or " K'ed-stemmed Palm." Tliis avenue contains fine- specimens of this l)eautiful palm, so distinct from all others on account of what appears to l)e a red stem, but i> actually the red sheathing bases of the leaves. The remaining ])lants have either 179 been planted in rows of single sjjeeies, or more generally as isolated plants with a view to their de\'eloping into worthy representatives of their species. On the whole this latter ideal has heen attained and a few very fine specimens might be mentioned such as, AifaJea Cohiinr, Mart., near the lake, Corypha Gehanga, BL, near the Her- harium. a young plant of Latania Coinmersonii, L., near the Office, and two very tall s])ecimei]s of Livistona aliis.si)na, ZolL, on the Bandstand Hill, and many s])ecimens of Oncospernia filarneniosa, Bl. (Xibong) and EJaeis guincendx, Jaccj. Altogether there are about 1085 specinuMis planted in the Gardens embracing upwards of VZi) species aiul (iO genera. A C'o.Mi'Aiusox OF (Ikxekal C'iiai;actei;s. 'The variation in growth of the ])alms allows tliem to be grouped under tJiree lieads: — ( 1 ) Tliose M'hicli are soholiferous, that is whose stems groAV in clumps such as Caryoia mitis, Lour., Cyrtoslacln/s Jjiklia, Becc, (Jncosjx'rwa filamentom, Bl. (2) 'J'liose whicli are soboliferous but are not self-supporting, obtaining their su])port from surrounding trees. This section includes the many species of Cahuiivs, Korfhnlsia and Daeinonorops, and amongst whicb are many plants of considerable economic importance. (Some grow to a great height, topping the highest of our jungle trees. Ex- amples may be seen in the piece of virgin jungle pre- served in the gardens, especially at the top em] of Maranta Avenue. (3) Those palms wliich are single-stemmed, bearing in some cases a magnificent crown of leaves as in Coryijlia. or in other cases a comparatively small one as in the tall Liristonas, and Arch onto phoenix Alexandra, Wendl. A ])Escini>Ti()x OF Palms ix (4exeral. EooT. 'Oenerally speaking palms have no tap-roots. After germination the primary root ]jerishes and is replaced l)y adven- titious roots s])ringing from the hase of the stem. In Versdiaf- feltia. spJendida, Wendl., roots are produced \ip to 'Z or 15 ft., and even more ahove the surface of t]ie ground. T'hese grow down- wards and finally liecome fixed in the soil giving the plant a firm footing. In otliers such as Rhapis, and Pinanga. suckers are pro- ducked whicli send uj) stems and leaves, soon forming fi)U' clunrj)s. Stem. The height oi- leniith of the stem varies consideral)ly and in some cases there is hai'dly any stem at all as in Sabal d almost to the base, producing furrowed leaf- lets which arc very broad and strongly toothed at tlie apex, narrow- ing to the l)ase, giving them almost a triangular sha])e. Good examples of fan-leaves are found in Thrxna.v and Livisfona in whicli they are divided from | to ^ the length of the leaf. This is the general type of fan-])alm. In the pinnate section the angle whicli the leaflet forms with the leaf-rachis varies considerably. For instance in Arcliontophoe- nix, and Ci/iiosiachi/s, the leaflet is placed more or less at right angles to the rachis forming a fairly flat-leaf. On the other h^and in EhopdlohlaMe and Oncosprnim, the angle is much greater giving- a drooping a])pearance which is very attractive. The leaflets are generally arranged in two rows one each side the rachis, and as they. are more or less opposite, the\ ]jroduce a flat leaf. This is the general arrangement for pinnate-leaved ])alms. A departure from this method is found in some species, as for instance in Raphia Ilookeri, M. and W.. Here the leaflets appear to be arranged in four rows, two eacli side of the rachis. This is due to their being- placed at diff'erent angles. The two bottom rows, one each side of the rachis, consist of alternate tv\'os or threes ])laced at the usual angle, while the two u])])er rows, are tlie remaining leaflets placed at a very mucli more acute angle, thus giving the api)earance of four rows, whereas in reality there are Imt two. This arrangement gives a very different appearance to this type of jjailni, and one fine specimen in the gardens makes a noble-looking plant. Another very distinctive form is that of Carijoia iiren.s, L. In this species the leaves are bipinnate or decompound, quite an nnusual form in the palm-family. In fact this ])lant ap])ears more like a gigantic tree-fern. One other genus should lie mentioned, namely, Mtirti- nezia from America. In .1/. ain/otaefolia, H. B. K., the leaflets, Avhich are of peculiar shape, are placed at intervals in tlirees and fours on the rachis, the spaces lietween being clothed witli very sharp spines. T'lie ])etioles of several sjiecies are armed with spines. When allied witli spiny stems they form a very formidalile barrier in the jungle. Mention has lieen made of the spiny leaf-rachis of Marti- n-ezia, this plant has also a very spiny stem. The same combination^ is found in Oncosppfnin horrida, Scheff'., though the leaf-rachis of this species is not so s})iny as that of Mariinezia. Many palms have spines on the pctioh' oidv, such as Livisiona, and Elaeis. Tlie stems and leaves of ('dhiiiius. and Korfhalsm, are generally provided Avith numerous recurved spines, and the leaf rachis is often produced into a barbed, whip-like structure. 'These si)ines Avdiich are reflexed enable the ])lants to climb over the surrounding shrubs and to the tops of the highest trees. The many difl'erent ])ositions assumed In' tlie leaves are often taken u]) to protect the ]>lants from the ett'ects of too intensive 182 sunlig'ht and the violence of wind and rain. This arranp'ement adds very much in some cases to the l)eautv of the plant. Plioeni.r rupicola, Auders.. aifords an excellent exam])le. 'J^he curve affected by the leaves of this plant renders it more l)eautiful tlian would lie the case were the leaves straioht. Flowkhs. These are produced in large nnmhe-rs on large and much-hranclied inflorescences. They are frequently emhedded in the fiesliy surface of the brandies, and belong to a type of inflores-' cence known as a spadix. In almost all palms the inflorescences are axillary, oidy in one or two cases are they produced termiiuilly. as in Metro.ri/loN . and Corjipha. Piach inflorescence when in hud. is enclosed in a |)rotective structure called a spathe. This is hurst hy the growing inflorescence and falls off at once, or sometimes remains to sheathe the stalk and lower branches. The flowers are very small and indi\ iduaUv insignificant. ])nt are ])rodueed in enormous tpiajitities. thousands oft^en being- borne on one inflores- cence. Collectively they often ])resent a handsome appearance. They are sessile, and as a rule unisexual, the male and female occupying different parts of the same inflorescence. Very rarely Iii^rmaphrodite flowers are produced. In some eases female flowers are borne on the lower branches of the spadix with the male flowers densely packed on the upper. In others as for example in Piiwnga the female flowers are )>laced between the male floAA'ers and it is so arranged that two male flowers appear in succession and then the female, thereby making the spike unisexual for the time being. As ijalms are monoiotyledonous plants the general ai'rangement of the flowci' is trinierous, tliat is ;5 sepals, 13 petals, 6, or a multiple, stamens, and o carpels. In the male flowers the car]:)els are rudimentary and are called pistillodes ami in the female flowers the stamens are rudimentary and are termed staminodes. Pollen is produced in great quantities ami probably wind is one of the cliief agents in ]'ollination. Bees also play an im))ortant part in this matter. Also the writer has seen flower spikes literally swarm- ing with a larue type of ant and it seems probable that pollination might he can-ied (uit l)y them. The ovarv generally consists of three carpels either (piite free or completely united. KiU'iT. The fruit is either a lierry or a druiie. Two of the i-arpels may he ahortive as in the Coconut, or if the carpels an- free, a .-yncarj> of one-seeded fruits results, or again if united, a single fruit with one, two or three seeds, according to the numher of ovules whicli develop is the result. The fruits are on the whole small when compared with the size of the plant, that of the Coco- nut hein.g one of the largest. 'This is, however, quite dwarfed by the liuge fruit of the Double Coconut {Lodoicea secheUaritm-. [jahill.). from the Seychelles. Skkds. The seeds are of various shapes and sizes. Tliev are rouiul in the Coconut, owing to one o\ ule oidv as a rule having ■(() , whi(-h, however, van be made to grow but has never liowered with us. The I'almyra or Lontar palm (Burdssiis) introduced to India from Africa and thence to the Peninsula, thrives near the sea in sandy ])laces, but seems difficult to grow far inland, and even in the drier parts of Sing- apore is not at all easy to grow satisfactorily. The Xi])a ]jalm so abinidant in the tidal swamps does not grow well away from salt mud. " E.xt-lusive of tlu'se almost all the palms from different parts of the world which ha\e been introduced into .Singapore have done well and many have flowered and fruited successfully and are readily cultivated. " Seeds. Generally speaking palms are reproduced from seeds. in a few instances pro])agatiou by means of division or root cuttings is the method adopted. The priiu'ipal genera from which root cut- tings may be obtained are: — Pinanga, Cyrtostacluj^, Oncoxperma. Jriartea, Oenocarpus^ Chumaedorra, ('hri/salidocarpus, Wallichia, Arenga, Can/ota, Ni'pa, Licuala, Rliapis, Calamus, Zalaccu, Kor- thahia, llaphia, Bacfris, Desmorcus, Asfrorari/uin. and Sagus^ With these an umlergrouiul cree})ing rhizome i)roduces a new growth and it is best to cut or ring this rhizome behind the growth and wlien a tuft of roots has been formed the cutting may be removed. Koot cuttings, howe\er, seldom make nice sluapely ]>lants, the process is usually a slow one and the percentage of loss generally heavy, for these reasoiis when procurable seeds are always preferred. " In collecting })alm seeds it is essential that the seed should be perfectly ripe. This is generally easily determined by the hanl- ]iess of the seed, that is to say of the albuinen, and also by the colour and softness of the fruit, occasionally the albumen seems to be fairly hard before the fruit is ripe enough to germinate. The colour of the fruit is often a help, thus, in Iguanura the fruit is first white, then becomes red, and at last black, and when it has arrived at this colour only it is ripe enough for collecting. 184 " The fruits of palms may be fleshy, fibrous or even woodv, and a few have a spiny spathe wdiich has to be ji-uarded against. Fleshv fruits soon ferment and the pulp is easily removed. Fibrous fruits may be macerated for a day or two when the o'uter covering can be split or peeled off. The Malayan " Kahong- " is one of the worst to handle, the juice from the fruits being a skin poison. The Kitool {Cari/ofa urem) is also a powerful irritant on the skin. Many palms germinate freely when left to themselves, under cul- tivation however it is l)est to remove the outer covering of the seed because of the decay of the ])ulp or fibrous covering and possible loss from fungus. The period of germination varies from 6 weeks with some to 3 or 4 years with others. Exce})ting, those palms requiring much space, Coconuts, Sago, it is best to ])lant seeds in pots or boxes, whichever is used the drainage shouhl he deep and well covered with lialf decayed leaves to prevent the conijiost from blocking up the drainage. The compost to be used should be free from fungi and consist of burnt earth, well decayed leaf-mould, some sand, and a little powdered charcoal. Seeds may be planted fairly close, small seeds placed upright, large seeds on one side, or flat, and covered with one-half to one inch of the prepared compost which has been passed through a seive of a fine mesh. After plant- ing the pot-s or boxes should be thoroughly watered (saturated) placed in a moderately damp situation and afterwards sufficiently sprinkled so as never to be over wet or too dry. Palm seeds when planted miust l)e guarded from rats and mice, and white ants, the surface soil inspected, aiul excessive damp and fungus removed. The growth is often at first very slow (this is especially noticeable in r'-iffans) l)ut after a year or two the growth increases much more rapidly. " Seedlings. With most of the best known palms seedlings may be described as fairly hardy and only ordinary attention is necessary to produce stroiig plants, most failures occur through excessive damp or watering, and the moisture remaining in the axils of the leaves, or because the surface soil is too damp in which case the seedling perishes. A few s])ecies of palniv'^ have been introduced to cultivation by seedlings collected in the jungle of which seeds have not been prociTrable. Owiiig to the different conditions under which such seedlings have germinated care must be taken to wrap the roots in mud immediately on lifting them and tlie seedlings dug lip with a good ball of earth attached to them. The little plants mTist be kept very moist till they can be planted, ami not allowed to get dry by exposure to the sun or they speedily perish. Some jungle palms stand transport fairly well, esijecially rattans and with some species it is the only way to get them. " Kk-1'()ttix(!. As soon as seedling palms have filled their pots with roots, the young plants should be transplanted or repotted into single pots and a strong compost used. S'uie loamy soil, well decayed cow manure and leaf-mould, some sand and burnt earth, all well mixed together and passed through a moderately coarse .sieve. Let the drainage ])e sufficient and placed carefully. All loose 185 and old sour soil removed from the plants, the roots inspected if sound and free from pests, keep lightly syringed for a few days and water spariugiy until the plants are estahlished. Palms suc- ceed best when potted or planted deeply, unlike flowering plants the lower roots of palms in thickening raise the plant, and the sur- face or adventitious roots grow upwards. In repotting or tubbing very strong plants of wliich the roots have become tightly bound together it is not necessary to disturb the hall or place new drainage underneath it, Init a little additional drainage could be placed round the base, and thongh the plants may appear deeply tul)bed at first the surface roots will soon a])pear on the top." Selection of Species. Tlie decorative value of palms is so great as to merit their lieing |)laced high in the list of decorative plants. Tlie following liints are given M'ith a view to assisting in selection and planting. Having obtained good strong plants, the question arises as to what should be done with them to obtain the best results. This is important as in the ease of plants required for household decoration and around the bungalow, it is imperative that the species which make the best pot plants are chosen. In addition it is very necessary to know which species require shade and vice versa. This applies to garden planting generally. Pot Plants. For this purpose the following species are generally considered best. — Phoenix rupicoJa-, Anders., TJiritui.r argeniea, Lodd., Thrinax harhadensis, Lodd., Licuala peltaia, Poxb., Pritchardid grandis, Seem., Livistonn aitstralis, Mart., Liris-fomc cltinensis, Br., Livistona aUissima, Zoll., Calamus Lindeni, Hort., Carijoia mitis, Lour., Aronga Engleri,. Becc, Hyoplioi-he amari- caulis. Mart., Heterospathe elata, Scheff., VerscJiaffeltia splendida, Wendl., Ptycliosperma McArtluiri, Wendl., PfgcJiosperma Sander- iana, Eidl., Elaeis guinreiisis, J acq., Coco.s plumosa, Lodd., Mar- finezia carjjotaefolia, H. B. K., Stevensonia grandifolia. Dune, RJio- paloblasfe hexandra, Schefl., Clinjsalidocarpus lutescens, Wendl. Shade is necessary for I'ritchardia grandis, Seem, and Ptg- chosperma iSandeiiana, b'idl.. a little shade is appreciated by the majority of the others. All the labove when they have grown too large for pots or tubs, can be planted out in situations Avhich follow tlie lines already laid down as regards shade. Specimen Plants. The following species are recommended for planting out in the grounds as specimen plants. — (a) Several-stemmed species — Chrysalidocarpus lutescens, Wendl., RJiapis fahellijormis, L'Herit., Caryota mitis. Lour., Arenga undulafaefolia, Becc, Oncosperma filamentosa, Bl., Cyrtos- tachys Lakka, Becc, Ptychosperma McArihuri, Wendl. The above do not require much shade. iSome of these species are particularly useful for filling in gaps and where a chimp is desirable. It may be mentioned in passing that though very effective Cyrfostachys Lakka, Becc, the Pinang Bajalh, is a rather slow grower. Pinanga Kuhlii, Bl., Pinanga patula, Bl., and Pfychosperma Sanderiana, Eidl., require shade. 186 (/;) Siiiglt'-stomnu'd species — Aciinlliorhiza aculeaht, Wendl., lArisloiia aUissiitni. Zoll., L. (lustralis. ^lart., Lntanui Coininer- sottii, L.. Cart/alti iircns, L.. Elacls guineensis. .lacii.. Cocas phi- mosa, Lodd.. Marfitiezia rari/ohirfolia, H. V>. K., PJioenix rupicoJa, Anders., I)i//isis )int(Iaf/asran<'iisis, Hort., Oreodo.ra regia, H. B. K., Actlnorhyiis cdlapjinria. Wendl.. Picfi/osjierina albiiiii, \\\ and D., Arclwnlo/iliornl.r Ali'.randrae. Wi-ndl. None of tliese renuire much shade. AvKxri-: Plants. Manv palms lend thenit^elNes for this kind 4)t' work and tlie followin^ii' liave oroved very effective. — Sahtil palnteito, Lodd.. Canjoia urens. L.. Dii/isis madagas- cariensis^ Mort.. Oreodo.ra regia. H. B. K., Cocos pjiniiosa, Tx)dd., and Areuga sarrliarifera. l.al)ill.. all of Avhich arc sun rather than .^hade lovino- plants. F. Fliim'AXCE. (To he conliniied) . THE FUNGUS FLORA OF HEVEA BRASILIENSIS. A little while a.iio an enquirv was received asking- what were the fungus di.seases of Jlerea brn.--hHensis. On consultinji' the litera- ture on this suhject it was ascertained that there was no recent complete enumeration of the diseases that have heen found to attack this tree in Malaya. Such lists have heen ]irepared for other loiiiitries. as for instani'c hv Petch for the llerea in Ceylon, hut the diseases are not necessai-ilv tlie same in different countries -and it seemed desirable tlierefoi-e to have a list for Malaya. At the same time the present paper aoes further than record- ing the diseases that have actually been proved and enumerates all fungi, both those that are known to he iiarasitic and those that are so far regarded as sajn'ophytic. wliich have heen found on Hevea local 1\'. The im])ortance of having such a list is ablv reasoned by Pro- fessor C. F. Baker in Vol. I'l, Xo. 4 of the " iQardens Bulletin," in his article " Hevea versus Fungi." The records from which this compilation is made are the works and collections of H. X. Eidley, W. J. Gallagher, K. Banc- roft, A. Sharpies, W. X. C. Belgrave, R. U. Eichards, and C. F. Baker. It is considered that additions will have to l)e made to this list from time to time as further investigations produce new records. Ridley in " The Agricultural Bulletin, Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States," Vol. X, 1911, page 141, quoting M. George Yernet gives on page 1 i;> "a list of all pests recorded to the plant," and numerates 'i.o si)ecies of fungus, ending with the com- ment, " This may seem a formidable list but it is really small compared with the ])ests which attract most cultivated plants." 187 The same lemark niav e(|iially well apply to the present list l)ut it is to be lioped tliat the hitter part ot" it may now be modified considerably. One miiilit iiuh'ed at first wonder whether the Hevea tree wonld urow at all niider the burden of siu-h a nunilier of un- invited guests, and so far no other kind of tree in Malaya lias so many fungi observed on it. It must be remembered however that the chief reason so many fungi are here recorded is that so much individual attention has been paid to the Hevea by Malayan my- cologists. Tlu-re is no doubt that an equally large number of fungi would be found on any other tree grown uinler similar con- ditions and studied so assiduously and symjjathetically by experts. In the ])resent list tlie fungi are grouped according to their res]K'ctive habitats. It will be seen that all parts of the tree carry their (piota and that all the great groups of fungi are re)u\>i^ented. IJoor AND COLLAU. Follies lii/iii)siis„ Klotsch (J'olyjjoraceae). An orange coloured Itracket fungus, [)robably the l)est known of rubber diseases. Pre- viously, this fungus M'as known as F. seinitosfus, Saec. owing to a wrong determination in the first instance. The first specimens in Malav were collected by liidley in 1896 and forwarded to Kew. (Considerable work lias been carried out in connection with it chieflv by Gallagher and Bancroft, and is published in the bulletin of the Department of Agriculture. Federated Malay States. Fomes ])xeudoferreus, Wakefield ( Poli/ijoracerw) . The "Wet Eot" of Hevea, preTiously described under Poria lii//iolaterifia. Investigated by Belgrave in 1!) 17-191 9. TI elicohasirlium , (?) //. nionipa, Tanaka (Tlielejiliomceae). The specimens which were (ollected by Eidley in Selangor in 19U1 were sterile, and could not be definitelv determined. Massee con- sidered them a species of Jfi'Iicohasidiiiin probably //. mompa which is very destructive to the mulberry in .lapan. Xo further collections of this fungus have been recorded. Ilyiiienocliaefe no.ria. Berk. {TheIe[ilioraceae) . A common brown root disease. Irpe.r flavus, KlotSch. {II ijdnaceae). A bright yellow woody fungus first collected on rubber by Eidley in 189T. Bancroft's investigations are published in the bulletins of the Department of Agriculture Federated Malav States. It is considered to !be parastic. Mantsiiiiiis rotalis, B. et Br. (Agricaceae) . Bancroft re- cords the mycelium of this fungus as oecuring at the base of trees, like " horse hair." I^oria hypolateriin, Berk. (Polyporaceae) . Investigated by Belgrave and orginallv determined as this species at Ceylon. Later a re-determination has referred the specimens to Foines psiido- ferreus. Ustulina zonafa, Sacc. {Sjdiaeriaceae). A black crustaccous fungus which attacks the trees at their collar causing loss of foliage 188 and •■ die back.*' Investigated by Brooks and Shari)les and re- corded in the bulletins of the Ao-rieultural Department, Federated Malay States. Xi/lriria rijnoglo.ssa, Cooke {Sphaeriacpae) . A small pale coloured ttuvgue-shaped fungus recorded by Baneroft. Stem axd Br-vxches. Apiasporiinii (drum, Massee {Ferisporinccac) . Found on dead branches. Bancroft does not consider it a parasite. Asterina fenulssima, Fetch, (Perispuriaceae) . Fetch consider.s that this mould lives on the sugary secretions of the nectaries at the base of the leaves. Botrijodiplodia iheohroinac, Fat. (Spliaerioidnceae) . Eeport- ed by R. M. Richards as a cause of " Uieback." Cpphnlnsporium, sp. (Mucrdinareae). Recorded by Belgrave as one of the fungi present in " mouldy rot " on tapped surfaces. He also found it a parasite on Ilemilea rastatri.r. Corticium calceum , Fries, {Thelrphoracrae). A l)ark fungus determined by Massee in 1906. Corticium javanicum , Zimni. (Tlielephorareae) . A cause of '' Fink Disease." ('orficin)ii mlmonicolor, B. et. Br. (Theleplioraceae). The cause of " Fink Disease." Described in detail by Brooks and Sharpies in the bulletins of the Agricultural De])artment, Federated Malay States. Cryptornlsa rnicrosporn, Sacc {Splideriaccae) . A new species found by ('. F. Baker on rotting stems. < 'i/j)li('lhi heveae. Massee {Thedephornrpue) . A cause of '' Thread blight." Found on the bark bv R. M. Richards. Daldinia concenfrica, Ces. et De Xot. (Spliaeriaceae). A dark chocolate coloured bun shaped fungus forming hard globular masses, occurring commonh' on dead wood. Daldinia concentrica, Ces. var, escJioJzii, Ehrenb. {Sphaeria- ceae). Found on a dead trunk. Didymella oligospora, Sacc. {Spliaeriaceae). Recorded by C. F. Baker on dead branches. Diplodia rapax, Massee (Sphaerioidncrae). Described by Rid- ley as a " pestilential black fungus " and named by Massee in 1909. Diplodia, sp. (Sphaerioidaceae). The cause of "Die Back." It is coiLsidered to be a wound parasite, that is to say, it can only enter its host through a dead or wovuided part. The fungus itself is scarcely visible to the naked eye, and is in the form of minute black dots on the dead shoots. Euti/pa cauJivora,. Massee, (Sphaeriaceae). This fungus forms numerous large black blotches on the trunk and is considered by Massee to be a parasite. Bancroft suggests it is a '' wound para- site," and quotes Fetch as stating that this fungus is the same as Nummularia pithodes. 189 Eut,n>a UuJUnnuJa, Sacc. var. hevmna, Saoc. {Splmeriaceae) . Recorded by V. F. Baker on dead limbs _ Gloeo^poruun alhoruhrum. retch (^lelancomaceae) . Eeport- -ed on dead shoots. //irn.ok /;oZv/n-c/iiis on (k'a to 10 days. In no case, Avas any material amount of feeding obser\ed. In a second series of tests the larvae were placed on the branches and 196 sprayed after they had begun to form their tents. Ciider thesd conditioiis. sprays containing one pound ot powder to 50 gallons of water and 1 pound to lOO gallons, killed all the larvae within 24 liours. Wlien 1 pound to 200 gallons and 1 pound to 400 gallons of water were used, all the larvae were not killed within 11 days. I)ut the lew whieh remained alive were very small and inactive. I'sed as a dust, this material killed all the treated larvae within a week. Oak-W'onits. Two small oak trees, on which about ;!<•(» cater- pillars (Ani.sola- Seiiatoria) were feeding, were sprayed thoroughly with Tuba at the rate of 1 jwund of powder to 25 gallons of water: soap was added at the rate of one pound to 50 gallons, and a kiiapsack-s])rayer was used. Within 24 hours, the larvae became inactive and ceased to feed, and at the end of 6 days no living ones luuld he found. As a check on this test, powdered arsenate of lead was ajjplied at the rate of 1 jK)und to 50 gallons of water, and almost identical results were obtained. Jl i/j)li('iilrl(i < 'lined (caterpillars wjiich weave a we!) inside which tliey work, devouring the foliage t'liclosed). The cater- pillars ahoiit one third grown, were killed within a week by a s])ray of 1 pound of powder to 5 gallons of water. Mixtures rang- ing from ] jjound to 5(i gallons to 1 })ound to 200 gallons of water were not satisfactorily effective, since nearly all of the sprayed foliage was eaten and not all of the caterpillars were killed. Dalana hirvac. Two apple-trees, on which large colonics of nearly full-grown a])ple datanas (Daiana ininislra) were feeding, were sprayed with Tul)a at the late of 1 pound to 50 gallons of water. 'J'wenty-four hours later, one living larva was found on one tree, and two on the other tree. The ground under the trees was thickly sprinkled with dead larvae. Cahhiu/r Worms. Applied at the rate of I pound to 25 gal- lons of water all the larvae in two cage-tests were killed within 24 hours. Methods were cmployc(| to trace the tul)a-])owder and spray mixtui'cs in the hodies of insects and the results show that tul)a powder dusted upon insects does not ])ass into the trachae, hut a iiiuiteil amount of it may lodge in the spiracles: in order that the vapouis and exhalations from a spray be ett'ective. it is necessary for the sprayed insects to carry some of the solution on. their bodies, in order that the exhalation may pass into the spiracles in as un- diluted a comlition as possible. After being dusted the insects seem U) swallow some of the power which later may act as a .stomach pois.)n. Soap solutions containing tu1)a extract i)ass freely into the spiracles ami (inally reach the various tissues, but probably the extract kills hy lii'st alfecting the ner\-e-tissue. (The above; ])hysio- loL;i(al (onclusions are hased on nn'croscopical examiiuit iiuis and chemical manij)ulatioiis too long and too technical to he inserte(l in tlii> papi'r). 197 Conclusions. The preceding experiments, much abridged as they are hero c-iven show that the toxic principle of the tuba-root kills insects bv acting both as a contact and as a stomach poison. It kills some insects easily, and others with difficulty, but it usually acts slowly and seems to kill by motor paralysis. ^ i wi a ..; '■J^he above tests were made under strict control at tlie Agu- cultural Boards Testing Lahoratory of Vienna (Va). ihey put be.vond dispute the efficacy oi^ tuba-root as a plant-insect poison and give it a high place among agricultural insecticides. E. Mathieu. The Angsana Tree. Yet another avenue of the Angsana tree {riovcarpm wMrns) has succumbed to the "disease" that lias already deprived this countrv of some of its finest avenues. It will be reca led by many how these avenues have disappeared one after the other first the one on the sea front in Malacca, then about 1907 one hundred trees ill Penan-- followed by epidemics among these trees at iapali, Kuala Kiii)u, Kuala Lumpor and Taiping. A short while ago the avenue along the sea front at Singapore was also swept away. At the end of May this year (1919) some trees at the end ot an avenue at Tanglin Barracks, Singapore, began to show the well known symptoms. Four months afterwards the 'disease liad advanced considerahly along the Avenue. [)ut not successively tak- inu- toll of every tree for occasionally one was omitted, but so maiiv trees were aft'ected that it was deemed necessary to cut the avenue down A look-out was kept for fungi but there was no opportunity " to make a detailed investigation of the tissues of the trees ihe onlv fungus collected was one of the tropical varieties of / olyporus (Ganodermas) liicidus, sometimes a stipitate form and sometimes more imguiculate. This is interesting as the fungi formerly col- lected from these trees have been Poli/stictm occvcUntaks, b v., Puhislicfus floridanus, Berk., ScUzophjllum commune, In-., and Poilisiidus hirsutns, Fr. So far no fungus has a<-tually been ..!.- served in the tissue. ,, . , • n 'On the otlier hand it is understood that this tree is generally propagated by means of cuttings. Now there are some who liohl that the reason of this tree dying oft' in the m'anner it does is a question of senile decay and not of disease. The theory put for- ward is that the age-of the individual tree must be counted Iroiu the last time its stock was grown from a seed. It is quite like y this mav he manv generations and correspondingly a considerahJe iiumiber'of vears.^ Tt is also to he presumed that the avenues and ..•roups of trees which die olT at the same time, in the same loca- lities are planted from ihe same stock of cuttings an.l w^uld therefore be approximately the same age. In view oi this the following article taken from the Gardens Chronick' \ <•!• l-Wi, Xo. 4111, page 190 is of interest. 198 " Mr. Beuedict's interesting and valuable investigations on, tJio senile decay and loss of fruitfiilness in plants contained material ot special interest to fruit growers. N"ot the least interesting part of the i^aper is that in which he appeals to the opinion of that remarkable English horticulturist Thomas Andrew Knight, who. upwards of a century ago (KOo) was occupied with this same pr(>l)leni of senility of plants. Knight in fact, came, as the result of his experiments with Apples and Pears, to the same conclusion as that reached by Mr. Benedict, and attributed to senility the gradual failure of different varieties of fruit trees. He found in liis grafting experiments that the vigour of grafts was influenced ))y the age of the tree from which they were taken, and with the acumen of genius he appealed in support of his opinion to the common phenomena presented by certain woodland trees. He ob- serves tliat certain of them, such as the Aspen, send up multitudes of root-suckers, and adds " were a tree capable of affording an in- ternal succession of healthy plants from its roots, I think our woods must have been wholly over-run with those species of trees which propagate in this manner, as these scions from the roots always gTow in the hrst three or four years with much greater rapidity than seedling plants. "In another paper published in 1810 and entitled "On the Parts of Trees Primarily Impaired by Age." Knight makes the yet more remarkable comment : — " I am disposed to at- tribute the disease and debility of old age in trees to an inability to l)roduce leaves which can efficiently execute their natural office. It is true that the leaves are naturally reproduced and therefore annually new, but there is, I conceive, a very essential difference between the new leaves of an old and of a young variety." This difference after over a hundred years, would seem to have been now demon stra tech "It may be added that j\lr. Benedict has extended his obser- vations on the veining of young and old varieties, to fruits other than the vine and he found in the case of Apples, Pears, Plums and Peaches tluit increasing age is accompanied by the same con- centration of small veins as occurs in the vine. Hence it would seem that it might be possible to ascertain approximately tlie age of a tree l)y an examination of one of its this year's leaves ! " Finally reference should Ije made to the interesting but purely s[)eculative hyjjotheses of old age in plants which have teen ad- vanced. ,0f tbese liypotheses that of Metchnikoff deserves mention. It may be described as the "guilty organ" hypothesis, in that he ascribes old age to the failure of one organ of the body : in the human ])ody the large intestine is the sinner; in annual plants Mctchiiikotf ascribes to the flower-head the guilt of producing toxins (|)(iis(iii) which destroy the vegetable parts. '" Another hypothesis ascril)es senility to cell specialisation. On tills an unspecialised cell is immortal, but a cell, the moment it becomes a specialist at certain kinds of work puts off immortality and becomes mortal ; but against this view is the fact tliat a 199 differential ]ilaiit cell may resume its powers of growth and division l)ecomini>- onee again eml)r\T)nic and thereby resuming its immortal- ity. " ^\■hatever be the final verdict on Mr. Benedict's discoveries we cannot but I)e grateful to him for getting away from words and appealing to facts. N"or will horticulturists be slow to accept the moral that it l^ehoves us to go on producing new varieties by cross breeding, for whether or no all existing varieties are doomed sooner oi- later to old age, the fact remains that there is still room for improvement among all our cultivated varieties of fruits and plants generally." It would be interesting to have authentic records of the be- haviour of Angsana trees raised from seed. T. F. Chipp. Echinodia theobromae, Pat. The following notes are in continuation of the article in the " Clarden's Bulletin " Vol. II, No. ">, page 144. Further specimens of Echinodia iheohromae, Pat. as described by i'atoiiillard in the Bulletin de la Societe Mycologique de France " Tome XXXIV, 2n(l Fasc. have been ol)tained growing on small branches of a Quercus in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore. The smaller speci- mens agree entirely with the original description of Patouillard. In the larger specimens, which do not exceed. 3 mm. in diameter, the older or generally middle portion of the specimens developes a typical polyporaoeous tissue. The pores whose length is the same as the height of the plant, constitute the whole of the specimen except the thin crust of hy])hae which is directly applied to the support, and the crust covering the outside edges of the specimens from which the still)oid fructiheations arise. The transition from stilboid to porus formation is abrupt,- the stilboid columns at the transition area quickly l)ecoming the pore walls of the inner pore surface. The pore surface often presents a lenzitoid appearance. The diameter of the pores is small about 0.20 mm. No spores were found within the ]X)res. (Singapore Field Xo. 514.3). T. F. Chipp. Paddy in the Economic Gardens. Two adjacent lields measuring together 431)8 square feet, or say, one tenth of an acre were put under Paddy on the 20th July. The land selected is almost an ideal one for the purpose, being a Hat of light sandy loam overlying a clay subsoil, which, owing to the low configuration of tlie ground, drains itself very slowly. After grubbing up the roots, whidi were heaped and burnt, the land was thoroughly broken up and strewn with the ashes. A corner of the field, 12 feet l)y 12 ( = 144 sq. feet)* was, after 3 * Note — In Cochin China the rule generally followed is to allow, for th© nursery 2 hundredths of the acreage to be planted. 200 hoeings, reserved for a nursery, with a sonall ridge on all four sides to retain the water which was poured over it from a water-hole near-bye. One coolie was then put to tread the earth to a soft mud consistency, whicli was then levelled and smoothed. A quan- tity of 4 ounces of paddy, water-tested, which is equivalent to 75 pounds for one acre, was sown on the surface. Tlie paddy, so-called " hill paddy," used for seed, was un- fortunately a very mixed lot containing many difPerent varieties from the purjjle red " pulut rice " to various shades of brown and 3'ellow, with black awns, or yellow awns, or no awiis at all. One variety showed two well defined longitudinal brown stripes on a yellow husk. iSome showed later a tall habit of growth with droo])- ing ears, others grew shorter stems with ears almost erect. As, however, there was no time to ascertain by selection the respective qualities of each individual variety, the seed was sown as it was received. Transplanting began in the middle of August, when the seed- lings were about 12 incbes high. This was done after the nursery had been thoroughly watered, so that, the soil being wet and loose, the seedlings could l)e taken up with a ball of earth round their roots. The planting was done by women on lines one foot apart with ten inches' space on the lines, more or less regularly. In- structions Avere given to plant only one seedling per hole, and this. was adhered to as much as possible. So far, the method applied liad been tliat usually followed l\v natives in planting wet rice, under irrigation, except that the plant- ing of wet rice is done when the fields are already unrler water, wliich was not the case here. From the time of transplanting, the young ])lants were left to shift for themselves under tlie ordinary conditions wliich obtain for " hill" or " dry paddy," that is to say they received only the water from rains and no furtlier labour was spent on them except a weed- ing ])efore the flowering, and also tliat of scaring birds away, whicli wa.s performed by a boy. It may l)e here stated tliat the term " dnj jinddi/ " is open to misconception, for although hill ]:>addy can l)e grown without irri- gation, it, nevertheless, requires a considerable amount of rain at somewhat frequent intervals. Where such conditions do not pre- vail, where rains are not fairly dependable, tbe crop of so-called '■ (]ri/ jjdddii " has but ])oor ])rospects. On the loth Dec-emlier, about 4 months after transiilanting. the cutting of the croi> began at the ripest end of the field, the work henceforth was all done by Tamil women, who show quite a liking for it, and a marked expertness. The harvesting was done by cutting the ])anicles with their stem down to the top leaf, the straw being left standing. Each woman having secured a handful of panicles tied it with the to|) leaf anil laid the sheaf downi 1o proceed further, 201 When the cutting was finished the sheaves were g-athered and taken to a smooth piece of ground, where they were opened and exposed to the sun. At night the whole Avas taken np in mats and put under shelter. Threshing began two da\s after hy beating the ears with sticks, which causes the gTain to drop to the ground. Tlir small amount of broken straw which was on top was gathered by hand, leaving the paddy and ehalf below. A first winnowing was done with the " neeru."' a tray made of bamboo strips, to separate the grain from the finer pieces of broken straw, and a further winnow- ing was gone through to se])arate the light empty grains from the full grains, an operation recpiiring a great deftness of han