batt, atze ye ceacas Stas bs ee we ' rs. wna 4 No. NOuET es ARY, : een Hil. Part I. AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN wQ = — A OO MN AN RY ee TD OKEGS OF THE SFRABRS AND FEDERATED MALAY STATES. EDITED BY Hy NW. RIDLEY, Meeks L.S., Director of Botanic Gardens, S. S. CONTENTS. PLATES I & II—PINE-APPLE CULTIVATION. Pine-apples Early experiments i in Cotton planting it in the Straits Settlements Remarks on the Cultivation of Cotton in Singapore Cotton imports into the United Kingdom .. Preservation of Bamboos Coconuts in the Cocos-Keeling Islands Rhinoceros Beetles in Soil Knots on Para rubber trees Astychus chrysochloris attacking Para rubber A Castor-oil plant Pest . Report on Blumea balsamzfera (trom the Imperial In- stitute) Mosquito plant, Ocimum viride Rainfall for December, 1903 Miscellaneous, Notices to Subscribers » .- Singapore Market Report Exports from Singapore & rene to Europe & America Meteorological Returns : is Annual Subscription—Three Dollars. Single Copy—Fifty Cents. (Annual Subscription—Outside the Peninsula—Three Dollars and fifty cents.) To be purchased at the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, or from MESSRS. KELLY & WALSH, Limited, No. 6, Battery Road, Singapore. SINGAPORE: PRINTED AT THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. “2 a a <5, 2 pe sval sat oe viene Vin NOTICE. THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL DEPARTMENTS OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. His Excellency the Governor has received a despatch from the Right Hon'ble the Secretary of State for the Colonies calling attention to the advantages offered by the Imperial Institute to Merchants, Planters and others, who may wish to have samples submitted to scientific experts for opinion as to their commercial value, &c. The following extracts from a Memorandum published by the Authorities of the Imperial Institute will give an idea of the work undertaken and carried on there. “The Scientific and Technical Department of the Institute has “been established to acquire information by special enquiries and ‘by experimental research, technical trials and commercial valua- “tion regarding new or little known natural or manufactured pro- ‘ducts of the various Colonies and Dependencies of the British “Empire and of Foreign Countries, and also regarding known “products procurable from new sources, and local products of “manufacture which it is desired to export. This work is carried ‘out with a view to the creation of new openings in trade, or the “ promotion of industrial developments.” 2. In an extensive and well equipped series of Research Labor- atories, a numerous staff of skilled chemists under the direction of Professor WYNDHAM R. DUNSTAN, M.A., F.R.S., carry out the investigation of the chemical constitution and properties of new dye-stuffs, tanning materials, seeds and food-stuffs, oils, gums and resins, fibres, timbers, medicinal plants and products, with a view to their commercial utilization. Whenever necessary these mate- rials are submitted to special scientific experts, by whom they are made the subject of particular investigation or practical tests. Re- ports are also obtained from technical or trade experts in regard to the probable commercial or industrial value of any such products, while full information is collected from official or other trustworthy sources regarding the probable extent and cost of available supplies. Reports on the results of enquiries or experimental investigations are supplied as a rule, without charge, but should special expenses be incurred in connection with any such reports, or with the com- mercial value of particular materials or manufactured products, which the Council do not consider themselves warranted in meet- ing, a statement of such outlays will be furnished, for repayment, when the Reports are supplied. Should an investigation or report of exceptional character be asked for by a Government Depart- ment, an estimate of the attendant expenses will be submitted, with a view to ascertain whether authority for such expenditure will be given. AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN OF THE STR Agr S AND Pee n ee D M BAY «SEAT ES, — _ —————————— —~ No..1,] JANUARY, 1904. (Vor. II] Parr I. PiNE-APPLES. The Pine apple (dvanassa sativa) of the order Bromeliacex is a native of South America, probably Southern Mexico, and was in- troduced very early into the East Indies by the Portuguese, shortly after the discovery of America, as according to LINSCHOTEN, it was abundant in India in 1583, and in 1593 sold for as little as 2 reals a piece (Acosta Hist. Arom. 295). It seems indeed to have spread over the world more rapidly than any other cultivated plant, and probably arrived in Malacca about the same time as it did in India. Ihe name Nanas, or Ananas by which it is known in almost all languages is of South American origin. The Spaniards called it Pinas from its resemblance to a pine cone, and similarly we get the English name. VARIETIES OF PINE-APPLES. The number of named varieties of pines is very large. Each country giving special names to its varieties. Unfortunately most of these varieties have hardly been adequately described, still less figured or classified. Mr. D. MUNRO, in the Transactions of the Horticultural Society of London 1835, gives a list of fifty-two kinds, which could probably be largely supplemented now. The plant varies in the colouring and presence or absence of spines on the leaves, the colour of the outside of the fruit, and the flesh and — In size. The. earliest cultivated appear to have been very small, about the size of an orange, and seem to correspond to what is now known as the Mauritius pine. _ Among the best known named kinds from various parts of the world are -- The Smooth Cayenne or Giant Kew, apparently identical with what is known in some places asthe King pine. It has bright green long and broad leaves without thorns on the edge or but few | and bright yellowish green cylindric fruit. The bracts often tinged — with red. This pire is the one commonly sold in London, being ; imported from the Azores, and it ora closely allied form is culti- vated in the fields in the Straits for tinning. Its weight when full sized is 84 Ibs. The Queen pine, including the forms Golden Queen, Egyptian _ » Queen, Red and Green Ripleys, Jamaica Ripley. Avanassa ovalis of * Millers dictionary has short bluish green leaves armed with distant strong thorns and a yellow fruit, ovoid in outline. Weight 3 to 8 lbs. The Red pine of Miller's dictionary is either a sub-variety of this or is the Red Jamaica Pine known in the West Indies and elsewhere, also as the Sam Clarke or Goffe Pine. The pine most common in the fields here is to be referred here I believe. It is a medium sized pine with often reddish leaves and dull red fruit cylindric in outline and not tapering upwards, the flesh white or more usually yellow. This field pine is rather flavourless or apt to be so when fresh, but develops a good flavour when tinned, and is very widely grown for this purpose. The Black fFamaica or Black Spanish has dark green leaves shading to a blue purple in the centre, with short hooked prickles on the edge. The fruit is fairly large dark green with often a purple or blackish tint somewhat pyramidal. ‘This is an excellent cating pine, and weighs 4 or 5 lbs. The Sugar loaf, Ananassa pyramidaiis of Miller's dictionary, has a conic fruit tapering upwards, bright yellow with yellow flesh, It is one of the largest pines, and the bigy pines weighing from 14 to 28 Ibs. oenerally, | believe, belong to this class of pine. It is not used for tinning but is a popular and handsome eating kind. The Abbazaxi of Brazil is one of the finest flavoured pines but seems to be rare in cultivation. The flesh is quite white, with hardly a trace of yellow, very soft and juicy. The Wontserrat pine, (A. viridis Miller’s dictionary) has a pyra- midal greenish yellow fruit and the Havannah pine A. glader, Miller, is described as having only a few teeth at the tip of the leaf and probably belongs to the group of King pines. The M/auritzus pine is very well known in the Straits. It has narrow leaves of a distinct reddish colour, and very small bright yellow cylindric fruit usually about 4 to 6 inches long; the flesh is rather firm and yellow, and of exceptionally delicate flavour, too small for ordinary tinning but considered the best eating pine here. It is perhaps what Miller calls Ananassa serotina the St. Vincent or Green olive pine. The Spineless Guatemala S is described by Mr. J. C. HARVEY of Mexico who sent suckers of it to the Botanic Gardens, Singa- pore, as having smooth leaves without spines. A smooth not shouldered nor conical fruit, weighing about 7 lbs., the flesh almost white. He recommends it as a high class fruit. Among ornamental and curious pines the variegated pine with leaves een with red and white and a bright red fruit, is well known in gardens. The fruit which is very handsome is usually 4 rather poor in flavour. A very ornamental kind has reddish green leaves and a-crimsen red fruit, very showy but poor eating. “4, | Hen and chickens pines with a number of small fruits surroand- ing the big central one, which is yellow and has the conic shape of the Sugar loaf pine is a well known curiosity. PROPAGATION. Pines can be propagated by means of the off shoots or suckers from among the lower leaves of the plants. They are pviled or cut off and allowed to dry a little in the sun and then planted. _ Some planters in other parts of the world recommend that they should not be allowed to dry thus, but this depends really on the humidity of the season and climate. These suckers if sufficiently dry will travel well for a Jong distance. They should be wrapped in tinfoil or some such material. If sent damp they will quickly rot as they will if packed at all damp in bulk. Several suckers of : F the Spineless Guatemala pine were lately received from Mexico _ sent through the post wrapped in tinfoil by Mr. J. C. HARVEY and arrived in the best condition. ‘ihese suckers should fruit in 12 to 15 months after planting. Some varieties of pines send out sub- - terranean shoots, ratoons which cau be utilised. The suckers _ selected for planting should be according to a writer in the Jamaica Bulletin, strong fresh ones 12 to 15 inches long, but those used _ here are generally much shorter. The lowest leaves are usually pulled off before planting so as to allow a bare piece of stem to fix the plant in the ground. <5 wo a Slips or suckers from the base of the fruit above the leaves pro- duced in some kinds of pines are used for planting. They are stated to take not less than 18 months to produce fruit, being slower than the suckers from below the leaves but the fruit is larger and better. [t is recommended that these slips should be “removed where possible from the base of the fruit as they are ‘injurious to the development of the fruit. _ The: tops or crowns of the fruit can be planted if necessary, but this is not recommended except in exceptional cases, as they are very slow of growth. It is not at all uncommon to see plants sites along roadsides or in waste ground which have sprung from tops thrown aw ay by some one who has been eating pines in e neighbourhood. “Seed i is occasionally produced but not often at least inthe Malay Peninsula and pines containing seed are generally inferior in tex- ture and flavour. They can be used if required for planting but are practically only sown in the case of hybridization which is occasionally done in the West Indies and Florida. ; SOIL. The soil used for pine-apple culture in Singapore is the ordinary 2a arthen stiff clay soil of the small hills which cover the island. fost of these hills have been previously used for pepper and mbier, and then abandoned, and often are covered with low ondary scrub which is burnt and the ground dug over before Bias anting. The soil is usually very poor, espec ially in potash / 4 : phosphates and lime. Richer soil does not seem to suit the pine- apple better, but the plant does not appear to be very particular as to its habitat so long as the soil is free and open, and not damp or low lying, Under shade the pine-apple grows and develops long leaves but little or no fruit and that very inferior. That pines will grow in the very poorest soil so long as they have suitable drainage is shown by the cultivation in Florida where — they are grown in hundreds of acres on coralline rocks covered with a thin layer of soil, without the use of fertilizers. Pines grown in low lying damp ground do not thrive. They fruit badly an are more liable tc disease. PLANTING. The Chinese plant the pines in rows, each plant 24 to 3 feet apart with a path of about 4 feet width between each row so that they can hoe out the weeds between the plants. The Bugis planters plant them about the same distance apart but without a wide path between, each row forming beds about 4o cr 50 feet long, the paths being between each bed. ‘The best plan is to plant them in rows 24 feet apart with a five feet path between every 3 or 4 rows. In any case he plants should not be more than 2} to 3 feet apart. The fields require careful weeding, but are not generally ma- nured here. The first pines are produced from the suckers in from 12 to 18 months. After the ripe fruit is removed the suckers should be cut out leaving only two or three of the strongest. If all the — suckers are left they will produce fruits next crop perhaps as many as a dozen, but the fruits will be small. If only one or two are left the fruits will be much larger, There are three crops in the year, November to December, Feb-_ ruary and March and the biggést in June and July, but the crops depend very much on the rainfall. When there is a spell of dry weather of long duration the pines do not fruit. A properly cared for estate as cultivated in the Straits Settle- 7 ments lasts five or six years, but the pines gradually get smaller. If neglected it lasts but 2 or 3 years. Doubtless an estate could be carried on for very many years and there is a record in the West — Indies of a pine-apple field lasting for sixty years. Pines remain | on abandoned ground for very many years and go on growing, but when over crow rded or covered with scrub produce few or no fruits and those that are produced are small and poor. In long grass and bush under shade the leaves often attain a great length ¢ or 9 feet, and these are suitable tor making fibre. MANURING Manure ?s not commonly used in the Malay Peninsula on_ the large estatcs, but the Chinese occasionally apply a small quanti ts of cowdung, burnt earth, etc. For tinning pines which require be cheap it would not be worth while to go the expense of manu | i et ee a A pe, pa ae ee re ae ttl ENE hI LDN + CRA LA —) - ¥ 5 ing. In Jamaica, however, where pines are chiefly grown for the fresh fruit market and consequently a finer class of pine is required, manuring seems to be considered advisable if not necessary. It is recommended (Jamaica Bulletin VIII, t¢or, p. 139) if the soil be poor and arid to fork in or plough in a good dressing of farm yard manure, when breaking up the soil 6 months or so before planting, and give a top dressing of wood ashes after the plants have started to grow. Artificial manures are also largely used by growers in the West Indies. In clayey soi!s the application of lime when preparing the ground is found highly beneficial and soils that have become exhausted by other crops may be made suitable for pines by growing a crop of cow peas and ploughing them in when in flower.” A Jamaica planter, Mr. SMITH (Jamaica Bulletin VII, 1900) writes on his experience with fertilizer thus: ‘‘The best results so far I have obtained have been from 550 lbs. of cotton seed meal per acre combined with too Ibs. of high grade sulphate of potash at time of flowering, | do not seem to get any results at all from _ phosphoric acid. Stable manure (from horses) should never be used no matter how thoroughly rotted. The manure from cattle _ may be used with splendid results.” Mr. COUSINS in the Jamaica Gleaner Nov. 2, 1903, gives an _ excellent report on the use of fertilizers in Jamaica of which the _ following extracts are of interest :— ok “No results whatever from fertilizers were observed at any - centre except Clover, near Mandeville, where the results were quite striking. _ The Rowington results were not encouraging. It appears - likely that after the heavy rains a good deal of surface rooting took place and that the plants suffered from scorching when the drought _ followed and the full sun beat down upon them later. “On the red soil from the limestone in St. Ann (Huntly), ferti- lizers produced no effect. This soil is apparently quite rich enough for pines without assistance. At Barbican, on the light alluvial soil of the Upper Liguanea plair, fertilizers were quite inoperative. This soil is apparently richer than the maximum requirements of the pine in plant food. __ At Billy Dun, on a similar soil with less humus and exposed on a hilly slope to intense heat, fertilizers were alike of no avail; the plants suffered greatly from scorching. ___The experience of the Hon'ble Puttip CORK, when he grew _ pines at Barbican, isin agreement with these results. Even enor- mous doses of fertilizers proved ineffectual when applied to the pines. _ The phosphate fertilizers had absolutely no preventive effect on the formation of ‘“cockscombs’’ on the United Fruit Company’s plantation. At Clover, on the red soil of Mandeville, the pines were grate- 6 ful for manure, and Mr, PALACHE has ascertained from the experi- — ments that the complete manure, 2 cwt. sulphate of amonia, 4 ewt. mixed phosphate, and 2 cwt. sulphate of potash, applied to plot 2 gave the biggest fruit and fruit of the best quality. The analyses show that this soil is of low fertility compared with the others. Pig: On the St. Catharine soil, 80per cent. of the Smooth Cayenne may be expected to produce monstrosities. The high content of nitrogen (six times the normal and sixteen times that of the Florida soil) is undoubtedly one of the chief causes of this extra- ordinary vegetative exuberance.” As has been mentioned pines are here usually grown without manuring at all and it is perhaps noteworthy that the soils best adapted here or rather most largely used for pine cultivation are remarkably deficient in potash and lime. It is however, to be remarked that the pine fields of the Straits last a considerably shorter time than those of the West Indies, and the field pine is decidedly poor in flavour for dessert purposes though it seems well suited for tinning. ‘Ihe ordinary resident is quite satisfied with the tinning pine, although he, often grumbles at the poorness of its quality, and he does not seem to be aware of the fact that a better class of pine could easily be grown here for direct eating with very little trouble. | The Chinese are said here to increase the size of pines by cutting out the terminal shoot. This though producing a large pine dimi- nishes its sweetness. AMOUNT OF PINES PER ACRE. The yield of pines in a crop in the West Indies appears to be in good estates from 8,000 to 15,000 per acre. In the Malay Peninsula it is usually about 5,000. But much depends on the growth allowed as explained above if all the suckers are left on the plant they will all produce pines though small, while if only one or two at most are left on the plant the pines are larger and better. | Cost OF PINES. | --The cost of pines varies from time to time according to the supply, which depends on the season and on the weather. In Singapore pine-apples can be-obtained pretty nearly always throughout the year. At the present time they sell at from one to seven cents each, but they are usually about four cents apiece. Before the tinning industry developed the prices were very low. Thus in 1850 (Logan’s Journal III, p.79) Mr. THOMPSON states — that they were sold at 10 for a cent. et iets (To be continued). eae wee be ; PLAMES. Plate J, a*Cart-load of pine-apples brought to the factory. (Photo. A. D. MACHADO). ee: | Plate II, Pines for tinning, Singapore. (Photo. A.D, MACHADO), © Boe Se ie a +d it i Se ins Oe vn ide Pines as brought to the Factory, Singapore. Photo by A D, M. cs il tA RET AE OS Proto by A. D. M, Pine-apples for Tinning, Singapore. 7 EARLY EXPERIMENTS IN COTTON PLANTING — IN THE STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. The following extracts from Logan’s Journal will doubtless prove interesting to many readers. The work in which they were _ originally published is so rare and difficult to procure now that apo- _logies for reproducing them at a time when all available informa- tion on the cultivation of cotton in the Empire is in all men’s minds, “are unnecessary. The experiments in cotton growing were carried on some years after this report was written but as in so many other parts of our colonies died out, as it was not possible to compete with America. It will however be remembered that in these early days the Malay States were not available for planting, and the area, -and soils adaptable for the cultivation in the Straits Settlements were small and hardly suitable. Times have changed since then, and we have now a better choice of land on which to experiment _ and it would be well worth while to try again — Ed. ON THE CULTURE OF COTTON IN THE .- | STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. The elements necessary to the cultivation of cotton ona large ‘scale are extent of territory, soil, climate, labour, intelligent super- -intendence, and capital. The extent of territory adapted for the better description of cotton, which according to experience does _ hot arrive :t perfection if grown at a distance from the sea coast, _ 1s limited to the island of Singapore and Penang, with about 40 _ miles of coast line in the Malacca territory, and 25 miles in Pro- vince Wellesley, but should a greater extent be required, no difficulty _ will be experienced in obtaining the entire western coast or readily _ turn it over to Government for annual pensions, __ Chimate.—This is the only point on which any doubts are likely _ tobe raised with regard to the successful culture of cotton in the _ Straits. Singapore, the only Settlement in which it seems to have _ been attempted, can scarcely be said to have a decided dry season, and the failure of the experiments made by the late Sir José D'ALMEIDA about 10 years ago was attributed to this cause. The _ seeds introduced were those of the Bourbon cotton, with a long and fine staple, and the Pernambuco variety, with a long but harsh : and wooly staple, both of which were perennials. The plantation _ Was formed at Tanjong Katong, near the beach, on a sandy soil enriched with decomposed vegetable matter, and evidently well Suited to the plant, for it throve vigorously, put forth numerous Blossoms, and produced cotton which was highly approved of by judges of the article both in Bengal and Great Britain. But there was no regular crop. The pods opened throughout the year, and M allowed to remain in that state on the tree until a sufficient num- er had accumulated to repay the labour of picking, the heat of the sun and the moisture combined were calculated to draw the oil m the seed, discolouring the fleece, and consequently deteriorat- ing its value. The trees had, therefore, to be constantly watched, and the amount of labour required to collect the crop rendered che E speculation unprofitable. The failure was attributed to peculiarity of climate, but it seems rather to have been owing to peculiarity of the perennial variety of cotton, which is liable to flower in tropical climates at all seasons of the year. ‘This variety has long ceased — to be cultivated as a staple product, on this very account. Former- jy it appears to have been the only known species, if it can be so called, for the annual variety now cultivated in the United States and elsewhere was orginally a perennial. A similar state of affairs may be witnessed in our immediate neighbourhood. Cotton is cultivated as a perennial in every island of the Archipelago as far to the eastward as New Guinea, but never with a view toacrop. The plants are scattered about the gardens ofthe natives, and are visited daily by members of the family to collect any pods that may have opened. [tis only in Java, Bali, and Palembang (the latter was colonized [rom Java) that cotton is planted as an annual, and singularly enough these are the only countries that produced it in sufficient quantities to form an article of export, or of large domestic consumption, The introduction of the annual variety in Java was also the re- sult of necessity. The inhabitants of the plains had no means of growing cotton except on their rice lands, which are flooded during a portion of the year. ‘The seeds are sown in June, after the rice crop has been gathered, and in November the lands are flooded and the plants destroyed, so that only four clear months are allowed for the collection of the crop from the time the seed is sown. Yet — it is believed that more cotton is thus grown in Java than in all the other islands of the Archipelago put together. When we find this useful plant adapting itself so readily to cir- cumstances, are we to suppose that the Straits Settlements, so highly favoured by nature, are denied participation in the fleecy harvest. It would be treason to think so until the annual variety has been tried and failed. The dry season which ended with last month (October) has surely been sufficiently decided for the col- lection of a cotton crop, and we have the authority of the Editor of this Journal (vol. II p. 112) to prove that this is in the ordinary course of events at Singapore. I submit that if. seeds of the four- — months-blowing Sea Island or “ Black Seed” cotton are planted in — any eligible spot in Singapore during the months of November to — February inclusive, there is no peculiarity in the seasons here to — prevent a full crop being gathered during the ensuing summer — months. a : Rain may fall occasionally, but only in showers, and not in greater abundance than on the coast of Florida and Alabama during the cropping season. In October the plants must be uprooted, and the — land prepared for fresh seed, and now comes the difficulty that ha hitherto prevented the introduction of the finer descriptions of ot- 9 ? and it seems utter wantonness to destroy it. But it must be done, or there will be no regular crop during the next season. Super intendence. als 4 ee is the most important element of successful, cotton planting, and a superbundance of all the others would be of little avail if a deficiency existed in this particular. The Anglo- Americans could never have availed themselves as they have done of the necessity for renewing the plants annually, if they had not been able to bring into action a body of intelligent planters, to watch the changing of the seed, year by year, until the staple at- tained the closest approach to perfection. It is well known also that the efforts of the East India Company to improve the general produce of Hindoostan, carried on through a long series of years. without regard to expense, -have been rendered abortive by the absolute impossibility of providing intelligent supe ‘rintendents for such an immense extent of cotton lands. The model plantations they established under American and FE eae superintendence, produ iced cotton equal to the best samples of un e Southern States he © of America, but the improvement went no farther. The native cultivators would almost as readily change viele religion as adept a different mode of culture from that followed by their forefathers, and the general crop continues to be the same description of rubbish as before, which scarcely pays the freight to Europe. It remains to ee seen whether the Chinese will shew the same readiness in adopt- European improvements in this instance that they have evinced ‘ in others. But should the culture be successfully introduced here, _and the Chinese display their usual spirit of imitation, improvement would soon spread to Sumatra and Borneo, in fact over the entire _ Archipelago, The experiment can now be carried on more favourably than on the former occasion, when the European inhabitants all resided in the town and vicinity, only visiting their country plantations oc- 3 casionally. Now many reside per manently i in the interior, and can therefore give daily attention to the experiment. At Penang, also, where much land has been cleared for sugar plantations, the cul- tivation of which has ih some instances been abandoned, the pro- . prietors may follow the example of the West Indian planters by . convefting their abandoned estates into cotton plantations. F Wis Ee APPENDIN. nck from Col. Low’s Dissertation on the Soil and Agriculture of Penang and Province Wellesley : bitin | has never been extensiv olla cultivated at this settlement. It has, however, been long introduced, and the staple of one of _ the varieties now cultivated, but whenee obtained cainot be easily _ascertained—is of a very superior quality. It thrives luxuriantly on the light as well as the stiff soils, and equally well on the hills, as in the valley. The chief obstacles to the cultivation are, the price of labour, and the sudden vicissitudes of climate from dry to wet, rihe ae being apt to injure the pod. ef P.. ae 2 oe ‘ g 4 Bushes of the above mentioned aaa which has a rae lc The ay bei calculation was Been to me, several ae eee an intelligent Chinese who intended cultivating cotton, but aban- doned the project for one more lucrative. One hundred orlongs (about 130 acres) will contain Agee bushes and each bush will yield, annually, 50 buds of cotton, or one tael—which is the lowest averaged rate- being 272 piculs and 25 catties for one year’s produce. fae | The expense of cultivation and cleaning the cotton—about 1,100 | dollars, after the first cost will be nearly 2,000 dollars yearly. (The Fournal of The [ndian Archipelago ard Eastern Asta, 1850, Vol. LV page 720.) Tn ei REMARKS ON THE CULTIVATION OF COTTON IN SINGAPORE IN 1837. By T. O. GRANE; Eso. ae ee (eon Dy 6. ee eae In your number for December I find an essay on the Culture of Cotton in the Straits Settlements Your talented correspondent has not taken that ample view of the subject which he might have | done, or has been misinformed with regard to the experiments made — in Singapore. As my experience does not extend beyond this — island, your readers must remember that | treat only of Singapore, — as the same difficulties may not exist 1n our sister Settlements. On the Malayar continent | doubt much that they do exist, and as re- gards Malacca | shall offer some remarks on another occasion. iit ity ee f ie ~é —s . Your correspondent has quoted from Mr. G. R. PORTER’S “Tro- pical Agriculturist ’’ some remarks regarding soil, of the correctness — of which there does not exist a doubt. In the preceding paragra ban to that, he says “the extent of territory adapted for the better des j cription of cotton is limited tothe Island of Singapore and Penang.” As I am treating of Singapore only, | would ask him, what ane .. there is now available, and adapted to the culture of cotton on this — Island? The only belt that offered any chance of success, is that — now occupied by one entire field of coco-nut trees, from Sandy — Point (or Tanjong Rhu) to Buddoo (Bedok). There may be a few — acres between that and Tanjong Changi, but not sufficient ever to make Singapore a cotton growing Island, were it in every other respect successful. The belt of land extends from the sea to Siglap road, and eastward only to Arthur's Seat. The flat nor of that road, known as the Paya Lebar district, is aise ated with cocoanut trees and sugar cane, moreover thes at all suited for cotton. Before I commence my remarks upon the culture of C Singapore with my opinion, resulting from near actual experience, labour, and outlay of capital, J must sett ~ i --+ + ee ee eee eee ri al correspondent in other points, on which, had he taken a little more pains, he would not haveerred. In speaking of the climate he says, “ This is the only point on which any doubts are lkely to be raised - &c.” and goes on to say that ‘Singapore the only settlement in _ which it seems to have been attem pted, can scarcely be said to have a decided dry season and the failure of the experiments made by the late Sir Jost D'ALMEIDA about Io years ago were attributed to this cause. ‘Your correspondent might have said that Singapore has decidedly no dry season, and not the climate, but the want of _a dry season, was the cause of the Cotton not ripening in sufficient _ quantity at the same period to render it profitable to the cultivator. He says ‘‘the seeds introduced were those of the Bourbon cotton _ with a long and fine staple and the Pernambuco variety, with a long _ but harsh and woolly staple both of which were perennials. ”’ | {shall now proceed to give you an account of the experiments » made by myself, at the time that the late Sir José D’ALMEIDA made his experiments. We were brother labourers in the same ' cause, and cultivated a similar soil, and our operations generally ' were carried out in the same manner, with only perhaps a different _ opinion as to the kind of cotton most likely to succeed. _ I commenced clearing ground at Tanjong Katong in February 1836 fifteen years ago. "Sir JOSE first sowed the Pernambuco seed “about March he haying at the time several plants. of that. kind in his garden at Kampong Glam. It was I believe originally intro- “duced from Rhio, and as a garden plant it throve well and Boe: excellent cotton. The first seed | obtained, was from Sir JOSE, put it in the ground on the 26th April, and it came up ap tgs pout we soon found that the young plants were very much “attacked by the large grass-hopper or locust, the hecd nipped off and con- sequently the ‘plant destroyed. We then had little conical bamboo baskets: made, to protect the young plants, but for a time we were = much troubled, with quite as active anenemy. During the night ur baskets were ail capsize d by the monkies, then abundant in the neighbourhood out of sheer mischief or curiosity, for they seldom meddled with the plants further than exposing them. On the 14th ‘W Mis y I had collected a small quantity of the seed found in Singapore, supposed then to be indigenous to the Island. Of this species we found several plants in front of the late Baba Whampoa’s coco- nut plantation fronting the beach at Tanjong Katong and a few pla ts up the Gaylang | river (undoubtedly planted there) near the BY ut of a Malacca man, but this proved to be the Bourbon cotton. It was known by the Malays as Kapas Murice. - The Bourbon came up well and appeared to me more likely to ~ ucceed, My neighbour the late Sir JOSE was still in favour of the er pambuco, and he having abundance of seed from his garden at ampong Glam, planted out several acres of it, I preferring the 90urbon, had by the end of August 5 to 6 acres planted out with kind. In the mean time I had written to my brother W.. C. RANE, who was then residing in Calcutta, to send me a quantity al all kinds of seeds procurable from the Agricultural and Horti- cultural Society of India. Before the close of the year I had 1 ceived from that Society through him abundance of Upland Georgi 7 New Orleans, Egyptian, Peruvian, Sea Island. I also received a small quantity of Tinnevelly and had obtained two kinds from — Manila, the white and nankeen colored. The whole of those kinds “a were tried during the year 1837 and part of 1838, and without an exception all failed as aremunerative speculation. It would be useless for me to go into detail, with respect to our operations dut- ing the space of nearly three years. I will simply give an outline of the result of each kind of cotton planted by the late Sir JOSE and myself, and some reports on samples sent to Calcutta and Eng- land, which will.close my answer to your correspondent’s first letter. As I see he has continued his essay | shall continue to give the agricultural amateur for cotton culture my opinion as to the likeli- hood of its future success, and offer some general remarks for those who may feel inclined to try it here, or elsewhere. | sincerly hope your correspondent will not attribute these remarks to any wish on my part to dampen any enterprising spirit that may wish to increase cotton cultivation in our colonies, or in the Straits. Nothing can be more desirable, and every means ought to be resorted to, to at- tain so great a boon to the mother country. a i Se ee Pernambuco Cotton. Of this kind | had about 3 acres well up at the end of 1836 and ought to have taken from the field by that time for my first crop goo to 1,000 lbs. weight of clean cotton, but it did not yield more than 100 lbs. consequently a complete failure. The plants grow to the height of 5 to 8 feet and | have seen some higher; Asa gar- — den plant it thrives well, the pods being generally full and come to — maturity, but the produce under the most fav ourable circumstances — scanty: in the field the plants appeared sickly and the pods seldom ~ came to perfection, being attacked by a small maggot, destroying not only the seed but also the w ool, it becoming discolored by the oil from the decayed seed, I did not continue this kind, My — neighbour had a much larger field and continued for a second crop — and I believe a third to the end of 1838, at which time our cotton experiments were given up alt@gether. Rn OES pe FE tet CSE alee Li ee le Bourbon and Sea /sland. My first experiments in these were apparently successful, with a small patch in a very favourable spot but the first crop of 1336 aid not yield the quantity necessary to make it worth cultivating neither of the kinds ever podded freely at the time they ought to have given a full crop, consequently could not be cultivated annuals. rom accounts received from India regarding the Bot bon, and from America respecting the Sea Island, they are re to grow about 3 feet high; the plants in Singapore ap have altered their nature, here they rose to six feet thr field, and some higher, the pods of ‘these two descriptic were perfect but too scanty at the time they ought to hi Ve a full crop, continuing to flower and pod through-out th Me —- ‘ie 13 consequently subjecting the cotton to be spoiled in_ the pod, we were also troubled very much by field rats, which destroyed the cotton if not taken immediately from the plants. Upland Georgia, New Orleans. And the other kinds were complete failures, the plants not thriv- _ ing well, here and there some beautiful plants, but showing on the whole a bare and scattered cultivation. The ground occupied in 1837 by the different kinds was about 23 acres, my neighbour Sir JOSE had I believe nearly 3o. The whole produce collected by me, say two crops of 1836, 1837, was 3 bales Bourbon shipped in June 1838 on the “JOHN DUGDALE” to Liverpool weighing 43 cwt. which was sold at gx per Ib. and reported as fair specimen, and 6 bales shipped in December 1838 containing g cwt. of Sea Island which sold at 15. 43d. per lb., this was pronounced to be very good, but somewhat mixed, and not carefully picked, which no doubt was the case, our cotton gins be- ing very imperfect. The remainder of my labours I sent to China, about 4} piculs, making altogether about 15 piculs not more than one quarter of what at the lowest calculation it ought to have turned out for one years crop. we Notes. Calcutta reports, 11th April, 1837. ee On samples of Singapore grown cotton. See Proceedings of the Agricultural Society Calcutta, Voi. IV page 48. “Presented by Mr. CRANE at the last meeting grown at Singa- id pore from seed originally Pernambuco and Bourbon.’’ J; The Pernambuco kind is “decidedly of inferior quality, being _ coarse, harsh, short in staple, and very weak.’’ Of the Bourbon, _ Mr. WILLIS reports more favourably. It is fine, and silky, and of a pretty good strength of staple; yet not quite so strong as it ought _ to be: its complexion is good also. “Mr, WILLIS values fhis cot- _ ton with reference to the latest advices from Liverpool at about 9d. __ per Ib. the seed is represented to be smaller than usual in this des- o cription of cotton, but does not consider this as an invariable cri- terion in contrasting the quality of the wool, and very appositely asks how is it that we sometimes find inedible and other fruits improve in their flavour or the volume of pulpy and fibrous matter _ when the seed itself become much diminished under improved cul- tivation.” “Mr. W. C. CRANE submitted some very fine specimen of cotton grown at Singapore from Upland Georgia seed which he had receiv- ed form this Society in October last and from seed received from Manila. A pod of the latter was without exception the most per- fect, beautiful and largest ever grown or seen in India. Mr. CRANE terms it Manila Cotton.’’ From the same; Volume V. page 202. _ “From W.C. Crane, Esq., dated 6th fuly, 1836, presenting a ‘specimen of Sea Island grown at Singapore from seed forwarded - by this Society. Mr. HUFFNAGLE’S report :— Lal — ° a Psy tA +x Ve = —— a ‘ ; = : a - so “The specimen of Sea Island cotton grown at Singapore, from American seed by Mr. CRANE, ts according to my opinion supe! to any of the other samples before me. It is silky; long in sta with a strong and even fibre. [ cannot however form a corr estimate of the average quality of the cotton from this plantation as it appears by Mr. Crane's letter that he has sent us only a few | of the first pods which have no doubt been carefully picked. The soil however “sandy and near the sea” appears to be well adapted — for this variety and if the whole crop will bear any comparison ~ with the first portion produced, this experiment at Singapore may — i think be considered as very successful. ”’ | Leeports on further sample sent. ‘The Upland Georgia cotton does not seem to be so well adapted to the soil and climate, being woolly, and the seed separable with difficulty, but the staple is good. The Manila appears to bea failure, being harsh, with a short and weak fibre. ”’ Extract of a letter from W. ©. CRANE with a report on’ small quantities of Egyptian and Peruvian both considered failures :——_ “Jt is a pity you did not send sufficient Sea Island (2 Maunds) to contend for the gold medal as you had more than sufficient for the purpose, that you sent was pronounced to be the finest grown in India and would have carried the prize easily.” from Lhe Fournal of Thelndian Archipelago and Eastern Asta, | (Vol. V, page 120.) COTTON IMPORT INTO THE UNITED KINGDOM. “After the two large groups of merchandise known as breadstuffs — and meat-products, the most important factor of the agricultural — import trade of the United Kingdom is Cotton, enormous “quantities | of which are annually purchased to supply the British mills with | raw material. For this staple article which is the basis of one of their — greatest manufacturing industries, the British people are largely de- bendent upon the United States. During Igoo there were shipped — | to the British market from all sources 1,779,000,000 pounds OF cotton having an aggregate value of $200,000,000 (gold). Of these imports J ,760, 000,000 pounds, worth over S199, 000,000, consisted | of raw cotton and 19,000,000 pounds, worth $656,000 of waste — cotton. bee “Of the raw cotton imported the United States furnished 1,365,000,000 pounds, valued at $147,000,000, or 74 per cent. or the total. Next to the United States the most important source of supply was Egypt. The peculiar, long-fibred cotton of that country was imported to the extent of 312,000,000 pounds, value amounting to $44,000 ,000, OF 22 per cent. The British Indies also Supplied cotton in considerable quantities. From that source 37,000,000 pounds were procured, the value being $3,38 37 000 , = issue either all from the same exit hole or from one or two only, these being often the former entrance holes of the mother beetles abi are ‘considerably enlarged. Beetles of the new generation ppear to also make use of these old holes to enter the bamboo to gelay, boring away from the old gallery when they have got in- . When bamboos are in lengths it will be found that the beetles Pal j in them parallel to the long axis and from galleries which en atone of the ends. The bamboo is thus often completely low in parts without there being much outward evidence of its ing ‘been badly attacked. A feature which greatly adds to the cts power of doing serious damage isto be found inthe fact passes through at least five, and perhaps more, generations or lite cycles in the year. I have said that the insect lays about _ 20 eggs and therefore one female beetle may produce in the year a_ progeny of 200,000, on the supposition that only five generations are passed through and that only half the eggs are females (the latter however, are usually in excess of males). If there is a 6th generation the number of females incre ses to 2,000,000. } Taking only 50 per cent of the 5th generation beetles as matur-— ing and laying eggs, we still have 109,000 insects as the progeny of the one mother beetle in the spring. This great prolificness ~ easily explains why bamboos suffer so greatly from the shot-porers — attacks. Towards the end of Aprilof this year Mr. WILLIAMS, the Superin- tendent of the Telegraph Workshop, at Calcutta, informed me that bamboos which he was converting into field telegraph posts for use in frontier expeditions and elsewhere were being attacked and riddled by insects. The specimens he sent me I identified as the — common bamboo boring insect (Dinodermus minutus, Lesne). As the question of the preservation of bamboos against this insect had — been engaging my attention for some time, I immediately paid a — visit to the workshops and examined the bamboos. I found that — they were being experimentally treated in the following manner before being fitted up as telegraph posts :— C. (1) Five days soaking in river water: (2) Five days soaking in a solution of copper sulphate, after which they were dried in a covered shed for several days; — and then ; (3) ‘Soaked for 24 hours in common Rangoon oil. This latter has the effect of darkening the bamboos and the smell of | the oil remains in them for some considerable time, al-_ though not so offensively as to prevent their being made- use of. ‘The treatment lasted about 14 days upon the ex-_ piration of which period the bamboos were at once sent to the workshop to be fitted. Mr. WILLIAMS had reported — that within three weeks of this treatment some of the — bamboos had been again attacked by the borers. As some 9,000 had been through the treatment the case afforded a_ good opportunity for experiment. I wished to find out :—= (1) How many more generations of the beetle appeared in the year. (2) Whether the oil treatment was of any use, (The experiments, which numbered fifty-five, took place between April 29th and October 30th. Male bamboos 7. e. solid bamboos- were piaced in boxes constructed of tin foil with close fitting top: of wire gauze and treated in various ways with water, coppe sulplate and Rangoon oil both singly and in combination.) —— The experiments show I think the following :— ~ {7 further five days in Cu So4 are of any use as a protection against the beetles. (2) That the bamboos which had gone through all the stages of the treatment and had received a proper soaking in the oil tank remained unattacked and in addition were proof against further attacks by the beetles. (3) That at least five generations of these beetles issued be™ tween the last week in April and the end of October. It is probable that many of the beetles of the last generation were killed off by a cold snap-experienced toward the end of the month. (4) That the oil treatment therefore considerably prolongs the period of usefulness of the bamboo, this period being, as : far as the experiments at present show, at least a vear. I : (a) Iam inclined to recommend that the soaking for five days in water should be continued since a thick shiny gelatinous substance exudes from the bamboos during this process, and this exudation probably enables the bamboo to absorb _a larger quantity of oi] than would be otherwise the case* (2) That the soaking in the copper sulphate solution be dis- continued since the experiments have shown it to have no preservative effect against the beetles. _ (ce) That the bamboos be ailowed to dry in a covered shed for several days alter the water process. pies, ’ > x a ‘ (dd) That after the drying the bamboos be allowed to soak 48 ; ying . 4 h hours in common Rangoon oil. The Superintendent ot the Telegraph workshops states that the as 5 Aer aay eagey’ é cost of the treatment as carried through by him, z.eé. five days in water, 5 days in Cu Sot, followed by several days drying and then two separate soakings (at an interval of a couple of months) of 24 _ hours each in Rangoon oil, amounts to Rs, 3.5 per 100 6-foot lengths _ or 6.3 pies per length. This includes the labour. ¥ oe ————————————————————7”™_™-- — owe - on i a aig i 5" af ~ ; mae ee eee 4 saa a = Oiritting the Cu Sot treatment anda second soaking in the oil together with the additional handling involved should effect a saving in this price, although of course the longer period of soaking in oil will enable the bamboos to absorb more of this than they would in the shorter one of 24 hours only. Se S a“, ~aai Be. SLEBBINGS, The Indian Forester, December, 1903. ee * - _(Wote.—It will be remarked that the bamboos experimented on yere only soaked in water for five days. This we do not consider vearly a sufficient length of time and usually soak them for two nonths, after which they are not attacked by beetle—Ed.) a ! _ COCONUTS IN THE COCOS-KEELING ISLANDS. | “In some respects the methods of cultivation of the palm adopted by Mr. Ross do not coincide with general practice, and a few facts respecting the points in which Mr. ROss’s experience has induced him to depart from the common custom, may be of interest. “Seed nuts are taken from any palm of the Sea Island species without regard to its age. Eighty trees are planted to the acre, care being taken to avoid regularity in “‘lining’’- The reason for this is that the wind does less damage when the trees are not in rows. Another very wise precaution to prevent the palms being uprooted by the wind is to plant the seed nuts at the bottom of holes 3 feet deep. The holes so dug are not filled up by hand seeing that the light sandy soil fills up the holes in the.course of time. The roots of palms planted in this manner are naturally deeper.and better covered than those of trees grown from seed embedded in the usual manner, immediately below the surface. “Tt is stated by Mr. Ross that a series of experiments has proved to him that nuts which are allowed to fall contain an average of 10 to 12 per cent. more copra than an equal number of carefully picked nuts. ‘Though at times the islands have suffered to some extent from the ravages of coconut beetle, yet men are never employed to cap- ture and kill these pests. The trees which show signs of harbour- ing beetles are cut down and burnt.” ; A. S. BAXENDAGE,; % Colontal Reports, No. 4o2. RHINOCEROS BEETLES IN SOIL. The annexed letters from Mr. DELL of Teluk Anson, Perak, give an account of a great outbreak of the rhinoceros beetle Orycles rhinoceros in Perak and the means taken to destroy the insects. The interesting thing about this is that the larva seem to have been living in ordinary soil. I have found the grubs abun- dant in decaying sawdust, cowdung and rotten leaves and wood, but have never known previously of its occurring in ordinary soil which, as a rule, does not contain enough nutriment for it. The soil must have been very rich in decaying vegetable matter. The plan of flooding the ground seems to have answered most satisfac- — torily. It would probably be also advisable, if possible, to let the — grass and low herbage grow over the ground after this has been — done, as I observed on a previous occasion in a tannery in Singa-— | pore, where a vast quantity of rotten tan bark had accumulated and was of full beetles and grubs when on the abandonment of the ground the soil was covered with low scrub the beetles and grubs quite disappeared. After a year or so when the insects had gone the scrub could be cut down again if necessary. ChE 19 THE STRAITS PLANTATIONS Co., LIMITED, Bagan Datoh, LOWER PERAK, 29th Oct., 1903. ea N. RIDLEY, Esq., =. SINGAPORE, $ ™ a = "s . = Dear Sir,—I am taking the liberty of sending you by the favour of Mr. PENN, the Chief Officer of the s.s J/a/acca, a bottle 3 containing larve of beetle which have been found on this estate, and I shall feel very much obliged if you will kindly let me know your opinion of them——w hethet any, and which of them, are the ‘Jarvee of the coconut beetle. 3 We have suffered a good deal from the coconut beetle lately, a. and on making strict search we have found many thousands of grubs in the seil similar to the specimens which I am sending you. La * The top soil here is a black mould compound [| imagine of eee vegetable matter, and it is in this mould that the. grubs have been found. As soon as we discovered the grubs we flooded the whole place with water, with the result that we have picked up over 40,000 grubs dead, and we have caught during the last month _ Over 30,000 grubs from places which the water has not reached. _ Even in the roads running through the estate, made up of stiff _ clay, we are now finding the grubs. I imagine that they have got _ up into these higher places in order to get away [from the water. _ Apparently it is a very difficult thing to distinguish the grub of the coconut beetle from that of other beetles Ww hich do no harm to a coconut trees, and having read your article in Mr. FERGUSON’S book and also in the Agricultural Bulletin [ should value your a Opinion on the specimens which [ am sending very highly indeed. | would like to say that since the estate has been covered with water the number of beetles caught has decreased enormously and very few trees have been newly attacked. We are of course particularily careful to burn all rubbish and manure in which beetles are likely to breed, and if you can suggest any method, other than that which we are adopting to prevent _ them breeding i in the soil, I shall be very grateful. If there is any other information which you would like to have _ Ishall be very happy to supply it. x Trusting that | am not giving you too much trouble. I beg to remain, Yours faithfully, WILLIAM DELL. Dear Sir, We have found pupz and live adult coconut beetles in the soil together with these grubs, so I think there can be little doubt | that many of the grubs found are those of the coconut beetle. “We have also found in the soil the beetle which I take to be the one you mention (Xylotrupes Gideon) together with very similar grubs, — This beetle is of lighter colour than ‘the rhinoceros beetle, and has — what | should describe as a double horn. It hisses furiously when — caught. We have these also on the branches of coconut trees but — never in the young shoot, and | do not think thatit does any damage. 1 am very glad to say that the result of the flooding is extremely satisfactory as oa number of beetles brought in has been very ereatly reduced. Formerly 2 men were bringing i in 50 or 60a day | between them, and now, with 4 men w orking, ‘only from Toto 154 beetles are brought in per day. Owing to other reasons we have been obliged to let the water. off, but if am airaid that if we are to cope successfully with the — : pects we shall be obliged to flood the whole estate periodically. Fad In the native kampongs about here very little drainage is done — and ‘the places are consequently very wet and they “Site very little damage from beetles. tees Again thanking you for your letter. ah I reniain, mia Yours very truly, W. DELL. —_———— KNOTS ON PARA RUBBER TREES. ES he From Mr. BURN Murpbocu, I have lately received some knots or | ( burrs from Para rubber trees sent him by Mr. C. GORDON BRO’ j Selinsing Estate, who feared that they might be due to the Cey! canker fungus. These knots are very common in Para rubber tr as well as many other trees especially those with smooth bark. 1 consist of balls of wood easily detached from the trunk, by ab and are covered with bark. The wood is perfectly” sound, w and hard, and there is no signs of decay in or round them. are perfectly harmless and have no connection wae al i insect-bite but are due to the irri : in the stem. They often 2p Pe having been made through or grow but does not develop and is of wood over it. The only objec ir on a pee Ri, prose. toa nae t 21 Eeterfere with the tapping cut, but they are easily knocked out if so, and if left are usually covered up eventually by the later grow th of the trunk and so disappear. —Editor. O Astychus Chrysochloris attacking Para Rubber. The following letter from Mr. Kk. PEARS was accompanied by a number of specimens of the pestilential beetle Astychus chr yso- chloris. The life history of this insect was described by Mr. L. Wray in Perak Museum, Notes II, 1, 1807 (under the name of _ A. lateralis), a very inaccessible publication, and a short resumé was published in the Bulletin, First Series p.270. ‘The beetle eats ~ leaves of almost any plant, and occ asionally appears in large nuim- vi _ bers, though by no means always to be found. The gr ubs. appear to live in the soil and feed on decaying vegetable matter, and as ae is consequently an unlimited supply of food both for larva and adult it is only remarkable that it is not more abundant and destructive. The most curious thing about them is that the grubs _ appear to prefer clean weeded land, ‘of loose texture and disappear when the ground is turfed or weedy, which is another argument against excessive weeding of estates. Hand picking seems to be E: the only remedy likely to be effectual, and this is easy enough as Re ‘the beetles are very slow in their movements. The animal is thus E fairly easy to deal with if it confines its attacks to young Para bu ubber trees but would be very difficult to get at in full grown trees. pul Hlooding the ground to kill the grubs w ould doubtless also prove meee and would not injure the rubber trees. E | be ' Mr. PEARS description of the beetle gives a fairly good idea ot it for it is unmistakeable from its green Patoa: and golden scales _ easily rubbed off. Both sexes however, are alike, they are how- a ever, hatched out without the scales, and nearly black in colour, | soon putting on the golden green colour, and perhaps the dark a females seen by Mr. PEARS were either young ones or old ones ie ith the scales rubbed off. —Editor. LANADRON ESTATE, Muar, via Singapore, Straits Settlements, a 21st iVov., 1903. Dear Mr. Kibbey, | am sending you under separate cover some specimens ofa eetle which I found vigorously devouring the leaves of some Para Babber trees of about a year old. Both ‘male and female are in- | duded amongst the specimens, the former being of a yellow, hilst the latter is of a greyish black colour. This. yellowness on e back of the male seems to be analogous to the “feathers” on a u Beets S$ wing, for it is easily rubbed ‘off with the lingers, leaving Be tale inneat: if not quite identical in colour with the females | |) ARBORETUM 1) A i | This beetle seem to be a very voracious eater and shews a pz ticular liking for the young leaves which are still yellowish-gree or even for those that are yet bronze coloured. They eat away tl whole of the leaf, leaving nothing but the stem which rapidly dri¢ up and easily break off in the hand. By this means they quickh render a tree devoid of young leaves, 2 I have only as yet found some half a dozen trees attacked bi these beetles, but from these trees | must have caught at least 15) specimens in the course of half an hour. The grubs of thes¢ beetles I have not yet discovered. = If you could give me any information about these beetles, ] should be very much obliged to you if you would give it either bi letter, or, if the beetles are not recognised as “pests” in this country, through the medium of the “ Bulletin.” [ am, yours faithfully, ROGER PEARS. A CASTOR-OIL PEST. Ophiusa Melicerte. Kecently a castor-oil bush in the Gardens was found to be quite” devoured by Caterpillars, which although few in number had left” but few fragments of leaves on the plant. The caterpillars which; were nearly all full grown on November 2, were smoota half-loopers 2 inches long. The head was mottled with black and white with a) large eye like white patch on each side. The body rather slender : finely mottled dark blue grey, or blue, or white black grey and brown ; a broad black central band ran down the back and there were? a row of velvety black spots above the brown spiracles, and a red: brown band below them, the belly was reddish with distant black” blotches, in some examples the whole body was mottled blue. The™ legs were reddish or white blotched, towards the tail on the back i$” a short horn like process emarginate at the top and black tipped: with red. a ‘ ; The caterpillars were indeed very variable in colour, they were | very active springing to the ground when disturbed and hiding i the grass. The following day some had spun up in the leaves of th plant. The chrysalis was 1} inch long, thick and covered wit | a bluish bloom, The first moth appeared on November 14th othe two or three days later so that they remained about 10 days in tl pupal state. The moths were two inches across the wings, t antenne slender, head and thorax umber brown, the body gre _ The upper wings dark umber brown, with a rather darker bar t wards the tip, and a_ transverse silvery grey streak towar¢ ja base with a broader band behind it, the lower wings velvety with a transverse silver white bar and four white spots on th on the other side the wings are dark and light gray with 26m MUTSER ORGS ame HAVA AT ; _ aaa lines 3 VI41 an ogee 23 white blotch on the upper wing. The moth is nocturnal hatching out from the chrysalis after dark, and coming to light. _ This species appears to be a form of Ophiusa Melicerte a widely ‘distributed moth, and known to feed on’ castor-oil as well as other “plants. The form however is darker brown and less red than the Ceylon form figured in Moore’s Lepidoptera of Ceylon. __ It seems to be less common here than the allied O. Serva which Pi rather lighter colored, and is very abundant at light. Should this caterpillar appear in sufficient numbers to be destructive to any plantations of castor oil, it would be comparatively easy to catch it ® by shaking the plants over a net or cloth, while the moth might be @ disposed of by lights over water or by the ordinary moth traps. EE REPORT ON BLUMEA BALSAMIFERA FROM SELANGOR. By Pror. W. R. DONSTAN. x i _ This consignment of the dried stem and leaves of Llumea balsamifera was received from the Assistant Superintendent of ‘Forests and Gardens, Penang, and is referred to in letters dated ® 28th May and 16th October, 1902. _ the plant is stated to be widely distributed in the Federated Malay States and the present sample was collected in the State of ® Selangor. It yields a variety of camphor which is largely used by the Chinese, under the name of ‘‘ Ngai Camphor’”’, in medicine and ‘for perfuming the finer qualities of Chinese ink. ‘“Ngai Camphor”’ consists essentially of /aevo-borneol a substance Closely resembling and nearly related to ordinary camphor, which f} it could no doubt replace for many purposes if obtainable in large quantities at a comparatively small cost. The present consignment of Blumea balsamifera however furnished only a minute quantity (0.05 per cent) of this substance which could not therefore be profit- ably extracted. It is possible that the yield of the camphor obtain- able from Blumea balsamifera may be dependent upon the stage at which the plant is collected, and it would be worth while to ‘determine the amounts of “ Ngai Camphor”’ obtainable from the plant at various stages in its growth. For this purpose separate consignments of about ten pounds each of the leaves, collected at the commencement, middle and end of the season respectively, and Mf the flowers should be forwarded to the Imperial Institute for ‘urther investigation. These samples should, if possible, be sent in hermetically closed vessels. It is possible that some of the volatile camphor may have escaped from the consignment now reported on during its transit ) this country, | i = WYNDHAM R. DUNSTAN, ~ = 2 a 4 = THE MOSQUITO PLANT. Ocimum viride. The mosquito plant has now fully developed in the Botanic — Gardens in Singapore and produced its flowers. It attained the height of about five feet but hardly branched, being much taller than the other species of Ocimum cultivated here. The leaves are — less aromatic but have a pungent taste, the flowers are small — greenish white and inconspicuous. Various experiments were tried vith it, three plants in a pot were kept in the verandah and the — behaviour of the mosquitoes with respect to it observed. Large sprays of the plants were put in water, also in the verandah. In ~ neither of these circumstances had it any perceptible effect on the insects, They were neither attracted nor repelled, and were just as annoying when the plant was there as when it was not. Mr. ; INLOSS besides trying all these experiments as well, 1ubbed a long © chair all over with the leaves of the plant to sce if that would keep ~ the pest away. It had no more result than the other experiments. | The mosquitoes in fact quite ignored the mosquito plant and took — no notice of it at ail. | A writer in the Madras Mail (Indian planting and Gardening — November 7 p. 304) rubbed his face and hands with the juice of the — leaves, This he found effectually kept the mosquitoes off, but he found next day that he had developed a rash which increased to lair sized blisters, and eventually for five days his face and hands : were as if badly scalded, and he came to the conclusion that the © evil was preferable to the remedy. It thus appears that here at least the Occmum virtde must be © relegated to the increasing class of plants, like Castor oil (Ricinus) © which have obtained a reputation for killing or driving off mosqui- — toes, which they do not deserve. anions en we Editor. Rainfall for December 1908 :—— The Fort “a cy Ing:j ages The Government Hill... 1 5703 Pulo Jerajak ib 17) 2-50 Balek Pulo 1) gedO The Prison s, a » =~4°31 Lumut od aie ” 9-92 Pangkor | -O=8e Bruas ».. 10-02 Bee M. E. SCRIVEN, oa Assistant Surgeon, Penang, 15th Fanuary, 1904. Prison Observatory ae a ek ° 25 MISCELLANEOUS. Notices to Subscribers. I. For the information of subscribers and others who have been unable to complete their series of the Agricultural Bulletin of the ‘Straits and Federated Malay States notice is here given that Nos. 1, 7, 8, 9, of the Old Series (1891-1900) and Nos. 5, 8,9, 10, of the 4 ew Series Vol. I (1g01-1902), the first issues of which have long been exhausted, are now being reprinted, with plates, and will shortly be ready. If. Subscribers whose ieeixiptionn are still unpaid are requested to send in their subscriptions for the present year as soon as pos- sible. Members of the United Planters Association are requested to send in their subscriptions in future directly to the Editor and not to the Secretary of the Association. II. Subscribers outside the Peninsula will in future be charged $3 3.50 per annum instead of $3 in order to cover postage. BeMtsicorclogical Observers are asked to send in their returns to 1e Editor, to arrive before the 1oth day of the following month it Sie so as to be in time for going to press. — Wanted Nos. 8 & 9 of Vol. 1 (N. S.) of the Bulletin to complete the volume. Address F. B. Manson, Park View, Fytche Road, Rangoon. SINGAPORE MARKET REPORT, December, 1903. a ——— | Highest Lowest | price, $ 30.00 23.00 22.50 9.50 12:35 18.00 | 270.00. | 190.00 120.00 135.00 Articles. Quantity | sold. | Tons. Colffee—Palembang - -| 75 Bair. de : Shee oe Liberian - ts ees Copra ~ = = 1,277 Gambier 25 - i 2, ELS Cube Gambier, Nos. 1 & 2. Shays DO Gutta Percha, 1st ey: =| Medium 2 Lower ~ =| Borneo Rubber - | Gutta Jelutong = -| | Nutmegs, No, 110’s - - No. 80’s - ~ Mace, Banda - - - Amboyna = Bigik ss Pepper, Black - - -| 362 White - - ee 329.7 Pearl Sago, Small - P| go Medium - - he Large : - i Sago Flour, No. 1 : - 2,640 No. 2 : - 280 Flake Tapioca, Small - Seg Medium - Bi. 10 Pearl Tapioca, Small - ee mage 2" eel Medium - pin Oo Bullet - _ Phe Tin - - - "| 1,850 8.25 73.00 120,00 | 170.00 | 140.00 33-50 52.50 5.90 4.35 1.75 4.90 ) } o2 | 100.00 } iT 160.00 i “ Fat os 2 4 =? Ji price. $ 26.00 250m 22.25 7°25 I I .50 15.00 00,00 17.00 82.00 7.10 70.00 05.00 30.00 32.50 51.00 5-40 4.15, 1.05 4.05 4.50 me - hap teas es . 7 sad - 4 = ——. ~ AOE NEES ST NEE Te ee Or ee SOME RS erm +. * +> aa / 4.50.0. & 76.50 _ To England. rin Gambier 9 > Cube Gambier ~ White Pepper Black 3 — White Pepper Black 4 _ Pearl Sago _ Sago Flour 3 Tapioca, Flake a ” Flour ~ Gutta Percha _ Buff hides acspple: - o America, : Tin _ Gambier - Cube gambier _ Black Pepper - a | White ‘Pepper ae _ Pineapples Gambier ‘Black Pepper ‘Black Pepper ims Me 2) (oe Z Tons Steamer. from Singapore & Penang to England - 800 and U. K. optional any ports. from Singapore to London - 10 i a 5, Liverpool- 120 i , to U. K. & / or Con- tinent - 210 i is to Glasgow er ii ; ,, England - 60 ” ”) ” ” = Igo ) dy) +») ” = » Penden 3 m ) ») . ” ”) = eee » iIngaaoneny es a Io ,) r », London - 250 ,) Y 5, Liverpool- 1,300 a 5, Glasgow - Ne Singapore & Penang to England 350 ”) ”) ” ” ye 21C ,, Penang “ As ame ne 5, ,) Singapore 4 Cy aes ; = 120 To the Continent. 2 7 (4) ge and America. Pearl & Bullets _,, _ Tapioca, Flake & Pearl ,, ” >») Exports from Singapore and Penang to Europe For fortnight ending 15th December, 1903. Wired at 11.45 a.m. on 16th December, 1903. | from Singapore & Penang - 800 ,, Singapore - eke 7) ” x = 3 Io ”) ”» a a ij 7O , Penang - ~ Nahar », Singapore - “ = », Penang - - - 4 Singapore & Penang - Nc. +) @ = 340 “a em - - cases 350 from Singapore to South Continental Ports- 170 ais ”) ” North ” % ores ” ” ”) South ” s 100 ” ” ” North ” %; 20 , Penang ,, South . ~ 20 », North = ) = 7 = ’ % a is en = a 28 ae ae ~ White Pepper from Singapore to South Continental Ports s ne a Se ANOTLAL iF = iy ,, Penang to South Continental Ports- | ’) ” ” op) North ” Copra ,, pingapore & Penang to Marseilles i - Ht ,, Odessa “ o: a », South Conti- nental Ports - other than Marseilles and Odessa ? ¢ « ,, North Conti - nental Ports Tin . ‘ ,, Continents am Tapioca Flake _,, 7 i = - Tapioca Pearl _,, - a= if - Cube gambier © ,, Singapore’ ” »» = : Pineapples a m fe cases 2,200 — Sago Flour * . ‘6 - 1,000 — N.B.—By ‘South Continental Ports" are to be understood all inside and by ' “ North Continental Ports” all outside Gibraltar. 1,500 tons Gambier ) 200 ,, Black Pepper > (72 Singapore) contracted for during fortnight ending as above. Telegraphed to A. A. Nisietr, Ingram House, 165, Fenchurch Street, London, E. Ct (2) Exports from Singapore and Penang to Europe and America. Lor fortnight ending 31st December, 1903. I A a SEs Fa ee we OS ey ee Wired at 11.15: a.m. on Ist January, 1904. Tons To England :— Steamer. Tin from Singapore & Penang to England - 675 and U. K. optional any ports wf e oR te StS ee ae Lowa Gambier from Singapore to London - ... | 4 a cs to Liverpool- 27 Pe a J; to U.K. &/or Con- tinent - ” ”» ” ” Glasgow . Cube Gambier ra s », England White Pepper i a 3 x Black » >» ” ” ” White fe » -mEnaAng 4, ag Black ” ” ” ” ” Pearl Sago 5, Singapore ,, . Sago Flour * & » Londoners ” ” ’ ” ” Liverpool Se od ” ” ” ” Glasgow fe ety be ; et ea i 29 E y Tons F 3 Steamer. Tapioca, Flake from S’gapore & P’nang toEngland- 310 ‘ae » Pearl & Bullets ,, 3 * ; 3 ' Tapioca Flour », Penang toEngland- 625 Gutta Percha y> Singapore Peon ates - 40 | Buff hides ms 3 tc. as = a Bag _ Pineapples a # ‘ 2 yy Cases 26,000 ~ To America :— io Tin from Singapore & Penang - 330 Gambier és " sailing 100 = 440 F ~ Cube Gambier a p | 30 fe «Black Pepper re <4 vit: FOO E 4 ¥ 5, Penang ah aes [= ~=White Pepper 55 Singapore - bs 5» Penang Paps: 3 aoe Nutmegs 5» Singapore & Penang - 5 Pa ; Tapioca, Flake & Pearl ,, - ,, Sailing 600 370 Pineapples * , cases 1,250 Spgo Flour =~ e ‘ ‘f . 150 To the Continent :— _ Gambier from Singapore to South Continental Ports 100 g ” ” ” ) North 3) % So Repack Pepper _,, = ,, south Ba a 90 f ” ” ” ” North ha ae ie » Penang _,, South s = ” ” ” ”) North ” E _ White Pepper ,, Singapore ,, South x $ : ” ” ” +) North ” “2 see fe 4) 5. Penang ,, South * a, a =! ae »» North eee — Copra », Singapore & Penang to Marseilles ee By ” > 55 Odessa = 420 >" he 4 35 South Conti- nental Ports- 100 other than Marseilles and Odessa. f 3 fe ys North Conti- nental Ports- 200 e. Ein - | as a3 Continent x ¥80 Tapioca Flake ,; - 50 _ Tapioca Pearl from Singapore & Penang to Continent - — 120 Cube gambier ,, Singapore is 5 - 20 n Pineapples a ‘i a 55 » cases 2,000 Sago Flour ” ” ” rs ~ 300 N. B.—By ‘‘South Continental Ports’’ are to be understood all inside and by a “ North Continental Ports ’’ all outside Gibraltar. I,000 tons Gambier 160 ,, Black Pepper a (in Singapore) contracted for during fortnight ending as above. Peleg -aphed to A. A. Nistett, Ingram House, 165, Fenchurch Street, London, E. 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S = ‘unuIxeyy | do ene at fee: bee rs S qing Arq ueayy | 2 | 5 Re oS a : Z = sg ‘ung Ul WNWIxeyy | : "Weq oct 3e JINSSIIg [ROLJOWOINVG Uva] District. Lanadron Estate. ERRATA. Pine-apple cultivation, Part II, Page 37. —AGR ICULTURA L BULLETIN | OF THE ; STRAITS AND é FEDERATED MALAY STATES. EDITED BY HaN: RIDLEY Sas, FLL: S., Director of Botanic Gardens, S. S. ; CONTENTS. PLATES —PINE-APPLE CULTIVATION. Valuation Report on sample of Sea Island Cotton grown - in Perak ; Cotton in Dutch Borneo ze Correspondence with the Imperial Institute regarding the commercial value, &c., of the Seeds of the Para Rubber Tree Rambong Rubber Getah (Getah Jelutong) from Sarawak Recent Publications on Rubber and its Cultivation Para Rubber collecting at es tes Java x. Caprinia Conchylalis . Encouragement of Agriculture ; among the Natives The proposed Agri- Horticultural Show at Kuala = ia Rainfall for January, 1904 fuf Miscellaneous, Notices to Subscribers Singapore Market Report Exports from Singapore & os to Europe & America Meteorological Returns Annual ope ee le Dollars. Single Copy—Fifty Cents. 2 “(Annual Subscription—Outside the Peninsula—Three Dollars mee: and fifty cents.) 4 rs —_— {4 e B2Lo be purchased at the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, “aa or from Messrs. KELLY & WALSH, Limited, a aa No. 6, Battery Road, Singapore. es SINGAPORE: fe ee: PRINTED AT THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. ~ ee ey | oS i kal bee If. oe PAGE: hci NOTICE. —S PHE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL DEPARTMENTS OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. 4 4 = i 4 # His Excellency the Governor has received a despatch trom the Right Hon’ble the Secretary of State for the Colonies calling attention to the advantages offered by the Imperial Institute to Merchants, Planters and others, who may wish to have samples submitted to scientific experts for opinion as to their commercial value, &c. The following extracts from a Memorandum published by the Authorities of the Imperial Institute will give an idea of the work undertaken and carried on there. ot ee Noe “The Scientific and Technical Department of the Institute has ‘been established to acquire information by special enquiries and ‘“by experimental research, technical trials and commercial valua- “tion regarding new or little known natural or manufactured pro- “ducts of the various Colonies and Dependencies of the British “Empire and of Foreign Countries, and also regarding known “products procurable from new sources, and local products of “manufacture which it is desired to export. This work is carried ‘out with a view to the creation of new openings in trade, or the ‘* promotion of industrial developments.” c“< ve OED . ee —— Pe) —_ 2. In an extensive and well equipped series of Research Labor- atories, a numerous staff of ‘skilled chemists under the direction of Professor WYNDHAM R. DUNSTAN, M.A., F.R.S., carry out the investigation of the chemical constitution and properties of new dye-stuffs, tanning materials, seeds and food-stuffs, oils, gums and ysis aa, . ° te Py . resins, fibres, timbers, medicinal plants and products, with a view _ to their commercial utilization. \Vhenever necessary these mate- _ tials are submitted to special scientific experts, by whom they are made the subject of particular investigation or practical tests. Re- _ ports are also obtained from technical or trade experts in regard _ to the probable commercial or industrial value of any such products, _ while full information is collected from official or other trustworthy | sources regarding the probable extent and cost of available supplies. | : . 7 id Reports on the results of enquiries or experimental investigations are supplied as a rule, without charge, but should special expenses _ be incurred in connection with any such reports, or with the com- _ mercial value of particular materials or manufactured products, _ which the Council do not consider themselves warranted in meet- _ ing, a statement of such outlays will be furnished, for repayment, _ when the Reports are supplied. Should an investigation or report _ of exceptional character be asked for by a Government Depart- ‘ment, an estimate of the attendant expenses will be submitted, _with a view to ascertain whether authority for such expenditure will be given. a AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN OF THE oR A lis AND Pri RA L.ED) MA Bae SATAT-ES. —— | No. 2.] FEBRUARY, 1904. (VoL. II. PArT I. PINEAPPLE CULTIVATION ‘ PLATES DISEASES AND PESTS OF PINES. The worst animal pests which destroy pines in the Straits Set- _ tlements are porcupines, musangs, and wild pigs, which are very _ destructive in districts where there is much forest. Insect pests __ are few and seldom very injurious. The worst seem to be mealybugs _ (Coccide) which attack the young leaves. A species of Dactylopius, _ D.longispina is mentioned by Mr. TRYON as doing damage in _ Southern Queensland, and also in New Guinea (Queensland Ento- mologist reprinted in Cape Agricultural Journal, Vol. XVIII, p. 549). These mealybugs attack the young leaves and base of pine and ac- cording to Mr. TRYON in dry weather descend below the ground and do more damage there. He points out that the ants olten cover the base of aye pine by a loose wall of vegetable debris, under which the mealybug thrives being in partial darkness. The q _ presence of ants in quantity ona tree or - plant i in the tropics usually _ implies the existence of Coccide o: Aphides of some kind, and may often be taken as a warning that the plant is sick. It is only when abundant that the ants take the trouble to wall in the mealyougs. } Mr. TRYON recommends the use of sulphur and limewash, first immersing the suckers in this before planting. Mr. C. E. SmituH (Jamaica Bulletin IX, p. 165) recommends the use of tobacco water—1 pound of tobacco to two gallons of water, _ for cleaning the suckers. In any case infected suckers should not be planted, and a little reasonable care o1 the Pineapple Estates _ should prevent any serious damage from this pest. The West Indian mealybug appears to belong to another specics _D. brevipes. _ Mites —In the Queensland Journal of Agriculture 1898, p. 462, certain mites are described and figured, one of which Zarsonemus “ananas is stated tv make minute holes in the pines and allow of the entrance of the Care-rot fungus in Australia. The mite itsclf ap- parently does but little harm, in any other way. “ i i ¢ ] ’ p< . 38 The pineapple scurl-scale Axudlacaspis bromeliw, Kerner, is des- cribed and figured inthe Cape Agricultural Journal (XVI, p. 1oo,) it is a greyish white scale nearly circular and flat. It has long been known in [european pineries and seems to have been accidentally introduced into South Africa on a pine from Madeira. It is stated to be a very serious pest and to have destroyed pineapple cultiva- | tion in Madeira. It infests both sides of the leaf of the pineapple and is easily seen. I do not know of its occurring in the Straits, but it occurs in Africa, Europe and Hawaii, frrutt rot.—This disease is very common here, and has been well described by Mr. TRYON (Queensland Agricultural Journal 1898, p. 458) under the name of Care-rot, a very misleading name as that part of the pine which 1s commonly known as the care is never affected by it. Fruit affected by this may appear to have ripened unevenly, patches on the surface remaining green while the rest of the fruit possesses the orange or red color of ripeness, but often there is nothing on the outside to show that inside there 1s decay. Occas ionally again there is a depression or hole in the sur- face above the diseased. portion, On cutting the pine across, it Is— seen that one or more of the segments, botanically one or more— fruit is rotten, the placenta and walls of the ovary decayed or very often dry and withered up leaving a hole in the flesh, Usually there is more than one of these affected ina diseased pine, but the disease does not spread to the core of the fruit nor from one fruit- let to another. The disease is due to the attacks of a fungus allied — to AMontlta candida Pers, which seems to enter the fruit by some wound, such as that caused by the mite above described. In a pine ~ thus diseased taken from a factory I found a mite very similar to that described and figured by Mr. TRYON, and also a very small species of the order Co//emboéa, a very small semi-transparent white — insect, which did not apparently possess the spring apparatus of — most species of that order, This disease here however is said by — Mr. LANDAU to be caused by a beetle. In any case it appears that — whatever insect inflicts the wound the real destruction is caused by the fungus. Mr. LANDAU informs me that the disease is common in low round but rare in the dryer hilly fields. Fruit-rot though not | compl: stely destroying the fruit, spoils it for sale purposes, “ands in tinning the parts decayi ing have to be excised. In some factories in the case of pines so diseased the fruit is preserved in the form of chunks or cubes. The decayed bits being cut out and thrown away. Broken heart is the name given in the Straits to a somewhat similar disease which ho.vever commences under the crown of leaves +1 at the top of the fruit. A black spot appears and increasing the decay forms a hole in the core about an inch or more deep ruoning downwards. A gummy matter is exuded into the hollow. In the few examples of this disease I have seen, I saw no insects but it seem probable-that the decay arises from some injury probably causec by an insect in the crown. It chiefly occurs in wet lands like the last disease, rarely in a dry hilly plantation, Mr. LANDAU inform me that this disease is propagated by using suckers from an infecte € RAO PAG OANA Chinese Pine-a T. (inside), Singapore. = L : s — = als — 5 so =e —_ — ar — er) a me ‘cS > a el — : = SS — — —- — = = = a ~ lings 3 = ~ Vs 7 mer ts a — Z . ‘— — a — == © —" -_ 2 — _- i> | Ss =e —_— _—— — — ——— — a — | :* a c r c _ —_ re a rete al git oer’ Ra ie — - ~ ~ i # ‘ 4 ¥ nF oem ee Ree we ae ee meas -lomneieh ote a ’ ‘abe > ee eee Photo by A, D. M. ‘ th 136.2 ur Bae Se Baa eee = | ° - " ‘ a wa Te ne is ies When heated, the oil began to melt at 19° C. and was a aa ur liquid at 28°C. It had very marked drying properties and yielded | a solid, transparent film. On saponification with caustic soda, the oil furnished a rather soft soap of a yellowish colour. ag In the following table, the constants and properties of the oil ex- tracted from this sample of meal are contrasted with those of the — oil obtained from the freshly crushed decorticated seeds; the con-_— stants of linseed oil are again added for comparison. <> Oil extracted from Oil extracted from Para Rubber seed decorticated Para meal, Rubber seeds ( freshly crushed.) Linseed Oil. Yield of Oil per cent. 30 I 42.3 33-37 Physical state — Solid below 19° C Liquid Liquid Specilic gravity £5 15" 0.911 0.9302 0.931-0.937 — Free fatty acids per cent. (cal- culated as oleic Ne acid) 65.6 5.4 0.4-5.7 lodine value 136.2 128.3 160-181 It will be observed that the oil extracted from the meal was solid — whereas that obtained from the freshly ground seed was a liquid. This difference is due to the large proportion (65.6 per cent.) of © free fatty acids present in the former, whilst the latter contained — only 5.4 per cent. of free acids. The cause of this difference in the two oils has been investigated and it has been found that after the — seed has been crushed the oil gradually undergoes decomposition, owing to the action of a Hydrolytic enzyme contained in the seed — which will be made the subject of special study. Analysis of the, Meal. _ The meal furnished the following results on analysis :— Moisture a i 9.1 per cent : ASE oes sina ne Kh ax Fibre 32. ri fe 3.4 ‘d Orbe: fy ion’ Se MH Proteids Al eee e ‘ Carbohydrates... av > 297) ty The ash was found to contain 30.3 per cent. of phosphoric acid (calculated as P. 2 O, 5) present in the form of phosphates, whigs h * is equivalent to 1.07 per cent. of phosphoric acid in the meal. The results of this examination of the Para Rubber seed meal ie dicate that the material thus prepared could neither be used as < ¥ fodder owing to the presence in it of large quantities of free » E acids nor for the expression of Para Rubber seed oil since the Jatte A . Mm s + ie a, ) oe = 47 has been largely decomposed. It is prubable however, that if the oil were expressed from the decorticated seeds, the residual cake could be utilized as a feeding material, as is shown by the following comparison between the calculated composition of such a cake and the composition of some commercial feeding cakes :— Cw = M 45 ra oo ati eae = eo ¢ ra = het a = 3 Calculated com- 3 § B. 2 Saas ai te ae iY position of :— ‘Ok ZX ome Oe 5 SOs En * — — ——— — — —_— —a Para rubber seed cake 13.30. 5.19 20.8 eed 6.09 43.64 84.25 Linseed cake (new process) BAe Git. 35.0 ye rei 35.0 87.85 Linseed cake (old process) vos, 9 5.0 25.6 BixOug to 48.3 1 GE:28 Cottonseed cake | (ew process) 11.12 6.10 38.47 9.78 8.78 25.75 84.4 These figures shew that a cake prepared from the Para rubber seed meal would compare favourably with other cakes as a_ cattle food, and that it contains a particularly low proportion of indiges- tibie matter (fibre). Commercial valuation.. Specimens of both the seeds and oil have been submitted to lead- ing brokers. ‘hey report that the oil could probably be used as a _ substitute for linseed oil and would be worth at present about £20 _ per ton, but that oi! merchants would not take it up unless they first _ had an opportunity of testing it in bulk. The brokers consider that _ it would be more profitable to ship the seeds themselves to this _ country, as is done in the case of most other oil seeds. “They value _ the decorticated seeds at £10 to £12 per ton, and add that they _ would be prepared to take two or three tons at the lower price in order to introduce them into the market. _ The para rubber seed meal was not commercially valued, since in its present condition it could not be utilized in any way. It may _ be stated however that a Para rubber seed cake of the composition _ already given should be almost as valuable as linseed cake, which at present sells from £5.15 to £6.15 per ton. The results of this investigation lead to the conclusion that the _ seed of the Para rubber tree is a valuable economic produce and is likely to become of considerable commercial importance. The oil _ could probably be employed for the purposes to which linseed oil 1s applied, whilst the residual cake would be of value asa cattle WYNDHAM R. DUNSIAN. 21st November, 1903. 48 Note on the above. Of unhusked fresh seed large and small mixed, 100 weighed a_ pound. When the husk was removed the kernels weighed to} ounces, — so that it would require 341,308 seeds to makeaton, This would be ~ produced by about five acres of rubber trees in full bearing. A man could gather say 50,000 a day, and including expenses, there ought to be a profit of 15 dollars an acre on the seed. As there are facili- | ties in Singapore for preparing the oil and cake, it would save a good deal of expense in freight and charges to manufacture the oil 7 here, and this would also save deterioration by drying. Editor. RAMBONG RUBBER. Professor WYNDHAM KR. DUNSTAN, writes from the Imperial In- | stitute as follows on a sample of Rambong rubber anlan accom. | panying letter :—‘‘ With reference to your query regarding the Ficus | rubber, its lower price compared with Para is chiefly due to the much — larger percentage of resin which it usually contains and also to the fact that the physical characters of the rubber itself are not quite so — good. Improvements might be effected in both these directions by better methods of collection and preparation, and it will be well to — continue experiments with these objects in view. ‘lhe amount of | resin present in the rubber may depend to some extent on ihe age of the trees diminishing with age as is known, to be the case in other } rubber trees and in any case it might be possible to eliminate some of the resin by a suitable method of coagulating the latex. This of - course will have to be determined by experiments. he sample of Ficus rubber sent by Mr. CALLOWAY was much superior to any other specimens of this rubber recived at the [mperial Institute and | it therefore appears probable that a considerable improvement in the quality of the rubber could be effected by the application of proper methods. If so the price would be correspondingly increased. GETAH (GETAH JELUTONG) FROM SARAWAK. This specimen of Getah Jelutong and samples of a mineral sub= stance used in its preparation were forwarded from Sarawak, through His Majesty’s Consul at Brunei, for examination in _ thi Scientific and Technical Department of the Imperial Institute, an are described in despatches, copies of which were transmitted to ia Imperial Institute by the Foreign Office. . From the correspondence accompanying the samples it appears that the mineral substance used in the preparation of the Getah or Gutta is obtained from China, and is known to the Malayee “ Menang Sayila,” and to the Chinese as “ Chio Koh.” This s stance is “not employed in its natural condition, but is baked befil use, being reduced thereby to a_ kind of feathery powder, and i 4 si) 49 addition is said to be essential to the preparation process. The latter is described as follows :—- “Tt (the Getah) is taken from the Jelutong tree, and is obtained by barking the tree and then scraping off the gum as it exudes, and not by tapping, a process which is very destructive to the trees. The Getah must be prepared immediately, and this is done by first sprinkling a pint of kerosene oil in a tub, then a kerosene tin full of water is poured in and the same quantity of the gum, to which is added a teaspoonful of the ‘‘ Menang Sayla,” and the whole is then well mixed and afterwards kneaded and rolled into large balls, in which form it is exported.” The whole value of the product is about $5 per picul, and in Singapore it is from 7 to 8 dollars per picul. Getah Jelutong is already well known in the European and American markets under the name of Pontianac, but its commercial utilisation is chiefly confined to the United States, which imports large quantities annually. The supply is obtained from Borneo and the Malay Peninsula, and is not restricted to Sarawak as the Consul appears to indicate. The specimen of the Getah Jelutong was a large cheese-shaped mass, of light brown colour externally, but quite white and of granular structure within ; it was almost free from dirt or vegetable debris, but contained a considerable quantity of water, which exu- ded on pressure, and it had a distinct odour of kerosene; it was soft, could be easily worked in the fingers, and possessed very little tenacity. On exposing a piece to the air for some time, however, the outer portion hardened and became quite friable. When treated with hot water it formed a very soft mass, without becoming sticky, -and could readily be moulded, but it did not harden on cooling, merely returning to its original form. On chemical examination the material was found to contain -—— Moisture abe =e 40.8 per cent. 3 Ash ep +4 28 2 The dry material was entirely soluble in cold ether, but only par- tially soluble in alcohol. It did not contain any of the hydrocarbon _*“ Gutta,” the characteristic constituent of true gutta percha, but the _ following substances were isolated from it :—— 7 _ 1. A small quantity of a sticky elastic substance, resembling _ caoutchouc in appearance and properties ; _ 2. A large quantity of a white granular substance ; $ 3. Avery small quantity of a distinctly crystalline substance : _ the two latter substances being dissolved by hot alcohol. ___ A comparative examination of a sample of commercial Pontianac _ gave almost identical results. re In appearance the Gutta Jelutong resembles a poor quality Gutta of Gutta percha, but its composition, as indicated above, would sug- gest that it may perhaps be more closely allied to the inferior varie— ties of rubber. 50 Getah Jelutong or Pontianac, is usually stated to be obtained from Dyera costulata, a large tree which i is fairly common throughout the Malayan region, but it is probable that the material as met with i in commerce is a mixture of guttas derived from different sources, It has been stated, in fact. that it is the custom of the natives to mix the latex of the Jelutong tree with that derived from different species of ‘ilough bea, which yield inferior rubbers. The value of Ponti- anac in the London market is about $19 to $20 per ton, but as al- ready stated, the chief demand for the material is in the United ; States, which in I901 imported 9,371,037 Ibs., valued at $248,838. Of this total, 8,708,107 lbs. are returned as coming from the ~ British East Indies, probably through Singapore, whilst the re- ~ mainder, 662,980 Ibs., was imported from the United Kingdom. ~ After undergoing ce rtain treatment, the Pontianac is chiefly em- ployed in the United States as an ingredient in the mixtures used for the manufacture of rubber goods of low quality, and its utilisa- tion for such purposes appears to be extending, The sample of Getah Jelutong from Sarawak was almost identical in appearance, composition and. properties with commercial samp of Pontianac, being remarkably free from admixture with vegetable ‘ or mineral impurities, and it would, no doubt, be suitable foe any | purpose for w hich the latter is employ ed. At present, however, the material is of relatively small commercial value. i _ Two specimens of the mineral substance used in the preparation — of Getah Jelutong were supplied: one of the mineral as imported, — the other of the material prepared for use by heating. The mineral — proved to be a specimen of the fibrous variety of gypsum, known as — “satin spar’’ (hydrated calcium sulphate) ; it was white, translucent, ~ crystalline’and massive. The specimen which had been heated was white and opaque; it was non-crystalline, but retained the fibrous form of the mineral, — and readily crumbled to powder in the fingers. It absorbed water, but did not set like plaster of Paris. It contained only 2.48 per ~ cent. of water, so that in course of preparation the gypsum has 4 probably been heated to a high temperature, with the result that the © pears, does not set when’ mixed with water. - If, as is indicated, the addition of this substance is essential in| the preparation of the gutta, it is probably due to the fact that the jatex is coagulated by a solution of calcium sulphate, as is known jo be the case with several other rubber latices. Supplement to the Board of Trade Fournal. Fuly 9, 1903, Pp. 65. Recent Publications on Rubber and its . Cultivation. In the E’tudes Coloniales for October 1903, Mr. OCTAVE J. / f COLLET publishes an interesting and well illustrated paper o “L, Hevea Asiatique,’’ based on his experiences in the Malay Peninsula, and well illustrated. He points out that at the endo 51 1902 there were about 3. millions of Para rubber trees planted in the Malay Peninsula, aad calculates that the number of trees-being exp! loited in Amazonas would be about 7,500,000 and while these 4 the Malay Peninsula cover an area of 7,000 hectares those of _ Amazonas are spread over 750,000 and draws attention to the ad- “yantages possessed by the British Colony in the far greater accessi- bility ‘of the estates, the sufficienc y of labour, the lowness of ¢ xport duty as compared with those of the South American continent. The “rapid growth of the trees in the Peninsula as compared with that of “other places especially Souh America attracts his attention. The average girth of 4 year old trees at Batnapura is 55 centime- Bees, those. of “Ceylon 38 to 40, measured a-metre from the ground. : Bose of the Malay Pe aineala average 40 to 45 centimetres at from 3 to 33 years of age, and 52 to 60 centimetres at 5 5 years, and quotes M. Cipor (Journa! d Pcie dlinse Tropicale) who says that in Ama- -zonas we do not believe that a tree can attain a diameter of 20 cen- ‘timetres in less than 15 years. So that the growth is twice as rapid in the Malay Peninsula as in the native country of the plant. After an “account of the methods of raising young plants he proceeds to a discussion as to the distances of planting out, and gives some in- “structive measurements. A group of trees planted 24 ‘feet by 24, z.e. aes trees to the hectare gave in circunifenenee a total of 124 Mi 2d: or about 55 centimetres atree. A group of the same age planted 14 by 14, 560 trees to the hectare, gave a total of 264 m. Qo, per hectare, or about 84 centimetres pertree. Thus though the difference of es of the trees is not great, the closely planted trees give an area of exploitable bark of nearly double the amount, which is strongly in favour of close planting. The tapping of the trees forms t e next subject of discussion and the details and calculations are ‘ mostly based on the experiments made inthe Botanic Gardens, Beepore by Mr. MACHADO and myself and those of Mr. ARDEN, nd of Mr. WILuIs in Ceylon. - Para Rubber collecting at Soebang, J. ava. By H.C. DINET. _ A resumé of Mr. DiNEt’s paper on this plantation which appeared in Teysmannia 1903, No. 8, published in the Revue des Cultures Colonales 1903, p. 308, from which I take the followi pg notes, as it is interesting to compare the results of tapping in Java with those f the Malay Peninsula. At Soebang there are 147 trees which were lanted in 1889-1890, as shade trees for Coffee. The trees are finer an at Buitenzorg, and are at an elevation of 500 feet above sea ; irel. They are tapped in the beginning of April when the weather successively rainy and fine and the latex -flows better than in the fy season. Ihe author notes that the flow is most abundant in ie early morning up to 9 o'clock, and attributes this to the heat id wind delaying the flow, suggesting thateit would increase at gher elevations, and that if fhe. trees were shaded so that heat and ind would not so easily have access the trees would feel their ef- 52 fects less. (This however one may be permitted to doubt). He cor siders that 1 metre 50 c. is as high as it is necessary to go in tay pirg. The system adopted is to make vertical incisions 20 centime tres apart with lateral cuts 10 centimetres long on one side. Th following year the lateral cuts are to be made oi the other sideo the vertical groove, on the third year between the cuts on the firs side and on the fourth between those made in the second year, (ap parently the vertical groove is thus to be kept open for four years which would certainly be lable to injure the tree), The incisions are renewed every second day by a slice off the lower edge. This is done ten times, so that the tapping takes 20 days according te the skill of the worker a man can tap from 6 to Io trees. The re newal of the cuts more than Io times has not succeeded at Soebang though at Buitenzorg they have been able to do it for fifteen times and get a bigger return alter the tenth time. The biggest flow comes alter the 6th reopening of the cut. The preparation of the rubber is effected by a modification of the well-known Amazons method, with a paddle-shaped instrument coated with clay, and the ~ lumps of rubber so formed take 2 or 3 weeks to dry. The 147 tres supplied with ten reopenings of the wound a total of 52 kg. 5 (1147 Ibs. 75 grains) of dry smoked rubber, and 17.9 (37 Ibs. 135 grains) © of scrap; altogether 151 lbs. Eighty-two of the trees were recut 15 times but the results of the last five tappings were very small” 9 kg. of rubber and scrap. The cost of tapping and preparation of 78 kg. 4 of the rubbe was 58 Guilders, or roughly 37 cents a pound. . (Ihe value of the rubber is not stated, but from the method of — preparation it was prebably of inferior quality, and the amouni | obtained from each tree a little over a pound is smaller than 1 should be. The tappiug system also leaves much to be desired, but_ it seems that these trees under proper treatment might give a re= turn equal to that of those of the Malay Peninsula.) pi Editor. rr ooo CAPRINIA CONCHYLALIS. RovAL BOTANIC GARDENS, PERADENIYA CEYLON, | 20th December, 190 H. N. RipLey Esq., | Director of Botanic Gardens, Singapore. Dear Sir,—l have just seen your note, in the Straits agricultut Bulletin for November, 1903, on Caprinza Conchy/alis as a pest of t Kicksia Rubber (/untumia elastica). Re It may interest you to know that this same insect is very troub some in Ceylon. Itscompletely defoliates our Kicksia plants, tw during the year, each attack extending over two or three montl vig: May to July and November to December. Not only are t 4 leaves entirely consumed, but the ends of the young shoots are eaten back for several inches. This regular periodical defoliation very seriously checks the growth of the plants, and would interfere with the profitable cultivation of this species of rubber in Ceylon. Fortunately it does not attack Para rubber which so far has proved practically immune to insect attack. Though it would be possible to check the pest on young trees over a small area, by spraying with arsenical compounds, such treatment would be impracticable with extensive cultivation and older trees. The same insect similarly defoliates Portlandia grandiflora in our Botanic Gardens. 2 7 oI Yours faithfully, E. ERNEST GREEN, Govern ment Entomologist ENCOURAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURE AMONG THE NATIVES. PAPERS IN CONTINUATION OF PRINTED PAPER ‘“‘ EXPERIMENTAL PLANTATIONS” OF THE 19TH SEPTEMBER, 1903, No. 104/03. OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR OF COCONUT TREES, No. I.C.T., F.M.S. 174/03. Federated Malay States, No. Misc. 7259/03. Kuala Lumpur, 77¢h November, 1903. SUBJECT : ENCOURAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURE AMONG NATIVES. Sir,— . I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No Misc. 7259/03, dated 7th November current, enclosing copy ofa letter by the Superintendent of the Government Experimental Plan- tations on the above subject for my views and recommendations. 2. The scheme proposed by Mr. ARDEN is, I believe, well worthy of consideration, but in my opinion its success entirely depends in educating the native inhabitants in the underlying principles of tropical agriculture, and until good progress in this can be fully as- sured it appears to me the Government would not be justified in adopting the other more extensive proposals that are suggested. 3. Iregret I cannot from the experience I have had put away from any mind the fact that unless the native inhabitants are pro- perly aroused they will never take much real interest in agriculture, ‘More especially when the latest methods should be adopted if the best results are to be obtained, and to be taught the work on this scale, supervision will certainly have to be exercised to which ex- ception may also be taken by them. ea! ee 54 4. If, as suggested, the Government are to provide factories and machinery for dealing with their various produce, then the Govern- ment must feel sure the cultivators can supply regular and sufficient quantities to enable such establishments to maintain themselves, and I have the gravest doubts as to such being the case unless the land _ is cultivated and kept up at a high standard. ft 5. The question then naturally arises can any inducement be offered by Government to attract the nitive inhabitants and make it worth their while to take up tracts of land and really cultivate them by the best methods. 6. Iam of opinion that it is possible, though of course at some — cost to Government, but this need not, seeing the many advantages _ that may afterwards accrue, be necessarily taken into serious account. | 7. My suggestions are these—vz. Ist. The land for a certain period of years would be given at a very low or nominal rent ; and. All the plants and seeds required for the various cul- | tivation be supplied by Government to the natives free of cost ; | 3rd. All the heavier drainage be paid for by the Govern- ‘ ment ; 4th, The market price of their produce guaranteed them — by the Government. | | As against this the natives would be liable to supervision and be obliged to keep the lands thoroughly cultivated. | 8. Such a scheme might be started on a comparatively small scale and increased and developed if the results prove satisfactory. 9. My whole contention is that until Government is fully satis- fied that the native inhabitants will really take a true interest in the proper cultivation of the land, which they might be induced to do by giving them exceptionally favourable and easy terms (and this, I consider, is well worthy of trial), it would not be of any advan- tage to Government to afford the financial assistance that the pro- posals of Mr. ARDEN might require; on the other hand, if good — proof is forthcoming that the native inhabitants would fulfil their — part of the bargain 7e culture, then [ believe the suggestions adyo-— cated might be carried into effect with good profitable results to all — concerned. | PW POEALP LP be FO ALTE pd Me le my Ihave, etc., L. C. BROWN, Inspector of Coconut Trees, F.M.S._ THE RESIDENT-GENERAL, F.M.S. sane ye 55 OFFICE OF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS, F.M.S. and S.S. 1160-40/1903. Kuala Lumpur, 76¢h November, 1903. Re ENCOURAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURE AMONG NATIVES. SIR ,— With reference to your Misc. 7259/1903, forwarding a printed copy of a letter from the Supt., Government Experimental Planta- tions, on the subject of encouragement of agriculture among natives and asking for my views and recommendations thereon, I have the honour to inform you that, as you are aware, my knowledge of the Malay is necessarily very limited. Although I think there is some truth in the opinion expressed in para. 7 of the letter, still I believe that were the Malay agriculturist more energetic he would find a ready market for many articles that he could grow with ease— _ such as fruit, padi. | have myself seen many places all over the Federated Malay States which appear to me ideal places for padi cultivation still covered with jungle or bluker. Were compulsory measures possible [ should personally advocate them, as from what I have read their effects are most advantageous in Java. This, | presume, is not contemplated and therefore beyond the point. .2. I think that, at any rate, in Perak, there is another reason for the backwardness in agriculture shown by Malays. I have been informed that they take up land as a speculation and let it out or sell it to Chinese. In this | may be wrong, but I have heard that many Malays live in this fashion without doing any work. 3. I think that much might be done by making more stringent conditions when alienating land to Malays. The occupation should be permanent an‘J penalties should be exacted for non-fulfilment of condition of the grant. I venture to think that Malays are treated too leniently, and, in fact, are somewhat over-fostered, and that il left more to work on their own responsibility they would find that they must work. 7 4. As regards para. 4 of Mr. S. ARDEN’S report it would be / interesting to know if the Malay-worked coffee estates were kept in good order. I have never heard that they were. 5- As to proposals in para. 5 (2), | do not think anyone would _be found willing to take up such an enterprise, as he has no cer- _ tainty of getting any crop of any sort, this depending entirely on whether the Malays choose to take the trouble to supply the same. t 6. The scheme in itself, I think, is good, but I think that the feeling of Malays in the matter would have to be very accurately _ gauged before Government committed itself to lend support or oO aid. The letter, I think, is one deserving of attention and 56 ee circulation among officers who have a knowledge of the country and native character. I have, etc., A. M. BURN-MURDOCH, — Conservator of Forests, F.M.S. and SS, THE RESIDENT-GENERAL, F.M.S. BririsH RESIDENT’S OFFICE, No. R-G. 4967/03 Negri Sembilan, Federated Malay States, Seremban, 17th November, 1903. SUBJECT : po ee ae ENCOURAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURE AMONG THE NATIVES. ~ SIR,— [ have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter No. 7259/c3 of the 7th instant, forwarding a letter by the Superintendent, Government Experimental Plantations, on the subject of the en-— couragement of agriculture among natives. 2. Iam of opinion that the introduction of such a scheme as” Mr. ARDEN suggests would be of great benefit, but fear that it would be very difficult to ensure a sufficient supply of any product to render the scheme self-supporting. 3. The hesitation of natives to follow advice tendered to them by Government officers in regard to cultivation, and probably their reluctance even to cultivate rubber at present, is due to the losses they incurred some years ago by cultivating coffee at the instance of Government. 4. Iam afraid it is too late now to take any action in regard to coffee cultivation, otherwise arrangements might be made with the Port Dickson Coffee Curing Comvany to buy by the pikul cherry collected in small quantities by Government. (RE RU RE A re erie! Ce et ENS fr HIRES! © LN etre ene oo pet nen ype an ete e+ ESP te 7 5. The difficulty of finding a market for small quantities of pro- duce will disappear with the development of the States. I migh instance that in Malacca the roots they grow on their small allot- ments are readily sold by Malays to competing tapioca plsateiy while the owners of dusuns at Labu now find a market in Kuale Lumpur for the duriens they export by rail. een ppm etn eng it le I have, ete., <5 : W. EGERTON, — THe RESIDENT-GENERAL, F.M.S. British Residen 57 BRITISH RESIDENCY, No.. 2304/1903. Pahang, 20¢h November, 1903. SUBJECT: ENCOURAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURE AMONG NATIVES. SiR, — : I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 7259, on the subject of the encouragement of agriculture among - natives. 2. 1am of opinion that the scheme suggested by the Superin- tendent, Experimental Gardens, would, if well carried out, greatly promote the improvement and extension of agriculture. Its suc- cess would, however, depend almost entirely on the personality of - the officer who was entrusted with the duty of bringing it into operation, and [| recommend that no action be taken in the matter until the post of Director of Agriculture has been filled and the Agricultural Advisory Board been established. I have, etc., WARREN D. BARNES, Acting British Resident, Pahang. THE RESIDENT-GENERAL, F.M.S. BRITISH RESIDENCY, R.-G.O. 7390/03 Perak, Taiping, 237d November, 1903. SUBJECT: ENCOURAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURE AMONG NATIVES. SIR,— In reply to your letter No. 7259/03, of the 7th of November, 1903, in which you invite an expression of my opinion upon the views of _ the Superintendent of Experimental Plantations on the subject of _ the encouragement of agriculture among natives, I have the honour _ to offer the following remarks. _ 2. Mr. ARDEN’S proposals are based upon the assumption that the principal obstacle to the extension of native agriculture is the s difficulty experienced in the preparation and disposition of produce. # That is a conclusion with which | am unable to agree. I do not think that the mind of the Malay padi planter, the Javanese gardener or the Chinese vegetable grower has ever been troubled either by ‘the condition in which his produce is put upon the market, or by a desire to dispose of it to better advantage. The only market which he thinks about is that which lies immediately at his door. If he finds that there is a profit worth making in growing produce for that market, he will do so, but whenever he finds that he can make -more money at something else he will abandon his cultivation. 3. As I have had occasion to point out on more than one occa- sion, the real cause of the backward condition of native agriculture 2 58 f in so many parts of the Federated Malay States is simply the fact that money is to be made more easily, more quickly and more con- _ genially by following other employments, and so long as that con- tinues to be the case, no well-meant suggestions such as that now — under consideration will attract the ryot away from the better-paid — business. : 4. I cannot therefore give my support to the proposals made to — you, because I believe that to lay out money in the manner indica- — ted would be to throw it away. | am reminded that an effort which was made some six years ago to establish rice mills in Krian failed — because of the want of interest in the project shown by those con- | cerned with the growth of the product. I have, etc., H. CONWAY BELFIELD, Acting British Resident, Perak. ™ . THE RESIDENT-GENERAL, F.M.S OFFICE OF THE PROTECTOR OF LABoUR, F.MLS., No. P.O.L. 557/1903. Seremban, 12th December, 1903. SUBJECT : : ENCOURAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURE AMONG NATIVES. SIR,— With reference to your letter No. 7259/03, dated 7th ultimo, on | the subject of encouragement of agriculture among natives, [ have the honour to state that the paper prepared by Mr. STANLEY ARDEN appears very reasonable and I am of opinion much benefit may be derived by following the suggestions. 2. In support, I mention Arachis Hypogoea, ground nuts (six — months’ cropping). The results in Southern India, on old soil that — no one would look at here, with an uncertain rainfall and a very — small production per acre, are satisfactory to the ryot, very satis-— factory to the merchant (one firm, I know, cleared £6,000 last year — in the article), satisfactory to the shipper, for you see steamers | waiting on the coast to fill up with 10,000 to 40,000 bags, satisfac- | ‘tory to the Government as arrears of the Government taxes, etc., — in the districts where the article is grown are almost unknown. They are said to grow the crop on the land again and again and © then it gives better crops of grain. The land is ploughed frequently. — 3. Ihave not had time to justify the expression of more than an opinion that I must qualify as superficial. ; 4. The facts that Mr. STANLEY ARDEN states are familiar to me, and I agree with what he says in para. 8: three acres at three cents, at $15—$135, for a man and his family living in their own house ; but most of the native coffee gardens changed hands at such 59 Be per acre by the help of chetties that the people were unable to pay interest and this broke up their homes. ; I have, etc., T. H. HILL, 5 Protector of Labour, F.M.S P.S.—Since writing foregoing, by your instructions [ went ove: the gardens under Mr. STANL EY ARDEN’ S charge. I formed a high opinion of his developed capacity and look upon him as a valuable “servant to the Government and am prepared to back this expression | of opinion by a report should you desire it. Pr He THE RESIDENT-GENERAL, F.M.S . BRITISH RESIDENCY, No. 6344/1903. Selangor, 78th December, 1903. ENCOURAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURE AMONG NATIVES. SSiR,— | have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No, 7259, of the 7th November, 1903, covering a letter by the Super. 4 intendent of the Government Experimental "Plantations on the sub. _ ject of the encouragement of agriculture among native cultivators | 4 have always shown every desire to foster and more than one pro- _ posal, having for its object the development of native cultivation, has received consideration and material assistance, sometimes in the form of remissions of rent and sometimes by the grant of loans without interest. ’ 2. This subject is one which the Governments of these States v. 3. The proposals now put forward by Mr. ARDEN are, as far as lam aware, new, free from many of the objections attendant on _ the forms of assistance referred to above, and likely to achieve the desired object. The extension of coconut cultivation in the Kuala - Selangor district consequent on the establishment of oil mills in that locality, at any rate, proves that the natives are prepared to avail themselves of the benefits of a ready market, and there is no reason to suppose that other forms of manufacture would not equal- _ ly encourage the cultivation of other kinds of agriculturai produce. _ 4. The form in which effect can best be given to Mr. ARDEN’S proposals is a more difficult question and one in which I do not think it possible to lay down any hard and fast rules. For the present it seems-to me it will suffice if the Government accept his proposals and notify the public by advertisement on the lines of the recent notification issued from your office to encourage the introduction of new forms of agriculture, that the Government are prepared (1) to consider proposals for the establishment of any industry which will utilise agricultural products suitable for native cultivation, and (2) in the event of their meeting with the approval of evernment, to assist in their establishment and maintenance 60 either by loans, grants-in-aid or bounties on the out-put for‘a period — of years. ‘ Such advertisements should be published in Tamil and Chinese — and disseminated as widely as possible in Singapore and Penang. 5. I enclose a copy of a report from Mr. HALE to whom I re- ferred your letter under reply. af I have, etc., D. G. CAMPBELL, Acting British Resident, Selangor. — THE RESIDENT-GENERAL, F.M.S. | LAND OFFICE, L. 1352/1903. Kuala Lumpur, 23rd November, 1903. ENCOURAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURE AMONG NATIVES. SIR,— | have the honour to acknowledge your letter 6244/03, dated 12th November, 1903, forwarding a letter from the Superintendent, Experimental Plantations. I may say in the first instance that | consider Mr. ARDEN’S proposition one of great importance and bidding fair to very materially advance the prolonged prosperity of — the country ; it must be evident to the most casual observer that the encouragement of agriculture is the very best possible way to further the interests of the State, improve the well-being of the people, and in fact the most reasonable investment for surplus balances of revenue. 2. I think Mr. ARDEN has certainly hit upon one of the greatest — factors which has kept back planting in the States, namely, the | difficulty in finding a convenient market for produce without it | passing through the hands of middlemen, and consequently leaving _ but a very small amount of profit to be shared between the grower — and the manufacturer. It is quite certain if it was known that two — baskets full of guavas carried to the door of a jam factory in Kuala — Lumpur could there and then be sold for ready money, and that — purchases would continue under a Government guarantee, the cul- — tivation of guavas would be at once taken up by Malays. I know what an impetus was given tothe planting of coconuts when the — oil mills were first started at Kuala Selangor. ‘| 3. It cannot for a moment be expected that private enterprise — would invest capital in ventures appearing to have such a problema- tical chance of success as the starting of factories in a’ country that | is not at the time producing enough raw material to keep the machinery at work, and which would have to depend for supplies in order to make a commercial success on produce which has not yet been planted ; only a Government willing to risk money in the in- terests of the remote future could do this, and that Government must not flinch at facing for some years expenditure without revenue. : | J ; 61 4. Supposing that factories of various descriptions were started _ at Government expense, and worked by Government paid men, un- til all reasonable chances showed that a profit could be made, or could not be made out of the industries; I do not suppose but that Government would ultimately be able to induce the public to take a going concern off its hands, perhaps at first by selling shares in the business, if not at once by passing it over to a company or indi- vidual at a price, which need not necessarily be a full return of the outlay ; the profits accruing to Government should be recognised as _ indirectly accruing in the way of more population, larger areas of : land cultivated, and thereby a greater amount of indirect taxation _ paid into the Treasuries of the State. | y a 5. And even if after money had been thus spent and the venture _ proved unprofitable, | do not think that Government would regret _ it; because there would remain the consciousness that an attempt peed been made to do something on the lines of good administration and it had been proved that certain products were not worth the planting. | 6. But I think the Resident wishes me to comment on Mr. _ ARDEN’S letter ina more particular manner, | will therefore proceed _ to take up some of the more salient points that occur to me. » 7. Fam Making Fruit Preserving Etc—lt is well-known that _ many of the fruits of the Peninsula make admirable preserves, | _ may instance rulul, which makes a jelly quite equal to, and very _ similar to red currant jelly. Belimbing buloh (the smaller species), _ which when preserved is very much like gooseberry jam; and the well-known guava, the guava jelly of [ndia—which is unfortunately ‘generally made for sale with coarse sugar, whereby all the best qualities of the fruit are so disguised that one might as weil be eating sticky treacle, whereas if carefully preserved with refined “sugar it is most excellent. There are, of course, many other varie- ties which could also be brought into use. _ The canning of pine apples has for a long time been one of the ‘staple industries of Singapore, and might easily become so here. he Chinese Babas and Portuguese of Malacca have acquired a ‘reputation fcr preserving many varieties of fruit in syrup, and as dry candied sweetmeats. _ I think that the first and most important industry to start would be this, because it would give an impetus toa class of agriculture which is essentially a part of Malay life, and certainly the factory which could put on the London market mangosteens or duriens, eserved in such a way as to retain their distinctive flavour, need pot doubt of commercial success. _ The proper way in my opinion to start such an industry would 2€, in the first instance, to obtain the services of an expert man who had learned the trade in one of the large preserving houses of England, such as Crosse and Blackwell. He should be established in a small factory, in or near a large town, so that the fruit brought to the markets could be diverted to his place of business, the com- petition thus set up would at once encovrage a larger plantation. ae > ‘ion 62 The first two or three years of his work would necessarily be greatly in the way of experiment, as he would not be able to com- mand large supplies of raw material ; and his factory would be more or the lines of an experimental laboratory than a commercial under- taking. It is possible even that his experiments and the result o his work, if put on the market, would be sufficient evidence to in duce members of the commercial public to start an independent fac- ~ tory, in which case the ends of Government would be met without — further trouble ; but if not, and the experiments warranted it, Govgi ernment could start a real factory, to be ultimately offered to the | public as a going concern. This enterprise would not be very costly; — for the first three years, | think probably £1,000 a year would cover | everything. - 8. Fibre—About the year 1890, when I was stationed at Tam-_ pin, I interested myself with the late Mr. M. W. BaiRD in inves- @ tigating the matter of extracting the fibre from the banana (Pisang Karoh), which at that time covered many hundred acres of land at @ the hill foots, which had been abandoned by tapioca planters. A @ parcel of fibre was abstracted by the convicts under my orders, @ weighing about half a hundredweight, this Mr. BAIRD sent home to a firm on Mark Lane for valuation, with the result that it was @ said to be worth only about two pounds per ton less than the best Manila hemp on the market. Enquiries were made of a firm in | Coventry which supplied scutching machinery for the flax trade in | the north of Ireland, resulting in the information that a scutching machine requiring two horse power to actuate it would cost about — #20. We found that power to work two such machines could be | procured from a Pelton wheel erected on a stream coming off the | Tampin hill. In 1891 when I was at home on leave, Mr. BAIRD also being in England, we carried our investigations further, by procuring some | old banana stems from Kew gardens and testing them in the Coven- | try machine, which with slight modifications did the work very well. | And Mr. Bircn, then Resident of Sungei Ujong, promised to give every facility to the undertaking. The above remarks are written to show that a three years’ experiment in producing fibre, not only | from the wild banana, but also from other fibre-producing plants, would not be very expensive, and might lead to the establishment of a very important industry. ; g. Cattle and Sheep.—|\ think that one of the most important matters Government could take up, and one which would do more good than most other ways of spending available balances, would be the improving of the quality and the quantity of cattle in the States ; at the present time transport, whether by rail or by road, Is very expensive, and beef and mutton are both very dear, : There are in all the States very large areas of useless lalang land, than whitch there is no better grazing ground for cattle; and I be lieve that when the herbage has been improved by cattle grazing would be equally good for sheep; during my ten years’ residence at Tampin, many acres of lalang near the village were very great rail 63 improved in this way. Tapioca carts stopped on the way out of the State to weigh the tapioca and pay export duty, with the re- sult that the Bullocks had an hour or two run, during which they erazed, and their grazing ground, which was originally lalang, gradually changed its character and grew good grass instead. What is required is that each State should start. a herd of c ows, chiefly the hardy, small cattle native to the country, called variously Siamese and Kelantan cattle, this herd should be gradually improved by the introduction of larger animals from the tropical parts of Australia, larger cows should be purchased into the herd not bulls ; the delicate white Indian cattle are not at all suitable to the country, they cost too much.to keep and are very susceptible to disease, whereas the native cattle, like the Australian, live on grass only. A herd of twenty-five cows and two bulls in each State, managed on the lines that all heifer calves should be retained in the herd and al! steers sold, would, in a few years’ time, do much to improve the grazing grounds and cheapen transport. Of course there is the risk of loss by disease, but surely Government is better able to bear that than private individuals; and private enterprise in this direction will do very little towards improving the stock. What it will do is easily seen by the example of the Wardieburn herd, in which the intro- duction of one larger cow with a strain of Ayrshire blood in her, some few years ago, has made a distinct mark on the appearance of the herd, : to. There are many other points which might be enlarged upon, as, for instance, the erection of Government rice mills in the centre of large padi districts, like Rembau and Krian. 11. Experimental Work ard the Starting of a kactory for the Extraction of Essential Oils and Perfumes——! believe there is a business at Tampin, started some years ago, which is doing very well still, growing citronella grass and extracting the essential oil by purely native processes ; it is needless to point out that such an industry would be very grateful for Government assistance, on the lines of information as to best modes of extraction and by introduc- ing other and unknown sources from which to extract oils, essential oils and perfumes. 12. Attempts have been made to distil a spirit from the waste product of the tapioca factories ; but they have not succeeded, in- vestigation and experiments in this matter might be useful; and | ——aa the encouragement of sago palm cultivation is, I think, of very great importance, because it is a way of utilising the great areas of “country now quite useless as swamp, and sago ataps wili always _ fetch a big price. 13. Ihave written at length on three subjects only and merely mentioned others, but it is obvious that many other industries c ould on the same lines be encourazed, and [ have ne doubt will be, when a Board of Agriculture is started, 14. Mr. ARDEN has shown the necessity for some such asiss- tance and has suggested a way in which it could be given, for my 04 ena: part, / think that rather than assisting private enterprise in the erection of machinery and factories, tt would be better for Govern- met to boldly take the matter in hard in the first instance by starting small expertmental works 012 the lines indicated above. . 15. But whichever way it is done is perhaps immaterial, so that something shall be done as soon as possible; and agriculture, to which the country and the people are so peculiarly well adapted, shall have its fair share of recognition at the hands of Government. ~ I have, etc., A. HALE, Collector of Land Revenue, Kuala Lumpur * THE SECRETARY TO RESIDENT, SELANGOR. bates B. Gut eO4: R.G. Misc: 7259-04. OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR OF COCONUT TREES, lederated Malay States, Kuala Lumpur, 17th ‘January, 1904. SUBJECT: | ENCOURAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURE AMONG NATIVES, SIR,— [ have the honour to refer to my letter No. 174-03 to the Resident ~ Gencral of r1th November, 1903, 0% this subject as | have some further suggestions to offer which the Government may perhaps care to take into consideration. z 2. Inthe first place, 1 am of opinion if Government were to erect central depots or store-houses for the collection of coconuts to — be converted into copra in the districts where there are numerous native holdings scattered about and the means of transport both — difficult and costly it would afford considerable assistance to the © owners. | ‘| 3. My scheme is that the natives should bring in all their sur- | plus coconuts which they have to dispose of to this “central depot ” — and that Government make arrangements with some Chinese, who — are well up in the business, for purchasing the nuts so collected for. the manufacture of copra. Ido not anticipate any trouble about | this, as provided the nuts are collected in sufficient abundance to — allow of constant employment and this certainly should be so, it ought not to be difficult to find as at Jeram and other places, many © small Chinese traders of this class who I feel sure, will be very glad — of such an opening. The agreement between the contractors and — the Goverument being that the former shall pay cash for the coco- nuts as received or delivere | by the natives at the depot. | 65 4. The native owners themselves would prolit by being im- mediately able to dispose of their produce and in addition they ought to obtain a better price than at present and these advantages might induce them with more ready cash in hand, to give more at- tention to their plantations. 5. The material gain and saving is in the transport and the pro- ducer should cettainly reap his share of it. Suppose for instance such a depot was erected at Rembau in Tampin District, Negri Sembilan, where there is a large area under coconut cultivation belonging to natives and there is no nearer market at present for their surplus than Seremban. The cart hire to Seremban from Rembau is at least $3 per cart carrying say only 300 to 360 nuts whereas quite seven times this quantity of nuts made into copra could be carried at same cost. Kuala Pillah is also similarly situ- ated and I should say there are other districts where the assistance I have suggested might be found beneficial to the natives. 6. Another matter | would mention is that I consider a great deal might be done in the way of catch crops by the natives. Of course as long as many of the plantations were in the lamentable and unsatisfactory condition as when I arrived the matter appeared utterly hopeless but now some of them are keeping their planta- tions better, and with the conditions it was desired at the recent Residents’ Conference in Taiping to impose on newly alienated land I shall endeavour during the current year to do what I can to give them some hints on the subject. My staff too without necessarily interfering with their present work might on their rounds perhaps, ‘under my instructions, render some assistance in teaching the natives something about this. 7. Alluding to para. 8 of Mr. ARDEN’s letter of tgth September, 1903, I believe many of the apparently abandoned coffee lands, where there are few of the coffee trees still to be seen, might be well worth _ recultivating by the natives; the ground would not be very difficult to clean, many of the coffee trees could I think be brought into ‘bearing and the sale of the product go a long way towards expense of upkeep. Coconuts and other catch crops could also be planted where the useless coffee trees have to be dug out and in other vacant a 8. In conslusion my further suggestion and one I strongly re- commend, is that asystem of rewards, for some time at least, be introduced and prizes given for well kept plantations as an induce- ment to the natives to take more interest in cultivation generally. I have, etc., L. C. BROWN, [uspector of Coconut Trees, F.M.S. The Federal Secretary, F.M.S. Kuala Lumpur. pie 66 The Proposed Agri-Horticultural Show at | Kuala Lumpur. The Editor Agricultural Bulletin, S. S. & FMS. } Dear Sir, “sf A meeting of the local standing committee of the Agri-Horticul tural Shows, which is has been decided to hold annually throughout the colony and the Federated Malay States, was held at the ‘Lane Office Kuala Lumpur on the 1st February. Mr. W. W. BAILEY chairman of the United Planters Association presided and Mr. STANLEY ARDEN was appointed Secretary to the Committee. Mr. H. N. RIDLEY Director of the Singapore Botanic 4 Gardens was’ also present. It was proposed to hold the first Show in Kuala Lumpur during | the month of July next, and, subject to the consent of the Turf Club, the race course was selected as the most suitable site, so as to allow ample space for turn-outs, jumping and driving competitions It was decided to divide the Show into the following classes :— A. Agricultural produce , B. Flowers, fruits and vegetables C. Stock (cattle, pigs, goats, poultry, rabbits &c) 1). Horses and Dogs (including driving and jumping com petition. | IX. Native industries and Manufactures, Agricultural Imple ments and Miscellaneous. The Government of the Federated Malay States has wore the sum of $2,000 towards the expenses, and it is hoped that by means of special prizes and private subscriptions, the committee will be enabled to issue a substantial prize list. PinVe,ctc,. STANLEY ARDEN, Secretary to Local Standing Committee Bi tie Aas ies os Kiel SEEN ey PEE NSS 2 arn Nerv all melt Rainfall for January, 1904 :— M.E.SCRIVEN, | The Prison ae 1S ee | The Fort any yee : Government Hill feng. 5: 9-82 Balek Pulau ae - 8-39 Pulau Jerajak ae ey Lumut aaa Ge 3-10 . Pangkor i : | Bruas os e 8-81 S| Sungei Bakap i. es Butterworth, PAW.” = 9) 9) eee — Bukit Mertajam Te Ae 9-52 ae oye Assistant Sue Penang, 11th February, 1904. . Prison Observat 67 MISCELLANEOUS. Notices to Subscribers. I. For the information of subscribers and others who have been unable to complete their series of the Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and Federated Malay States notice is here given that Nos. 1, 7, 8, 9, of the Old Series (1891-1900) and Nos. 1, 8, 9, ro, of the New Series Vol. I (1901-1902), the first issues of which have long been exhausted, are now being reprinted, with plates, and will shortly be ready. II. Subscribers whose subscriptions are still unpaid are requested to send in their subscriptions for the present year as soon as pos- sible. Members of the United Planters Association are requested to send in,their subscriptions in. future directly to the Editor and not to the Secretary of the Association. II. Subscribers outside the Peninsula will in future be charged $3.50 per annum instead of $3 in order to cover postage. —————. Meteorological Observers are asked to send in their returns to the Editor, to arrive before the roth day of the following month it _possible, so as to be in time for going to press. Wanted Nos. 8 & 9 of Vol. 1 (N. S.) of the Bulletin to complete the volume. Address F. B. Manson, Park View, Fytche Road, Rangoon. 68 SINGAPORE MARKET REPORT. Articles. Fanuary, 1904. Quantity] Highest | Lowest: sold. Coffee—Palembang Bali - Liberian Copra - Gambier - Cube Gambier, Nos. 1 & 2 Gutta Percha, Ist quality Medium Lower Borneo Rubber - Gutta Jelutong - Nutmegs, No. 110’s No, 80’s Mace, Banda~ - Amboyna - Pepper, Black - White - Pearl Sago, Small Medium Large Sago Flour, No. 1 No. 2 Flake Tapioca, Small Medium Pearl Tapioca, Small Medium Bullet han <= - Tons. =] 40 - 156 - 317 Ti, 2,370 “| 2,097 F 330 -| 988 | 366 40 | | ae | 2,905 Sema 932 50 688 | 657 | | | | | — price. $ 30.00 24.00 25.00 8.874 12.25 17.50 270.00 190.00 120.00 145.00 8.25 68.00 106.00 170.00 125.00 33.00 51.00 5-990 4.30 1.60 5.25 4.85 4-75 7) 3249. | 87.374 ». ~~ > ee ‘price. 29.00 22.00 22.00 ff 7:50 . = 1.375 15.00 200.00 Fa che area ctl Mg in HPs LE MOS is oes ye eee “ ce arin 79.00 69 (4) Exports from Singapore and Penang to Europe and America. 4 For fortnight ending 15th Fanuary, 1904. _-~ Wired at 2.50 p.m. on 16th January, 1904. Tons To England. Steamer. i Tin from Singapore & Penang to England - 1,375 and U. K. optional any ports, ~ Gambier from Singapore to London - 2 oe - ,, Liverpool- A 5 , to U. K. & / or Con- tinent - 700 ” a 5. to Glasgow = Be ¥ Cube Gambier 3 is », England L 20 White Pepper ”» ) , . Ba) oe by Black 9 ” ” ». ” idee vig _ ~White Pepper Wc Penaigeae Z - 10 =. Black 9 = ’) 5 - 10 |} __— Pearl Sago », Singapore ,, FE Aan Pe ‘e Sago Flour ' * e: e London - 340 :3 ‘ A = rf ,», Liverpool-... 5 ” ” ” ” yy Glasgow = “Sha | __ Tapioca, Flake », Singapore & Penangto England = 420 Fs » Pearl & Bullets ,, é Bie prea 80 ji » Flour , Penang ¥ Wiehe te FE Gutta Percha ,, Singapore 3 3 Be 10 | Buff hides Fasa tt 4), 7 betes 30 Ed Pineapples a a zs » CASES 4,000 | To America. | b = Tin | * from Singapore & Penang - goo Gambier ,. Singapore Sailing 600 600 Cube gambier fe 5 - = - 10 50 _ Black Pepper - . fs - = 70 AA , Penang - = 3 40 White Pepper », Singapore - = 2 ” ” Penang = & ety, ise Nutmegs ,, Singapore & Penang - - 2 Tapioca, Flake & Pearl ,, ts ¥ - - 21050 Pineapples +. 27 _ - cases 1,750 | Sago Four ,» ” ; - 200 To the Continent. : _ Gambier from Singapore to South Continental Ports- roo . 5; - Ms ,, North A - 20 ~ Black Premier.’ <; ei 5, South - ? 10 4 . 7 ,, North = - 10 @ Black Pepper .,, Penang _,, South ES = ,, North ; - J ys ” ” \ tii ls 3 oe og” arr = 7”? _ Tons Steamer White Pepper from Singapore to South Continental Ports To ” yy ” North 73 = 70 he ,, Penang to South Continental Ports- ” 9 ” ”» North ” Zz Copra ,, singapore & Penang to Marseilles = - 3 ) ¥9 5, Odessa - - is " » south Gonie nental Ports - other than Marseilles and Odessa ss o rf » North Contes | : nental Ports - ©... — Tin + ar ,, Continent = 23am Tapioca Flake __,, 3 rs - 90 Tapioca Pearl __,, ‘3 r ‘ - 3061 Cube gambier —_,, Singapore » ae = 80 Pineapples ‘ 3 if cases 2,5CO Sago Flour . - #3 - 1, 4G@ N.B.—By ‘‘South Continental Ports” are to be understood all inside and by “ North Continental Ports’ all outside Gibraltar. goo tons Gambier 220° ,, » Black .Pepper (2a Singapore) contracted for during fortnight ending as above. : Telegraphed to A. A. NisLetr, Ingram House, 165, Fenchurch Street, London, E. CH 4 Exports from Singapore and Penang to Europe (8) and America. For fortnight ending 31st Fanuary, 1004. Wired at 3.25 p.m. on 2nd February, 1904. To England :— Tin Gambier 99 39 Cube Gambier White Pepper Black ¥5 White™ © 5, Black yy Pearl Sago Sago Flour ”) ”? from Singapore & Penang to England - 1 An and U. K. optional ¢ any ports, from Singapore to London - to Liverpool- +” 33 » » to U.K. & / or Con- tinent - ” ” ”9 Glasgow ; - 9 ” » Kngland zZ 33 >b) be) x9 cS 39 », Penang ” y» Singapore , “ ” a », London Se Tons © Steamer re 9 ” 99 ”) 99 Liverpool a=! i . ‘ 9 ”) 99 Glasgow + 71 Tons : Steamer, Tapioca, Flake from S’gapore& P’nang toEngland- 220 vy Pearl & Bullets 39 ” ” 2 ” a 140 Tapioca Flour », Penang to England- — 600 Gutta Percha 55 Singapore 2 -3 _ 30 Buff hides a a pe gs 2 Io Pineapples *3 ” ” yy CaSES 9,500 To America :— Tin from Singapore & Penang - 1,091 Gambier Fe mi sailing 100 825 Cube Gambier 35 * s 40 Black Pepper 33 + - 100 ‘5 » Penang the SPE White Pepper 55 oimgapore - 20 bs » Penang a ee: Nutmegs » Singapore & Penang + 9 Tapioca, Flake & Pearl ,, & », Salling 600 210 Pineapples = = a cases 1,000 Sago Flour a a Z 100 To the Continent :— Gambier from Singapore to South Continental Ports 70 2 a 4 » North a 2 30 Black Pepper _,, a ,, south a i“ 30 ” ” ” ” North ” = 50 ‘4 Oo renane’ ,, Sout B ewe » ” ” ” North 5B) a _ White Pepper ,, Singapore ,, South 2 Bye bs ” ” yy 9 North 9 a Io * ee 5, Penang 5, South 4 = ig bb) 39 a 9 9 North ay z ave = Copra. ,, pingapore & Penang to Marseilles - 100 is » Lei oe > me essa = «920 be as #5 », South Conti- ra nental Ports- i other than Marseilles and Odessa. ye = ae - »> North Conti- ‘S. nental Ports-... me Tin : 1 - » Continent - 105 = lapioca Flake _,, “ ~ - Mae Tapioca Pearl from Singapore & Penang to Continent - 110 Cube gambier ,, Singapore 4 35 - 40 Piveapples a me 9 = cases 500 az Sago Flour ” ” 2 ” K 750 N. B.—By ‘South Continental Ports” are to be understood all inside and by “ North Continental Ports’ all outside Gibraltar. P 550 tons Gambier — 530 ~,, Black Pepper ; (in Singapore) contracted for during fortnight ending as above. i. egraphed to A. A. Nisterr, Ingram House, 165, Fenchurch Street, London, E. 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Reels @ a S | ‘yoyawioas a YY -aanqyesodwa y, ‘ as | \ ‘Kavnuvg, sof ‘azozs ayy {0 SJI1AgSIG] SNOLAVDA 947 U2 sSurppoay porsoposoapza py f0 J9VAISY f° ‘IOZUBIIS “Ines 4 - ia 7 *sinoy 76 7) = ) > cP © 17 2) ec 78) eo s aie all oe Zy S ge ty uN - “neadens ‘aw “Luvd Aa‘1daHS i ites 129°, "SPULAA JO UOIPIOI Suyleasig oy ‘061 § ‘29YJQ Ss oafing T ? - al »- > ee Bs er Well Peay as | ‘uequielas Ao aD Ao Ho do Ao Ao do | an ' ee ee eee . @ = Z S @ 5 es v7 ® Z ee om) je) — —- =) os _ ae a o = = =| ee me: a) = : = o = “0 & 5 c ao 5 < = my S &. ~ sar 5 o a s t. ‘LOIWLSIG etd Were gs Ni bo Noe Reale age ei Se ls ae | tare o "1aJIWIOISAP] ainyerodwea 7 Ec oO ‘E061 ‘vaquasayy A0f sduipvay jvrsoz0r.0ajapy fo JIVAISgH ‘UBIIQGUAGS LIZON ‘AONT 'S . ; 7 eae ae ee earns i ees FEE See te * ’ a “ds cm ae roa MES BOP cides | vee | ‘at | aS pr Rs ae ho a YO]19 Wo | k f . eae eee oes eae soe tes | eee tee | eee eee | eee | Me Insts uRpUN | 2 oL.6 €1.92 | ier eels reas Sis | : | av wer I Pty uvyog BS 60.1 Eoag (Lee “Ase ; 0.39 | 0.88 % eta de Suowuog eae ‘qney | adie aur bres ‘sidi] ryeny A | | S Sop Pete pe ee bee SE i ' pS oat ew ef ot | am | Se aie aera ee eee 3 2 +> O- 4 = a’) | ea | at) a | a OD } A) oF, = Ss a) | =) =~ } 4 yet) Us ; ret) = ™ (=) ee | ‘al | | 5 ee eae MR ck ; N wh nw = =. v rt He S 3 3 th . eg # = 5 > ° bes ie eee been n aie 3 ‘“< =" J > = ee ae = | ss] ee ap | | ou. ; > oO ee ih ‘ie SARE EN (WA reat Ga Oe 2 5 | | / =A 2. . ‘ & ee Bass] ie) a eS | focal RS Na ak ar is ll POLIYSIC] T= | roa a 5 | | a | — re D . ; ae | oD 5 | | rg S Qo | Ds ‘®) : 3 | : i : | 5 [Oe ee \ 25 ; \ bs one) »" r = = ‘1ojawi0is& / ‘oanyeroduia bs | ‘ah ; . i . y ; ‘ H 4 L | = . oo - : ‘ ed ~.- STULpVIM prsoposoazapy fO 290-4. > ae Pa S061 ‘aagueavag? 40f ‘99025 34] f0 SPILAZSIGT SNOLADA aYyg Ul ne — ay = - . _ OL .6 91.2 ad $6.2 gS.z PES | | ‘SANOY be oul ‘T[EJULEY, [PIOT | -INp [[vjureyT JSo7yeIIL) | gg.t ler.el 6.52 | bl£.Sz loS.¢1 og.21 ‘Spula jo UCI] SUIIVAII | “ < F = z © sree aoe Sie Baas v a A fe) | 1 eke | lied . | lan = (oo rte an ome eile ce iy ae =a . .aTT? L > © I9JIWIOIGAP ‘qing Aiqy ues 0.0L |} 0.06 oof |0.%8 6.10 -—1oeg ,0.99 |29-98 0.69 |0.S8 0.69 | 0.10 = = =e | : =e = = | Pah aa ee | ‘ganqeiod wa J, ‘UNG Ul WNWIxeyy ——a ae yor gow << sa . uvqueny 7 ueyosg sf ‘ae i. on tie ‘qney : AS ‘stdiry eyenyy | ie . . . . . . . . . . . . - . . eer . UIST] [ROUJOMIOILG URIIV "yey cf ye oinssoig ‘tob1 ‘Aswnuvg, fo yzuom ayy Lof ‘9qogS ayZ fO 7924IS1GT SMOLLVA IY} U1 sSurpoay 7vI250j009,a py JO JIVAISO . ‘sueyed Muar. Abstract of Meteorological Readings for Fanuary, 1904. 79 *sanoy | Ps pz Bulinp [jejurey ysazeoin in fs ies ae ; x esurey [BIO], | s ‘SpuIAA a jo uolqoa11G ay ce | 4 *AVIpPTUN yy 8 ‘yuiod Macq | © = “ aa © Se ‘uoisua |] inode, ae a "qing PAA UR | ow ABZ z I8uey | Ad eae. ere st c “wun IU 25 Ss = LIN ™ F 9) SROs ij a. E “LUNUIXB I aA Ee pec st } LY @) ol eo. eae ee Bes. ‘q¢ung Aiqg ueayy a Beh, ‘uns ul wnUixeyy | Ba | We.] (foe District. _Lanadron = ROGER PEARS. Muar, 2nd February, 1904. No. 31 . MAKCH, an 3 (Vou. [1I. PAR AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN OF THE SERAPPS AND FEDERATED | MALAY STATES. EDITED BY HN, SRID LE ¥5 Mae. i. S-, Director of Botanic Gardens, S. S CONTENTS. P 1. A brief Rubber Review 2. Rubber in “ First Hands’ 2 3. Recovery of Para rubber Trees destroyed by file 4. Castilloa Returns 5. Rubber News from Manaos 6. Notes from the Bulletin of the Imperial tstikoee 7. Encouragement of Agriculture among Natives 8. Note on Jelutong 9g, A Coconut Pest 10, Tomato Disease 11. Further Paper in connection with the subject of Cotton Cultivation in the Federated Malay States 12. Minutes of Meeting of the Committee of Agri- Horti- cultural Show held at Kuala Lumpur on Ist Feb., 1904 13. Fall of Hail in Ulu Langat—A new popular work on Cocoa—A Caterpillar attacking Pepper Plants - 14, On the Preparation of Rubber | aah 15. Rubber, Gutta-percha and Balata, by FRANZ CLOUT... 16. Miscellaneous, Notices to Subscribers 17. Rainfall for February, 1904—-Singapore Market Report. 18. Exports from Singapore & ae to ae & America 19. Meteorological Returns oF ; Annual Subscription—Three Dollars. Single Copy—Fifty Cents. (Annual Subscription—Outside the Peninsula—Three Dollars and fifty cents.) To be purchased at the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, or from MEssrs. KELLY & WALSH, Limited, No. 6, Battery Road, Singapore. SINGAPORE: PRINTED AT THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, yf NOTICE. ————— THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL DEPARTMENTS OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. His Excellency the Governor has received a despatch from the Right Hon'ble the Secretary of State for the Colonies calling attention to the advantages offered by the Imperial Institute to Merchants, Planters and others, who may wish to have samples submitted to scientific experts for opinion as to their commercial value, &c. The following extracts from a Memorandum published by the Authorities of the Imperial Institute will give an idea of the work undertaken and carried on there. “The Scientific and Technical Department of the Institute has “been established to acquire information by special enquiries and ‘by experimental research, technical trials and commercial valua- “tion regarding new or little known natural or manufactured pro- “ducts of the various Colonies and Dependencies of the British “Empire and of Foreign Countries, and also regarding known “products procurable from new sources, and local products of “manufacture which it is desired to export. This work is carried “out with a view to the creation of new openings in trade, or the “promotion of industrial developments.” 2. In an extensive and well equipped series of Research Labor- atories, a numerous staff of skilled chemists under the direction of Professor WYNDHAM R. DUNSTAN, M.A., F.R.S., carry out the ‘investigation of the chemical constitution and properties of new dye-stuffs, tanning materials, seeds and food-stuffs, oils, gums and resins, fibres, timbers, medicinal plants and products, with a view to their commercial utilization. Whenever necessary these mate- tials are submitted to special scientific experts, by whom they are made the subject of particular investigation or practical tests. Re- ports are also obtained from technical or trade experts in regard to the probable commercial or industrial value of any such products, while full information is collected from official or other trustworthy sources regarding the probable extent and cost of available supplies. Reports on the results of enquiries or experimental investigations are supplied as a rule, without charge, but should special expenses be incurred in connection with any such reports, or with the com- mercial value of particular materials or manufactured products, which the Council do not consider themselves warranted in meet- ng, a statement of such outlays will be furnished, for repayment, when the Reports are supplied. Should an investigation or report exceptional character be asked for by a Government Depart- ment, an estimate of the attendant expenses will be submitted, with a view to ascertain whether authority for such expenditure vill be given. “AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN OF THE STRAITS AND met nah DM ADAMS TA TES. SS No. 3.] MARCH, 1904. (Vou. III. PART I. SS A BRIEF RUBBER REVIEW. Excluding Central America and Mexico about half the world’s supply of raw rubber is exported from South America. In his Con- sular Report on the trade of Para for the year 1902, Mr. Consul _ CHURCHILL states that the rubber exported from Para and Mandos - amounted to 26,933 tons. As the price of Parad for that year, _ which started at 3s. 6d. fell to 2s. 11d. and closed at 3s. 8d. would | be above 3s., the total value approximates £10,000,000. An analysis _ of these figures should be pleasant reading for all concerned in the future of rubber in the Straits and Native States. Rubber is said to be found in Brazil over an area of at least, _1,000,000 square miles, a good authority considers this an under estimate, but the collecting grounds are gradually becoming remote and difficult of access. Of the Rubber shipped at Mandos a pro- portion is reported as having come from far off Bolivia brought down thousands of miles by intricate rivers, necessitating a good deal of manual transport. What area is prospected to obtain the IgO2 export it is difficult to say, it appears however that. what is shipped at Para and Mandos the two great centres, runs into thousands of mile in-respect of distance. ee rw Pit ag =J An important addition is a large map specially prepared for the — Court, showing the several Settlements and States under British | administration, the railways, and other features of interest. . When the new exhibits arrive and have been incorporated in the present collection the Court will give a full and accurate representa~ tion of the economic resources of the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States, and prove an important factor in extend- ing public knowledge of the country and furthering its commercial interests. British North Borneo.——A_ collection of the commercial products ‘ of British North Borneo, including timbers, coal, rice, sago, sug ar, coffee, cacao, pepper, tobacco and cigars, camphor, gutta-percha 1a, dammar, cutch and gambier, is on view in the North Gallery. (Supplement to the Board of Trade fournal, — October 15th, 1903, PA u | | 87 From the Bulletins we extract the following notes as especially interesting to our readers here. On poisonous fodder plants-—-Among those investigated were the beans of Phaseolus lunatus, commonly known as Lima beans. These beans are cultivated all over the world and form an important item in the food of the Brazilians. In a wild state the plant “ pro- duces seeds which vary in colour from light brown to deep purple while under partial cultivation the seeds are usually light brown or pink with a few purple spots and when thoroughly cultivated they become much larger and the colour changes to a pale cream tint, coincident with these changes of colour in the seed coat the toxi- city of the seeds decreases with cultivation. In Mauritius the plant is grown practically wild for use as a green manure.” The seeds are markedly poisonous and great care is taken to prevent cattle from eating them. In India, Burmah and the Straits Settlements and other Tropical countries where Phaseolus /unatus is partially cultivated the pink or light brown seeds are commonly eaten but cases of poisoning by such seeds have been recorded and attention has been called to the necessity of using only light coloured seeds Sand rejecting as possibly poisonous ehijee bearing much of the pur- ple colouration. In the case of the white seeds, no cases of poison- ing have been recorded. The poison produced by the sced is prussic acid, and this does not exist as prussic acid inthe seed in its ordinary state. The beans contain a guepride Phaseo-lunatin and an enzyme (un- organised ferment) and when the beans are crushed and moistened _ with water the enzyme decomposes the glucoside which breaks up Ee into glucose, acetone and prussic acid. In the very light brown > seeds ‘04 per cent. of prussic acid was found and in the deep purple _ seeds as much as ‘o8 per cent. A case of poisoning by Mauritius beans occurred in [Province _ Wellesley some years ago. These beans had been introduced for _ green-soiling the Sugar. canes and some Tamils gathered a quan- _ tity of them as well as those of Mucuna pruriens var util7s and _ made a bean-curry of them. It was noticed that the beans were bitter (a fact recorded also in the Bulletin of the Imperial Institute). _ The results were disastrous, three persons being killed. It was doubtful at the time which of the two kinds of beans was the poisonous one but there is now I think little doubt that it was the BMasriti:s green-soiling bean. Thus in estates where this plant is used for manuring the natives should be warned that the beans of the plant are dange ‘rous. | append Dr. FOSTON’S report on this Fase. SUNGE! BAHAT, Province Wellesley, 22nd February, 1899. . ~Sir,—On the evening of the roth February, five persons were at tacked with symptoms of acute poisoning after, eating some cooked 88 beans, one was an adult kling woman and others children varying in age from 5 to 10 years on the way to Caledonia Hospital for they were Caledonia coolies. One of the children died and two others shortly after. The children were brought along ina cart and the woman not being so ill came walking to the Hospital. On admission the children who were alive were found unconscious and ~ frothing from the mouth. Dr. SKAE was sent for, and on his arrival the youngest child and the woman were alive but collapsed with widely dilated pupils. Emetics were administered and the woman vomited up rice and particles of the beans. PUSAIRS) gre Toor. The Company for experimental purposes has for some three years been planting a variety of beans from Mauritius in the cane fields but some distance away from the lines. The coolies were then warned against using these beans. On the morning of the rgth these children had gone out to gather greens. They came across beans in pods growing in the fields which they thought re- sembled beans they were accustomed to eat in India, and a quantity was brought home about noon, of which their mother made curry. The children ate the curry about 2 p.m. The mother too ate some of the curry but finding it bitter did not take much. Towards even-_ ing the children complained of giddiness and vomited up the food — soon after they were found convulsed and unconscious with froth- ing from the mouth. On the 20th I held a fost mortem on the bodies of the three | children, particles of the beans were found inthe stomach. The FH . stomach and upper part of the intestines and the kidneys were | slightly congested. ‘Ihe blood was dark fluid. In the brain the membranes were congested, the vessels on the surface very much | so and there was an appreciable quantity of fluidin the skull cavity | and in the ventricles. The brain substance itself presented a very ~ moist appearance. The woman and the youngest child have since quite recovered. ——— ete _ - eile mmeaell DOP cmt Pe Bag fit 1 tha! WAS The stomach with their contents of the deceased and other parts . of the viscera were collected and made over to the police for trans- mission to Singapore for analysis. [ am sending you by post a packet of the beans and specimen of — the plant. Will jyou kindly let me know the name of the plant. I have, etc., ED. T, 8OS Tae Colonial Surgeon. The Principal Civil Medical Officer, Singapore, a Fibre of Agave Americana.—Samples of fibre of this plant wel sent from Assam. The fibre was coarse but clean and of go¢ appearance, vellowish, white in colour and with a fine glo 59 ? Besoderately long with an average staple of 3 feet 8 inches. Analysis of the fibre is given in the Bulletin and the report of two brokers who stated that it was of good quality but rather too dry and brittle, the strength colour and length satisfactory. Portions of the sample were of very good quality and equal to ordinary sisal hemp and would r realise at that time (October, 1903) £35 to S88 Be EEON, but ‘this price is higher than the average which would be £20 to £25 “per ton. (/mp. /nst. Bulletin). (Agave Americana, grows fairly wellin the Straits Settlements, but aS perhaps rather slow, ‘slower than the Mauritius hemp. (/ourcrea gt- _gantea), but faster than sisal hemp. Agave sesalana, whichin Singa- pore at least seems to be the slowest in growth of any of the Aloes. ) i FE, . BLUMEA BALSAMIFERA. _ With reference to a report from the Imperial Institute on “this camphor (see p. 23 in January number, vol. III) Mr. ARDEN writes ‘‘ This plant which is a member of the large and widely dis- “tributed family Composite, occurs fairly abundantly in open places throughout the Malay Peninsula, also in India and elsewhere. _ The genus Blumea contains a large number of species, several of which it is said enter into the composition of the Ngai Camphor of commerce. The one referred to above and the one chiefly employed by the Chinese in the manufacture of this article, is a shrubby plant 8-10 ft. high, bearing loose panicles of small yellow flowers, the leaves vary in shape and when bruised smell strongly of camphor. fet i is known to the Malays as “ Chapa”’ and is largely used by them i ‘medicinally as a febrifuge and stomachic, and for various complaints i for which’'l fear it is but a fanciful remedy. r The camphor obtainable from this plant is of a very good quality, ‘being much superior tothe Formosan camphor, Cznmamomum cam- . ‘phora. Llike the Borneo or sumatra camphor (Barus camphor) the product of Dr yobalanops aromatica, a large and slow growing tree Which occurs in a few isolated places in the Malay Peninsula=-not- ably at Rawang and Kwantan and which commands a still higher price, it seldom finds its way into the European market, what little produced being bought up at fancy prices by the natives to it. — _As stated above, the plant yielding the Ngai camphor is fairly abundant in the Peninsula, and no doubt could be easily cultivated, and if it is found that the active principle contained in the plant is present in sufficient quantity and could be profitably extracted, it would prove very useful asa ‘‘catch crop” on rubber and coffee estates. It will be seen from the report by Professor DUNSTAN that Only a minute quantity was obtainable from the sample examined, ut this may have been due to the volatile camphor escaping dur- ng transit. | Further experiments will be undertaken and if the camphor | Is ound in sufficient quantity, its extraction locally from the fresh reen plant wil! probably not present any great difficulty. F STANLEY. ARDEN, Superintendent, Experimental Plantations. TE EY mr ag@les Ts he eAaae 7" ete ; u. —— Batu Tiga, Selangor. b 1% { go . OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR OF COCONUT TREES, FEDERATED MALAY STATES, Kuala Lumpur, 1th Fanuary, 1904. SUBJECT. ENCOURAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURE AMONG NATIVES. Sir,--I have the honour to refer to my letter No. 174-03 to the | Resident-General of 11th Nov rember, 1903, on this subject as I have ~ some further suggestions to offer which the Governmeat may per-— haps care to take into consideration. : a a: 4 2. In the first place, 1am of opinion if Government were to — erect central depdts or store-houses for the collection of coconuts | to be converted into copra in the districts where there are numerous | native holdings scattered about and the means of transport both | difficult and costly it would afford considerable assistance to the © owners. 3. My scheme is that the natives should bring in all their sur- | plus coconuts which they have to dispose of to this ‘central depot” and that Government make arrangements with some Chinese, who | are well up in the business, for purchasing the nuts so collected for the manufacture of copra. I do not anticipate any trouble | about this, as provided the nuts are collected in sufficient abundance | to allow of constant employment and this certainly should be so, it | ought not to be difficult to find as at Jeram and other places, many small Chinese traders of this class who, I feel sure, will be very — glad of such an opening. The agreement between the contractors — and the Government being that the former, shall pay cash for the | coconuts as received or delivered by the natives at the depot. 4. The native owners themselves would profit by being immedi- 1 ately able to dispose of their produce and in addition they ought — to obtain a better price than at present and these advantages might ~ induce them with more ready cash in hand, to give more “attention — to their plantations. if 5. The material gain and saving is in the transport and the | producer should certainly reap his share of it. Suppose for instance | such a depédt was erected at Rembau in Tampin District, Negri Sembilan, where there is a large area under coconut ewitivacean belonging to natives and there is no nearer market at present for | their surplus than Seremban. The cart hire to Seremban from Rembau is at least $3 per cart carrying say only 300 to 360 nuts whereas quite seven times this quantity of nuts made into copra could be carried at same cost. [Kuala Pilah is also similarly situ- ated and I should say there are other districts where the assistan I have suggested might be found beneficial to the natives. 6. Another matter | would mention is that I consider a erea deal might be done in the way of catch crops by the natives. 5 course as long as many of the plantations were in the lamenta gt and unsatisfactory condition when | arrived the matter appeared Bery hopeless but now some of them are keeping their plantations etter and with the conditions it was desired at the recent Residents’ Conference i in Taiping to impose on newly alienated land I shall sndeavour during the current year to do what I can to give them some hints on the subject. My staff too without necessarily inter- ering with their present work might on their rounds perhaps, inder my instructions, render some assistance in teaching the jatives something about this. 7. Alluding to para. 8 of Mr. ARDEN’S letter of 19th September, 1903, | believe many of the apparently abandoned coffee lands, where there are a few of the coffee trees still to be seen, might be vell worth recultivating by the natives; the ground would not be ery difficult to clean, many of the coffee bree. could I think be ‘ ought into bearing and the sale of the product go a long way to- ards expense of upkeep. Coconuts and other catch crops could Iso be planted where the useless coffee trees have to be dug out and n other vacant spaces. 8. In conclusion my further suggestion and one | strongly re- ommend, is that a system of eyardé for some time at least; be stroduced and prizes given for well kept plantations as an induce- ent ‘to the natives to take more interest in cultivation generally. I have the honour to be, | Sir, Your obedient Servant, L. C. BROWN, Luspector of Coconut Trees, FIOM. S. The Federal Secretary, F. M.S. Kuala Lumpur. 0a NOTE ON JELUTONG. ae. BASAGOITI, (Assistant Conservator for Selangor) in a report es that at Ulu Langat he found certain Malay rubber collectors, 7 said that they mixed Jelutong Getah with the bark juice of the arana (Pagar Anak tree) to harden it. This juice is also say y used by fishermen for dyeing nets. 7 he Pagar Anak tree is /xouanthes icosandra, of the order Linex. t is a very common tree rarely of large size usually about 30 feet with corymbs of petatless green flowers, and small sticky cap- S g2 A COCONUT PEST. om ’ | have received from the Hon. R. BLAND, Resident Councillor 6! Malacca, the following letter together with a box of small cate pillars and pupz of a moth doing much damage to Coconut trees in Malacca. He writes, ‘‘I am sending you a box containing some caterpillars that are devastating the coconut trees at Tanjong Kling. I noticed the trees were turning a kind of brown colour as if scorched with fire. The Malays tell me that the nuts are falling off the trees attacked before being ripe. [ don’t suppose this 1 any new thing but | never saw so many trees suffering in this way before. * * * * The bungalow at Tanjong Kling is filled at night with swarms of small white moths perhaps they dev elop from these caterpillars. ”’ The box contained a number of portions of the leaflets of the coconut, on the underside of which were numerous elliptic scale- like coccoons, and in the box were also a number of small cater-~ pillars. These were a little over 4 inch long. ‘The head and first ~ two segments were of a dull ocre yellow shining, and appeared to — be larger than the body; they were fringed with hairs; the body was dirty white with a broad black band down the back ending in _ two black spots; two narrower grey lines ran down each side and ~ ended in a black spot, the belly was fuscous; there was a tuft of — hair on each leg. The coccoons were in rows on the underside of the leaf close to the rib, they were elliptic in outline and little over a quarter of an inch long, of rather tough silk. In shape they — more suggested a very large flat coccus. The pupa was soft and — whitish with large black eyes. PS The caterpillars ate short grooves on the under side of the leaves — through the epidermis exposing the reticulating nervules, which turned brown, and the death of the tissue continued to the upper | surface, so that the leaf above was marked with brown streaks from | a quarter to an inch long. They moved about actively and when — they fell from the leaf produced a long fairly stiff thread of silk by which they could lower themselves to the ground or climb up again, The greater number seem to have spun up by January 25, and be- gan to hatch out on the 29th of the month. The moth is very small just half an inch across the expande¢ wings. The antenna are short and plumed, and with the head” blackish brown, the neck lemor yellow; wings ‘narrow dark soot} brown with a narrow yellow edge on both upper and lower ones the body above coloured like the wings, beneath the abdomen an thorax and the long slender legs are bright lemon yellow. | . The moth seems to be a species of Euproctis or an allied ger but I am unable to find any account or figure of it in the books my disposal, ae The insect seems likely to prove very injurious. In a later let Mr. BLAND writes “ These coconut grubs line the under side of t leaf in thousands. The trees from She 6th to the 9th mile ont Tanjong Kling road look as if they had suffered from fires e 93 grub turris into a small.white moth. We found them laying eggs just like those on the coconut leaves about Tanjong Kling. (This is probably another insect as the moths bred were not w hite). The Malays say they will all disappear in a month or so and that they come every year. I have never noticed the trees looking like this before. The Malays do what they can by lighting huge fires under the trees but apparently without being able to stop the pest.” Smoking the trees thoroughly seems about the best method of dealing with this class of insects. Spraying with an _ insecticide, such as phenyle, would probably be the most effective way of deal- ing with them but at present there are no spraying machines in the country which are sufficiently powerful to throw the insecticides high enough to deal with the coconut palms. I have never noticed this pest any where myself, but coconut planters should keep a look out for it. TOMATO DISEASE. Growers of Tomatos here frequently lose the whole stock of plants just as the fruit is showing signs of ripening. Usually in new ground the grower finds the first crop excellent and wonders why others do not always grow them. The second growing on the same ground comes up strong and apparently healthy, till just as the fruit is ripening the whole plant suddenly withers. This is due to one of the parasitic fungt which attacks the plant usually quite young, but does not kill it till the plant is full grown. The ground being now infected future attempts at growing tomatoes there are usually complete failures. Experiments in dealing with these fungus diseases were made not long ago by Mr. GEORGE MUSSEE of Kew Gardens, and he gives the following practical directions for treatment. (Journal Royal Horticultural Society) —Commence watering the tomato plants When a fortnight old every third day witha solution consisting of I oz. of sulphate of copper dissolved in 30 gallons of water. After treating for 6 weeks as above commence watering every fourth day with a solution of 1 oz. sulphate of copper in 35 gallons of water. The sulphate of copper should be pure and. iarcetoe used if possible. It is shown that the copper does not affect the fruits, and that no more occurs in treated fruits than in untreated ones. It may be pointed out that the fruit itself should not be touched by the sulphate of copper for fear of accidents, and that these experiments having been made in a cold country where the growth of the tomato plant i is much slower than it is here, it will not be necessary to keep the treatment on so long. “Lditor. Se ee | : — 99/04. “AG. fe, “IR, ee wcor. ¥ PY Ss MEE ? Bx0101/03. HAc. B. R., _N. Sens. ee toners < nt An 2.4 — we eS > 3a ". Pe ee MS A — ae ee ee eee Oe ie + t A " y AS * 627/04. imc. B. R., _ PAHANG. 9985/03. RU. P. A. KW. W. BAILEY.) FEDERATED MALAY STATES. FURTHER PAPER IN CONTINUATION OF PRINTED PAPERS IN CONNECTION WITH THE SUBJECT OF COTTON CULTIVATION IN THE STATES. “ Precis of Correspondence. The cotton question is now of importance, but experts do not think F.M.S. cotton of the kind hitherto produced would supply the need. Cotton sample from Taiping pronounced at home as too short and very wasty. Letter from Mr. L. Wray says: Sea-Island cotton grows wellin Perak. Yielded good cotton, but rain spoilt alot. ‘he whole matter depends on the financial question. Ac- cording to Mr. C. E. S. BAXENDALE, the whole crop per acre would only pay one coolie for two months. Guaranteed local market is alone needed to start F. M.S. cotton — cultivation. Let Government provide this and start with the Java- . nese at Jugra. -Government can retire when Erglish market buys. The purchaser on Government’s behalf must be an expert. If such a man can be found ‘SI am of opinion that Government can best — and most cheaply help native cultivators by guaranteeing a local market at a remunerative price.”’ Planters in Negri Sembilan generally hold cotton-attempt would fail, the seasons being insufficiently defined. Mr. E. V. CAREY thinks that the time has not yet come except for pure experiment; and all advices point to non-profitable results. But no practical result has yet been seen to justify such pessimism. Mr. ARDEN’S proposal is good, let experiments be entrusted to planters. They would give two or three acres and supervision. Government could clear land, sow, and give result to planters. On Coast and in Seremban let planters receive seeds of all kinds quickly and start soon. Special terms should not at present be advertised for cotton in F.M.S. Should a large Company be promoted and then fail — over it, later developments would be suspected or destroyed. Mr. T. Noorbin at Kuala Sawah has 10,000 trees planted. In five years he expects gain of 25 cents a tree and net gain of 75 cents each tree inthe 6th year. He began, but failed, with Kapas (silk cotton.) He now grows “Kapok” or “ Ka-kabu,” has local market, but — could easily sell at Singapore. Let Mr. ARDEN visit him. He plants pepper and coffee round the cotton. —oed Let Government entrust planters with experiments. Pahang land bad for cotton. Cl endlietemenl two in Neg Sembilan ; cand at efish ee née a iE will- ing to give five acres, and to keep exact account of cost, and cro OR; 95 proceeds, and forward monthly account to Director of Board of Agriculture. Such planters to bear half expense and receive all the drop. If this is not inducement enough, let Government try others, as ate eer aes Bt (etc.) such prizes tobe decided by ” y’ yy” Resident-General, Resident of State and Board of Agriculture, F.M.S. Mr. TREUB, of Buitenzorg, and his assistant far outstrip all our experts in knowledge ve cotton. If Government were to send men to Java to investigate the Agricultural Department there they would receive every help. Cost of experiments above suggested #,to to £12 an acre: But let Government begin by sending to Java. Quickest action would be to follow Mr. ARDEN’S suggestions, and see what cash actually comes from cotton and cotton-seed (oil for cows). South Sea Island cotton planted gave long staple and high price. Yield per acre unknown. Miserable Indian plantations yet give astonishingly good results, but the soil there is black and fine. Many Indian coolies here know about cotton growing, so too some Chinese. In the Province, Mr. CHASSERIAU has such coolies and might be induced to experimentalise. A fair test might be got if Mr. ARDEN took eight or ten of these (Tinnevelley) coolies, gave ploughs, etc., and opened some land on the lalang near the Gardens. Another plan would be to give Chinese coolies seed and a bonus. Chief trouble here is felt from the rain on the open bolls. Mr. G. E, BAGNALL (Bukit Nanas) would yive seed up to 24 acres, with land, etc., on certain conditions at Port Dickson and Seremban, Govern- ment to stump and plough (=$50 per acre). If desired, the Pro- tector of Labour whilst in India would get information. Where cotton is most grown, wages 2/6 to 6/- aday. Strange, z7f we can grow quality and quantity per acre, we could not compete, begin- ning wr we should in all mechanical appliances where they have arrived.’ | See also: ‘“ Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and Federated Malay States” :— | No. to Vol. II. “Cotton,” p. 309. No. 11 Vol. If. “The Cultivation of Cotton in the F. M.S.,” p. 345- No. 12 Vol, Il. “The Cultivation of Cotton in the F. M.S.,”’ p. 396. No. 12 Vol. II. “Cotton in the S.S. 40 years ago,” p. 398. ar a = SS Sg ee -- REPORT ON A SAMPLE’ OF COTTON GROWN-IN: S THE: | GOVERNMENT GARDENS, KUALA A KANGSAR, PERAK. | SECRETARY, MANCHESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, TO ROYAL | be % BOTANICAL GARDENS, KEW. | CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, MANCHESTER, 5th December, 1903. — Yours of 30th November : at DEAR SiR,—I have obtained the report cf a competent expert upon the sample of cotton referred to in your letter. The staple or fibre is described as too short for Sea Island. It is classed, without reference to its origin, as equivalent to ‘ Fully Good Middling American’’ and as being worth in the market yts- terday 7d. to 74d. per. |b. The staple is further described as “ rough, coarse and very wasty.”’ By “very wasty " the expert means that in the processes prepara- tory to spinning this cotton would lose an inordinate amount of | fibre as waste, fit only for the spinning of low counts of yarn. Faithfully yours, ELIJAH HELM, | Secrelary. UNITED PLANTERS’ ASSOCIATION, F.M.S. 5th ebruary, 1904. Sir,—In continuation of my letter dated 22nd December, Igo3, ve cotton cultivation in the F.M.S., | have the honour to enclose you copies of what each member of the United Planters’ Associa- tion Committee has written on the subject. [wiave,ctc., W. W. BAILEY, Charman, United Planters’ Assoc ation, A. R. VENNING, ESQ., FEDERAL SECRETARY, F.M.S eee eee VIEWS OF THE UNITED PLANTERS’ ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE, I consider that Mr. STANLEY ARDEN’S suggestions are good and = feasible, and should be put into effect; but instead of the small | areas which he speaks of being opened out, T consider that ase fe blocks of, say, 50 acres be planted. Places with a dry clima tes : should be first selected, such as Port Dickson, etc.—V. R. wc 5 I think Mr. STANLEY ARDEN’S alternative plan the soundest. Mr. C, B, NISSEN (formerly planting in Klang), who has late 97 returned from German New Guinea, informs me that the natives there grow cotton as a catch crop throughout their coconut planta- tions with great success. They overcome the difficulty of prevent- ing their crop being damaged by wet weather by gathering the pods before they are quite ripe and then allowing eee, ee ripen in sheds—F. M. PORCHER. I have tried the planting of what they call South Sea cotton and my first crop has been a success as it was picked in the dry sea- son in June and July, but my next was a failure as it came on in the wet season and was all spoilt, so [ gave it up. I do not think it a good thing to ask planters to grow it ona small scale, but let Government do it on, say, 50-acre blocks in different coast districts, say, Port Dickson, and let Mr. ARDEN who has begun the initja- tion start blocks of 50 acres. I agree with both Mr. LAKE and Mr. SKINNER that planters could not. keep things separate enough to give the actual cost per acre—W. J. COATES. x I think planters would be quite willing to assist by giving a few acres of land for experimental purposes, provided the Government paid all expenses, but I do not think the idea of prizes of grants of land a good one—HENRy F. BROWELL. I would suggest that a planter in each district be asked to give a few acres of land to grow the different kinds of cotton, sowing same at different times during the year, and Mr. ARDEN visits those _ places and collects information for the use of all, also District _ Officers be given seed which he could supply free to suitable pen- _ ghulus in his district who are likely to look after the product. The Government would pay all out-of-pocket expenses to the planter and make an offer straight away for the purchase of properly treated cotton grown for, say, two years. In this way we would _ know once and for ever if cotton can -be grown with success and what kind is suitable. The result might be very valuable.——-C. | Merc. ® q Although little and nothing can be known about the results ‘profitable. or otherwise of cotton growing in these States unless a fairly large experiment is made in the cultivation, I consider it well — worth a trial, provided the Government will pay all expenses. I do ] ie ot think that an experiment for one year only will be any test, ‘sufficient to justify planting on a large scale. A glance at the rain- fall chart will show how contrary the wet seasons have been in the “past. Before starting on the experiment I should advise it being fully a ascertained what | pests attack the plant and the best remedy for deal- ing with such pests. I some time ago tried to grow what is known as South Sea Island cotton and found that ‘the plants were all decimated by some web-spinning caterpillar, even the pods were riddled. It may be, however, that pests will not attack the trees in some soils so much as others, ‘that is for experiment. j i ' ; 1 A ae ee Sees ie ‘fe “See. det fete * ment ina scheme which is worth a trial—-EDMUND B. PRIOR. 98 At No doubt every planter will do what he can to assist the Govern- I consider the growing of cotton well worth a trial. I would suggest that selected planters with suitable soil on their estates be asked to give from 5 to 10 acres of land for the planting of different — varieties : planting from seed at different times to endeavour to- ee ee ee bring the crop to maturity during the dry season. The Govern- — ment should pay at least half the cost of the experiment and supply — the seed; careful detailed accounts of ependiture, date of planting — seed and date of maturity should be kept and forwarded to Governs ~ ment.—P. W.. PARKINSON. i a I consider that it would be an excellent thing if experiments were made in cotton growing in the F:M.S., but consider it advisable that the Government should do it. I do not place any faith in ; experiments made on small scales, say, 10 acres or so here and — there. The cost of opening and planting tor one thing can never ~ be truly ascertained as half the charges a large estate would have to bear are never included. Again, ‘labour can easily be supplied to a small area which might never be obtainable for a proper-sized estate and the supervision given to an experiment so small is _ greatly in excess of what it could get under normal conditions. . I would suggest that the different areas be carefuly selected and — then 50 acres cleared and planted in each place. This would undoubtedly cost money, but if the experiment ts to be of any ‘a 4 use it should be done properly without sparing expense.—kE. B. SKINNER. :. o: c I do not think that the idea of planters giving land fora colton experiment a good one, as for an experiment to be any good it — should be on a fairly large scale (not less than 50 acres) and thal planter could not pr obably give sufficient attention to it in that case. Mr. ARDEN has mentioned that this crop at various times requires — a large augmentation of the labour force, for this reason | agree — with “Mr, SKINNER that a small area of, say, 5 acres is of little use as a practical experiment. [ think five or six blocks of 50 acres each should be opened 1 In suitably dry localities to be under the charge of an experienced” planter, who would be regularly visited by a ‘sub-committee of the U.P.A. with one Government officer, all expenses to be borne by Government.—-A. B. LAKE. Ls 99 COPY OF THE MINUTES OF THE FIRST MEETING OF THE LOCAL STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE Agri-Horticultural Show, held at the Land Office, Kuala Lumpur, on the ist February, 1904, at 3.30 p.m. + amt ee bl ww REN PRESENT. F All the Members were in attendance, viz :— _ The Chairman United Planter’s Association, (Mr. W. W. BAILEY). The Collector of Land Revenue, Kuala Lumpur, (Mr. A. HALE.) __ The Superintendent Experimental Plantations, (Mr. STANLEY _ ARDEN.) Mr. H. N. RIpLeEy, Director Botanic Gardens Singapore, also kindly attended the Meeting. 1. On the proposal of Mr. HALE, seconded by Mr. RIDLEy, Mr. W. W. BAILEY was elected Chairman of the Committee. Mr, _ BAILEY consented to act. = 2. It was proposed by Mr. RIDLEY and seconded by Mr. HAL¥, that Mr. STANLEY ARDEN be appointed Honorary Secretary to Gis 4 Local Standing Committee, Selangor. Mr. ARDEN consented to act. 3. The Chairman moved, that, subject to the approval of the other Members of the Standing Committee in the Colony and the PF. M.S., Mr. H. N. RIDLEY be appointed Secretary to the Standing Beramittee. This was seconded by Mr. HALE and agreed to una- -nimously. 4. The Hon. Secretary informs the Committee that the Federal Government has included the sum of $2,000 in the Estimates for the current year, towards the expenses of holding an Agri-Horti- cultural Show in the F. M. S 5. It was unanimously seeived that the first Show should be held at Kuala Lumpur during the month of July 1g904,—the exact date to be fixed later by the General Committee: and also, that an endeavour should be made to supplement the grant made by Government, by means of special prizes and private subscriptions. ¥. ‘ f ae °- It was unanimously resolved, that the following gentlemen e invited to become Patrons of the Show, viz :— * E. The Governor and High Commissioner. _ His Highness, The Sultan of Perak. %, 2 The Sultan of Selangor. ms rp The Sultan of Negri Sembilan. we rhe sultan of Pahang. The Resident-General, F. M. 5 bs oe is 7, It was also unanimously resolved that the Acting British Resident, Selangor, be invited to act as President: and further, that the following gentlemen be asked to consent to act as Vice- — Presidents, viz : The Honourable, The Resident Councillor, Penang. ” ” ” ” Malacca. The British Resident, Perak. Negri Sembilan. Pahang. The Raja Muda, Selangor. 8. A list of gentlemenresident in the State was drawn up, and the Secretary was instructed to invite them to serve on the Several Committees and Sub-Committees; any Committee or Sub- Com- mittee so formed having power to add to its number. ”) 9) ) g. It was decided to divide the exhibits into five divisions, as follows :— } Division A. Agricultural Produce—(To include oils, gums, fibres, spices, dyes, rattans, &c.) B. Fruits, Vegetables and Flowers.—(To include wild and cultivated fruits, vegetables, decora-_ tive plants in pots, cut flowers, table decora- tions, &c.) » C. Stockand Dairy Produce.—(Cattle, pigs, goats, poultry and rabbits: butter, eggs, &c.) , 0. Forses and Dogs—(To include driving and jumping competitions, turnouts, &c.) ,, £. Native [ndustrics and Manufactures: Agricul- tural Machinery and Muscellaneous.——(Ex- hibits for competition in this division, to be confined to articles manufactured in the Colony — of the S. S. or the States of the Malay Penin- sula.) Suggestions. The following suggestions, to be brought forward at a Meeting of the General Committee, were also made: 1. That the Show ghould be held on the Race Course. 2. 4, 4, Turf Club be asked to kindly grant the Show Conia mittee the use of the race course for the purpos a, 5» 9, Date of the Show should be ahout the end of July but not on such a date as will interfere wil th race-meeting : 4. »» 9) Show should remain open for 3 days. 5. » x Price of admission should Be as follows :—Ist daa y $1; 2nd day 50. Cts. (g a.m.—2 p.m.), 3rd day 25 Cts. Family tickets of adnan for the thre days $3. & The Meeting adjourned at 5.20 p.m. H.W, RIDLEY, sq. Moa Singapore. a RD Pe eee int ee Oe Po y cg Senet wee % - os De ae! a. " 2 . rol FALL OF HAIL IN ULU LANGAT. KAJANG, Selangor, 8th March, 1g04. DEAR SIR, At 3 p.m. on March 2nd, 1904, a violent storm swept over the district of Ulu Langat. When it struck Kajang it did considerable damage blowing down thirty trees in the District Officer’s garden and about the same number elsewhere in the town. The wind was high and a good deal of rain fell, and, with the rain, a heavy shower ~ of hailstones. Some of them were collected by the peons in the _ District Office and brought to me. They were about half an inch long and about a quarter of an inch in thickness. [I had always believed that the Malay Peninsula was exempt from hailstorms, but this occurrence shows that they are not impossible. [ remain, Yours very truly, C. W. HARRISON, Acting District Officer, % Ulu Langat. The Editor, “ Agricultural Bulletin, ” Singapore. The occurrence of hail in the Peninsula is certainly very rare. _ Perhaps some of our readers can recall similar cases but none have _ come within my own observation.—(£dtor.) A NEW POPULAR WORK ON COCOA. _ Mr. HARRISON sends us a small popular work entitled ‘‘ The food _ of the Gods”, a popular account of cocoa, by Mr. BRANDON HEAD. _ The little work is prettily illustrated with photographs and other _ pictures, and maps showing the whole of the history of cocoa, cul- tivation implements, and the plant itself of which there is a good coloured figure and also illustrations of Messrs. CADBURY’S factory at Bournville. Though the work is perhaps hardly adequate to the needs of the cocoa-planter, as a popular account of the history ‘cultivation and manufacture of chocolate it contains a good deal of | interesting matter and is very well got up. oe Editor. A CATERPILLAR ATTACKING PEPPER PLANTS. A correspondent sends from Port Dickson some caterpillars found devouring pepper, eating the base of the leaves and young 102 shoots and though not actually killing the plants preventing them from bearing. The pest is one of the moth caterpillars called Nettle worms, of the group of Ltmacodidz. \t is an inch long and very thick, and slug-shaped the back all except its head is bluish white thickly ~ covered with radiating tufts of sharp blue or white species, the head and belly smooth and dirty yellow. At the tail there is a bare patch yellowish in colour with 4 black velvety spots in a transverse f row. The spines on its back are apparently poisonous as like all | this set of caterpillars it can sting with them. — I failed to raise any of the moths of this caterpillar as they were too much injured in travelling. It is a very common animal and may often be seen on Soursop and other trees, but I have never = seen it in large quantities. The simplest way of dealing with it is — handpicking, but as the caterpillar defends itself with its poisonous _ thorns, it is necessary to remove or kill it with small sticks or — pieces of bamboo. Caterpillars are easily wounded and a wound — is invariably fatal so that they can be destroyed by merely spearing — them with a sharp piece of bamboo. I cannot find that insecticides have been tried on this insect, but as it usually occurs in a some- what scattered manner probably children could quickly destroy them in the manner suggested. Some of the allied nettle grubs have done a great deal of harm in Tea estates in Ceylon and India. Mr. GREEN (Pests and Blights of the Tea plant) warns planters to look out for and des- troy the preliminary broods to prevent there being a sudden increase in the pest, and suggests the use of arseniate of lead as an insec- ticide sprayed over the leaves. Of course planters will remember ~ that this is poisonous and pepper fruit sprayed with it might be dangerous so that it should not be used when the pepper crop is nearly ripe. Ca Pes “1 iden datdmindadoae ot alien eee Editor. ON THE PREPARATION OF RUBBER. An important paper with this title written by the well known expert Dr. C.O. WEBER appears in the /zdza Rubber Fournal, Feb. 15, 1g04, p. 172. The paper deals with the latex of Casti/loa — on which Dr. WEBER has long been working but also more espe- cially with that of Hevea of which he received large samples brought over in cold storage. He points out that the coagulation of latex in Castilloa is due to the coagulation of the albuminous matter in the latex. The India rubber substance is dissolved it the latex but is emulsified or suspended in it. So that when the albumen is coagulated it brings down with it the rubber. Th coagulation depends very considerably on the exact nature of the albuminoid contained in the latex as well as the presence of certait inorganic salts. Hence two different kinds of latex of differen botanical origin cannot be coagulated equally easily nor even pet 103 _» haps by the same means. Some can be coagulated by heat, others cannot. Most can be coagulated by either acetic or dilute mineral acid but all can be immediately coagulated by a solution of tannic acid, hydro-ferrocyanic acid or mercuric chloride or nitrate. , Rub- ber thus coagulated contains all the albumen; the amount of which varies in different rubbers, thus Para rubber contains not more than 2-3 per cent. while coagulated Castilloa’ contains often as much as 4 per cent. It is this albuminous matter in the rubber which produces “heating”, due to the putrescence of the albuminoids. Rubber free from albumen never ‘“‘heats’’ and this putrescence cannot occur if the rubber is perfectly dry. The incorporation of some antiseptic substance also prevents it. This latter is what is affected by the smoking of Para in the usual method, in which the acetic acid in the smoke probably acts as the coagulating agent the creosote and similar bodies act as antiseptics. The comparative impurity of crude rubber stated as loss in wash- ing or shrinkage by the manufacturer. These impurities which have lately decreased in African rubbers, but have been growing worse and worse in American and Eastern rubbers are mechanical impurities, earth, bark, &c. and resin and albuminoids. * + The former are easily removed by straining. To remove the albuminoids Dr. WEBER recommends the following :—Add to every gallon of latex }.0z. to 1 oz. of formaline (40 pc. solution) stir the latex and allow to stand one hour. Then add a solution of I lb. sodium sulphate in one pint of boiling water while hot and stir. Coagulation may take place immediately or after several | hours standing. The sodium sulphate must be entirely neutral — (not acid). The cake is liable to contain numerous cavities including some of the molten liquor. It should therefore be washed on a corru- gated rubber washing machine, then thoroughly dried in a dark, well ventilated shed. This rubber will be found to be free from every trace of albuminous matter and its only impurity will be the _ 2pc.of resinous matter. Strictly speaking this rubber is not coagulated as the albuminous matter is removed but coalesced. The formaline combines with the albumen and forms a readily _ soluble solution. The sodium sulphate causes the rubber to rise _ to the top in a creamy. mass and coalesce, and on working it on the washing rollers it rapidly acquires the great strength and toughness of high class rubber. Of coagulants Dr. WEBER men- _ tions a number several of which would however, spoil the rubber. _ But he mentions four, viz. formic acid, acetic and_ tannic acids, and phenol as more suitable. Of these tannic acid is the most energetic, but the rubber so prepared if wet and put into an ‘incubator of 100° Fahr. putrifies. Formic acid and acetic are less energetic. The former is more expensive but less is required in the proportion of 3 to4. It also has the advantage of possessing distinct antiseptic propertics. No more of the acids should be used than is absolutely required. h : Para rubber contains in its native haunts 1° 5 pe. allsatiee and one- third ounce of formic acid or half ounce of glacial acetic per gallon’ is sufficient to coagulate it. In Castilloa double the quantity is required. The acid soul be diluted with at least 1 pint of water, The author recommends the use of a washing machine such as ~ . is used in rubber factories. f This is a short resumé of this valuable paper which is worth | the attention of all rubber planters. It is illustrated with a few — photographs, one of which is that of a remarkably fine Castilloa 2 years old in ‘Mr. PEar’s Estate at Muar.—Edttor. Rubber, Gutta-percha and Balata. By FRANZ CLOUT. An English Edition of this useful work has been published with additions and emendations. ( Publishers—MACLAREN & SONS, 37 — and 38, Shoe Lane, London). Price 12/6, Colonies 13/6.-—Ed. ———— eS MISCELLANEOUS, Notices to Subscribers. , i I. For the information of subscribers and others who have been — unable to complete their series of the Agricultural Bulletin of the — Straits and Federated Malay States notice is here given that Nos. — 1, 7, 8, 9, of the Old Series (1891-1900) and Nos. 1, 8, 9, to, of the New Sevies Vol. 1 (1901-1902), the first issues of w hick have long been exhausted, are now being reprinted, with plates, and will shortly be ready. II. Subscribers whose subscriptions are still unpaid are requested to send in their subscriptions for the present year as soon as pos- sible. Members of the United Planters Association are requested to send in their subscriptions in future directly to the Editor and not to the Secretary of the Association. | II. Subscribers outside the Peninsula will in future be charged | $3.50 per annum instead of $3 in,order to cover postage. ' —— Meteorological Observers are asked to sends in their returns t¢ the Editor, to arrive before the 1oth day of the following montag possible, so as to be in time for going to press. & Wanted Nos. 8 & 9 of Vol. 1 (N. S.) of the Bulletin to complet the volume. Address I, B. Manson, Park View, Fytche Roa Rangoon. | Rainfall for February, 1904 :— The Fort Government Hill The Prison Balek Pulau Pulau Jerajak Lumut Bruas Pangkor ) Penang, roth March, 1904. 1-81 4-35 2-02 3° 3/ 2-23 4-23 6-85 0-80 M. BE, SCRIVEN, Assistant Surgeon, Prison Observator y. —— os SINGAPORE MARKET REPORT. lebruary, 1904. | Articles. Quantity! Highest | Lowest 3 | | sold. price. | pricé. Tons | $ $ Coffee—Palembang - ~ ey _ 30.00 27.00 Bali - - - Bet As 25, 5 |. 22.00 Liberian ; -| 163 | 23.50 | 18.50 Copra - - -| 1,792 8.65 | 7.50 Gambier = -| 2,608 11.37% | 10.15 ( cube Gambier, Nos. 1&2 - -} es 5 17.00 14.50 Gutta Percha, Ist quality - “aay |-270.00 200.00 b , Medium - - 190.00 | 100.00 : Lower - . 120.00 17.00 3orneo Rubber - - - ' 145.00 90.00 Gutta Jelutong - - - 8.25 7.25 Nutmegs, No. 110’s ~- - 56.00 49.00 ‘os No. 80’s - ~ 80.00 66.00 face, Banda - - - - .. | 120.00 | 105.00 Amboyna - - =| pe g0.00 75.00 epper, Black - - - 1,803 30.75 | 28.25 A White - - i 227 48.00 47.00 a Sago, Small - ~ 25 5-90 |. 5.25 Medium 3 - ry: eg | RIMS, | Large - -| Shas vhs | 1% so Flour, No. 1 - -| 25395 BFS HCH BWGS No. 2 - | 235 F609 1.25 lake Tapioca, Small - 4 548 BOO ntact Medium~ - | S sary ps 4. a arl Tapioca, Small - 4 483 4.90 4.60 & | Medium - =. 490 5-00 | 4.55 Bullet - See ed Payasn aos? * a - 2,000 78.00 | 74.25 (A) Exports from Singapore and Penang to Europe — and America. | For fortnight ending 15th February, 1904. Wiced at 12 noon on 16th February, 1904. Tons | ; To Engiand., Steamer. Tin from Singapore & Penang to England - 1,780 ; and U. K. optional any ports. Gambier from Singapore to London - | 4 y 7 ,. Liverpool- ) * i. ,» to U. K. & / or Con- ) tinent - 60 , ” i * to Glasgow ~ 4 See ae , | Cube Gambier r . ,, England ~ 30 ; White Pepper x - - a - 110 black ”) ” ” ” ” + go White Pepper ) eens, fs - 30 Black . % “A 7 x =~ “ah Pearl Sago » SiBapore ,, 4, Sago Flour 3 * ,, London - ”) ” Buff hides Pineapples To America, Tapioca, Flake & Pearl, Tapioca, Flake is Singapore & Penangto England | 400 ,. Pearl & Bullets _,, - r ae 290 » Flour 6 Penang mt v2) eee Gutta Percha ,, Singapore 3 ~ "ee ,, Liverpool- ,, Glasgow - yy» 80 5, CASES 27,000 ) a 1,350 Tin from Singapore & Penang - Gambier ,, Singapore - 206 Cube gambier i es ~ - oe. ala Black Pepper ee ™ - - Paw ‘5 , » Penang - ~ < White Pepper », Singapore - - - ” ” Penang i bi eueeme Tr Nutmegs ,, Singapore & Penang - se ~ , 7 ” ” ‘ ante /- Pineapples ' a Raggi pas: ag To the Continent. if; rs oo Sa Gambier from Singapore to South Continental P. Po rts ” ” ” ; y North ; ne. | A — oth Black Pepper _,, ») tee South 4 ae 9 i) ” “a wh ’ North : WB Black Pepper ,,_ Penang _ ,, South bP Ieee ” ” ” tk ” North > ee er 107 , Tons Steamer. _ White Pepper from Singapore to South Continental Ports 50 ” ay, leas «. North ie 7 40 i », Penang to South Continental Ports- % 10 ; ” 3 “ 5, North - Sia Copra ,, Singapore & Penang to Marseilles - 300 yy “4 ae ,, Odessa - 820 S — . », South Conti- nental Ports- 200 other than Marseilles and Odessa + aa " » North Conti - nental Ports - 1,450 Tin . 5 -wominent -- . 272 Tapioca Flake __,, $ a e ~ 30 -- Tapioca Pearl _,, 4 “ a - 40 Cube gambier __,, Singapore e * - 50 Pineapples “ * _ cases 2,000 Sago Flour ” * me = B75 N.B.—By ‘South Continental Ports" are to be understood all inside and by “North Continental Ports”’ all outside Gibraltar. 1,650 tons Gambier i 1,150 _,, Black Pepper ¥ (in Singapore) J contracted for during fortnight ending as above. ~ iS eee _ Telegraphed to A. A. NisLetr, Ingram House, 165, Fenchurch Street, London, E. C. (2) Exports from Singapore and Penang to Europe and America. For fortnight ending 29th February, 1904. _ Wired at 5.30 p.m. on ist March, 1g04. « Tons To England :— Steamer S Tin from Singapore & Penang to England - 1,151 } and U. K. optional any ports _ Gambier from Singapore to London - iy 5, =i “f to Liverpool- é, 4 bs to U. K. &/ or Con- . tinent earigs BAD at "x5 5 » Glasgow Bute tf Cube Gambier bs} = », England 40 White Pepper 2 ” 2 i = 120 Black ” ”? 29 +) ” 7 = White “ Maree TP ena 2mm s 2 10 Black ee -. “ ae 7 a a" Pearl Sago 5p. DINGAapOLe %y5 7) 5) 30 Sago Flour S ~ » London en ees ae “4 3 55 Liverpool - 7 5 # », Glasgow - } a a Telegraphed to A. A. Nisterr, Ingram House, 165, Fenchurch Street, Lor ry . a ‘ ppt iy 3 NN . Papioca, Flake from S’gapore& P’nang toEngland- — 14¢ ,, Pearl & Bullets ,, * on ™ - 260 Tapioca Flour », Penang - toEngland- 100 Gutta Percha » oingapore * P See Buff hides 9 » » » 190 Pineapples aici » ” », Cases 6,250 To America :— - Tin from Singapore & Penang - 20 Gambier * - : 20 7 Cube Gambier sane * - t Black Pepper a - - (‘Tos ” ” Penang - . White Pepper 5) Spore - ge -. , Penang - Nutmegs 5, Singapore & Penang Vi Tapioca, Flake & Pearl ,, y 3 “ 10 — Pineapples 5 4 rs cases 150 | To the Continent :— ‘ Gambier from Singapore to South Continental Ports ... ” ” ” ” North »” a 480 ‘ 1 Black Pepper .~-,, Re 5, South oe (eae ” ” ” a North | ” = 150. » | Penang giaeeeoouth i —: fg SL ” ” ” ” North ”) rs ; eI White Pepper ,, Singapore ,, South " <5 eae ” oe) ” ” North ” ah a0 3 - 9 Penang ” South . yy. ~-she a's ; R ‘ ” ” +9 North “J 10 " Copra me Singapore & Penang to Mareediee ~ ae ” ” ” ” Odessa - ” ” oe) ” South Conti- nental Ports- other than Marseilles and Odessa. >) ” ” ” North Conti- woe | nental Ports- 50% Tin : ij » Continent '2o2)eitom Tapioca Flake _,, Tapioca Pearl from Singapore & Penang re ee a Cube gambier ,, Singapore 3 ab - ] Pineapples iF _ gat 3 cases 1,750 | Sago Flour 9 ” By ” . " A: 20 N. B.—By ‘South Continental Ports’’ are to be understood all inside an “ North Continental Ports ’”’ all outside Gibraltar. 800 tons Gambier 650 ,, Black Pepper (wu Singapore) contracted for during fortnight « en as above. Table showing the daily results of the reading of Meteorological Observations taken at the General Hospital, Seremban, for the month of January, 1904 { r - ° . | Temperature of radiation. | | Date. 9 lel I 79 N73 Bae) 4 | 78 5 82 6 82 7 82 SF) S62 ) 82 ae 82 It | 82 12) | 00 ne 78 14 | 78 WS legs 16 99 17 79 18 79 19 | 79 2OmLCO 21 80 22 | So 23 | 80 24 \ | 25 | 20 | 274% 28 {| 29 30 | | Bn | Maximum. NNWNYNN NNN NNN NNN NU ee) IS OOOO OOOSOOOSOMS | Minimum. NNNNNN 900 0 0 7O = iO Temperature ot radiation. oo | a | mo | nn = 3) ¢ Ba es Rae 35. 65 30 | 65 30 | 65 35 | 95 206 | 65 5 | OS 62 | 65 | 44 | 65 OD | OF 43 | 05 B21 805 65) | 05 | 654) 5 | 34 | 65 43 | 05 , 63 | 65 52 1 05 58 | 65 6/265 66 | 65 62 | 65 62 | 65 43 | 65 | ifference sun and shade. | D AMnMnMnnnnAnnnnnnnnnnnniuiniun 9 } IZM AZZZAZAZAAZAZZZA AAA Wind. Direction. evaporation. Temperature of by to N. = eoitcoles| G5) le9) esl e| [es] Jeol [esl [eo] (esl 7zzjle9) jes) fea) 224 Zz [esl za (e9) 4 724 G2) CF colic MeMeoNe Hood coicscoicsics mii & m to bow Spee we & oe DO AWD od ASS SS SS STS SSS SSS Not recorded Computed vapour tension. ar in.| ij -793)« B10}, S10). 10}. 830} . .830) , -742\ . 742). 742) .742 . 742). TAZ 775). 816}. .SI0}. Io} . 793\ 794. 5793 793) -794 +793 793) .840 -793 -793| 873) -816 -793] 856! 833 -751;.856 815) -775| 856 .815 -775| 877 se | | [SSS ES Relative humidity. | @) S| lat jalel | oles $ = 80-85} 82.5 84 | 85) 84.5 84 | 100] 92 84 | 84| 84 76 84| 80 70 | 64/70 68 64 66 65 64| 66 65 | 64|66 68 68) 68 68 68 | 68 75 | 100) 87.5 84 | 68! 76 84 | 68! 76 84 | 68] 76 Bo | 68,74 80 | 68 74 80 | 68, 74 80 2) 70 80 72| 70 75 80, 77-5 72 | 80) Jide YS | 3, G75 | Cloud and See Ore weather Rain. initials, ie | US | Bef wf ag | or | IE St 1S St 38h i) sl | ee eee ee | ae | | S 5) eels i | | | i 25) OIC 1S | age Ree Oy Ia Ie 1B | TTS Gs Se pee (Calo oles ZING TG | 183) (Gamay ete) 2S SAG een eet ee Ge patron Weta Ol @ | oO | Wy ap is | ) fe) oy Fey IB 83 | O | 2 I B B B OF 0 OF Bo) Babs O25) 25 Rie Bais Ol 2 iO IC ike, Cy siay: OF Caleto le Ch Baum co; Cui 2 eo Cn Bale Ce 3 2 Se Bl Baba £6¢ MN oy 1B Te 18} | I | O 2 | Beis B O fe) oy Bi) WARY || 153 | e) I 2-|=B=|=B lB | o) 3 Ose Be| BX ea OW os) ©} 1B fp 1B | Bo S| ©} Oo | 13, 1B i ib4 Ol © ©} 1B) 13h 1B | Bl Bi i | 18) 183 “| | 1) .48 | | | 1.33 | | | 3 .99 | | 40 | ip us | q | ‘Total 8.98 J. 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RE kee Se) a & s o 8 3 ‘ | iene mn wn v2) ea tamer” | cate re) a e & re = oP | & al ear = = = 3 5 § y S ow Fo Pei — a a : Er oO ® ; 5 Me a iy 2 Shel eS ea eee | a | : 3 | 5 | BS j ge S| oa) a | b Ba Tone 0 S| ° DS = ae = art] ‘OUST Pode : eee a. | Beers 7am 2. ne :. | Seek | | | | : , eH os a ; 7 R | | hu ‘raj9WOISAP ‘aanyeraduid 7, » | “ +e { iq) Sal ly var as = | . | a caeecaue 4 ‘F061 ‘Aavnagay sof sSuippay porsojononayy {0 7904ISQH aan a a 2 q } ‘ 7 | AS or ae at vm , ‘TEN WW Aa or * a ‘ . ves £ ap" n ° Ss, ov fy Fe Ama 4 ” on 7; 4 ; ye ier Pe Sy ae rk am “ ! No. 4 — APRIL, . j ee. I. Part I. > AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN STRAITS 3 EDERATED MALAY STA’ ES. EDITED BY HOON. RIDLEY, Mraee Uzs: | Director of Botanic Gardens, S. S 1 CONTENTS. \ PAGE. 1 14, Preparation of Crude Rubber, by F, PEARS noaig gs 2. Report on Gutta-perchas from the Straits Settlements, by | Professor W. R. DUNSTAN ... of yor l 3. Extraction of Gutta-percha from the Beices eae 7. | 4. Report on Rubber from the Straits Settlements 130 1 5. Analysis of Castilloa and Funtumia Rubber roca Imp. | Inst. ) ae 130 i 6. Future of Rubber i in 1 Ceylon re ae et z || 7. Common Tapioca Flour, by A. L. DE MORNAY 1. 133 | 8. Coconuts in Ceylon .. 134 i _g. Ramie, by D. E. RADCLIFFE and C. BAXENDALE Denes | to, Vanillin en 5 2EG7 i 11, Notes from the India Rubber Journal [40 | Br2. Minutes of first Meeting of the General oviinkies pF, ; the Agricultural Show | bs er: FAO | Miscellaneous, Notices to Subscribers J hat va q Rainfall for March, 1904 Ne 3 age | . Singapore Market Report re 143 i . Exports from Singapore & Penang to Europe & Meese 144 i Export Telegram to Europe and America ... byt tae H Monthly Rainfall 15394-1903, Vege Sembilan See FY Meteorological Returns Myt48 \ Annual Subscription—Three Dollars. Single Copy—Fifty Cents. pAnnual Subscription—Outside the Peninsula—-Three Dollars ane fifty cents.) To be purchased at the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, or from Messrs. KELLY & WALSH, Pimited No. 32, Raffles Place and at Orchard Road, Singapore. SINGAPORE: Baas AT THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. NOTICE. es THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL DEPARTMENTS OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. ‘His Excellency the Governor has received a despatch from the Right Hon’ble the Secretary of State for the Colonies calling attention to the advantages offered by the Imperial Institute to erchants, Planters and others, who may wish to have samples submitted to scientific experts for opinion as to their commercial alue, &c. The following extracts from a Memorandum published by the Authorities of the ‘Imperial Institute will give an idea of the work undertaken and carried on there. _ “The Scientific and Technical Department of the Institute has “been established to acquire information by special enquiries and “by experimental research, technical trials and commercial valua- “tion regarding new or little known natural or manufactured pro- ducts of the various Colonies and Dependencies of the British “Empire and of Foreign Countries, and also regarding known “products procurable from new sources, and local products of “manufacture which it is desired to export. This work is carried “out with a view to the creation of new openings in trade, or the “promotion of industrial developments.” 2. In an extensive and well equipped series of Research Labor- atories, a numerous staff of skilled chemists under the direction of Professor WYNDHAM R. DUNSTAN, M.A., F.R.S., carry out the nvestigation of the chemical constitution and properties of ‘new ye-stuffs, tanning materials, seeds and food-stuffs, oils, gums and sins, fibres, timbers, medicinal plants and products, with a view their commercial utilization. Whenever necessary these mate- Is are submitted to special scientific experts, by whom they are ade the subject of particular investigation or practical tests. Re- arts are also obtained from technical or trade experts in regard ) the probable commercial or industrial value of any such products, rhile full information is collected from official or other trustworthy urces regarding the probable extent and cost of available supplies. Reports on the results of enquiries or experimental investigations > supplied as a rule, without charge, but should special expenses © incurred. in connection with any such reports, or with the com- ercial value of particular materials or manufactured products, ich the Council do not consider themselves warranted in meet- g, a statement of such outlays will be furnished, for repayment, en the Reports are supplied. Should an investigation or report Bees corn! character be asked for by a Gov ernment Depart- et , an estimate of the attendant expenses will be submitted, th a view to ascertain whether authority for such expenditure be given, 1 Ss e, Sn TE ee hin « } ae ; ‘ — 1‘ "Fi ee ie a t= = a a —_—— re" =e yall a | , EY Pee, af Be.) a eee MoRICULTURAL BULLETIN OF THE STRAITS AND Peer nnetieD MARA STATES. —~ a san es eS —_ —— - = ae — = : = = No. 4.] APRIL, 1904. [Vov. lI. Parr I. pe eae = = PREPARATION OF CRUDE RUBBER. By F. PEARS. Knowing the importance attached to the rubber industry as an gricultural product likely to be of great importance to the Malay eninsula, I take the opportunity of “addressing all those interested n 1 its preparation. Holding that there can be no competition an Bones rubber planters for the next twenty years at least, it must 2 in the interests of all to bring as much light as possible to bear ipon the subject. At present there seems to be much diversity of pinion and many experiments going on which if they could in ome way be concentrated would save a lot of unnecessary time and rouble. Smoking is even now advocated by some, although we now of many more efficient disinfecting ingredients, aad asa drying nedium, it singularly fails, as is proved. by the quantity ie moisture 1 “Para Fine” upon arrival in London, 7 0 discuss this question logicaily we must start from the Trade quirements and ascertain what our customers require. First and el most it is auzformity, the one point of vital interest and impor- 2 to the manufacturer. The necessity of uniformity in these $is apparent in many trades and therefore further comment Id be useless. Unfortunately it will be many years before any epany or individual will be able to supply sufficient quanti- f the raw material to establish a brand and get such good es s that uniformity with bulk would command. “The only > way get over this difficulty would be for producers to agree to pre- e their rubber in a certain way and ship it under one mark, the it property of those interested. | am fully aware that there would sertain difficulties in organizing such a scheme, but still if the iciple i is agreed upon, it “should be possible to arrange the details. ) not propose making any remarks as to these here as I am only ining myself to suggestions for the mutual benefit of all those rested i in the production of raw rubber. he question ‘now arises as to what would be the best method of aration and the only logical answer is, one containing as few ities as possible, Zc. _ absolute eradication of all the mechanical ities and the removal of the organic impurities as far as prac- 120 ticable. To attempt anything less than this would be to court disaster as the amount of dirt and moisture could never be regulated — in parcels of different origin. This is not the only reason “why it would be advisable to prepare a rubber as pure as possible which an analysis would give say Rubber 98% and Resin 2%. To do this the freshly coagulated latex would have to be washed on a “rubber washing machine” and upon arrival could go straight into manufacture, Zé, on to the mixing machines. Let us ; approximately see what the extra value would be on this product as compared with “Fine Para’? @ 4s. 6¢. This price of 4s. 6d. is for a product which loses 5 % in washing and then only contains. 94% of rubber, and to bring ey to this state of so-called purity, it has to be softened, washed and dried representing say seven days’ work at a cost ol about.6d. per Ib. A simple calculation would ‘bring a a properly pre- pared rubber, as suggested aboye, up to a value of about 6s. Be- sides this there is of course the saving in freight to be taken into consideration which would be as muc h | as 19%. Will the manutacturers give us a proportionate advance for our ultra-fine material? Undoubtedly to start with they would not ; firstly it would be something quite new and untested, and sec ondly there would not be suffic ient quantities coming forward at first, It is equally certain that this anomaly would not last long and that after a time our produce would commend itself and once and for all disassociate itself from the jungle product, which could only be to our advantage. Would washing the rubber add materiaily to its cost of prepara- tion? Ido not think it would; washing does not require much labour and the greater ease with which ‘“ washed sheeted rubber” | can be dried would compensate us for the cost of the machine and labour. As a matter of fact it is almost impossibie to dry biscuits — unless very thin, as the outside hermetically seals them up making it impossible to dry the inside, It is of course obvious that with dry rubber there can absolutely le no question of loss of weight in Europe. | Rubber prepared scientifically is capable of being kept for a con-— siderable period without deterioration which at times may be most useful on a bad market. | could enumerate many other points but neither space nor time are further at my disposal. Whatever one’s opinions may be this is | certainly a matter for discussion, it being of great importance to planters and | would suggest that, at the forthcoming Agricultural Show to be held in Kwala Lumpur next July, a meeting should b called of those interested in the production of crude rubber to thoroughly thrash this matter out as it is one of vital consequence to the future of the rubber industry in this country. ake, teens Before concluding I would like to make it quite clear that 1 » suggestion as to unilor nity in the preparation of rubber only refer to the treatment and has nothing whatsoever to do with its dispos xa F, canal i IT i SCE —-— 12I 1 ~* . IMPERIAL INSTITUTE, (SOUTH KENSINGTON, LONDON, S.\W.) REPORT ON GUTTA PERCHAS FROM THE STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. By Professor WYNDHAM R. DUNS M.A., F.R.S., Director. These samples of Gutta-perchas were forwarded to the Imperial _ Institute by Mr. CURTIS, the Assistant Superintendent of Forests, Penang, with a request that they should be examined in the Scien- } Bite and Technical Department lor the purpose of ° ascertaining their chemical composition and commercial value (see letter dated April 4th, .1902). The specimens received were as follows :-— | 1. Sample of Gutta-percha and about 50 Ibs. of dried leaves of z the species of Palaquium (Palaguium pustulatum? \ known in the State of Perak as ‘‘ Gutta Taban Putih”’ _ 2. Sample of ‘Gutta Simpor”. (Palazucum Maingayi). =. 3. .Sample of “Gutta Taban Chaia”. (Palaguium polyanthum ?), 4. Sample of ‘Gutta Minjato”. (Aassza sp 7) from Langkawi Islands: | Sample of “iutta Susu”. (vera sp.) from Langkawi Islands. “Gutta Taban Merah" ( Palaquium gutla) trom Penang Forests, Dur The specimens Nos. 1, 2,3 and 6 were collected under the - supervision of European Forest Officers in order to ensure their authenticity, and they therefore represent the products of the differ- ent species of Palaquium without any admixture whatsoever. Information was particularly desired concerning Nos. 1 to 5, and of these No. 1 Gutta Taban Putih, was stated to be the most im- portant. This gutta is derived from a tree, probably Palaquium pustulatum, though its botanical identity is a little uncertain at present, this is the most abundant of the Palaguzums in the State of Perak and will grow at an elevation of over 2,000 feet. If the gutta-percha yielded by this species proved to be of good quality it was proposed to establish extensive plantations of the trees. Numerous proposals have been made during recent years to sxtract the gutta-percha from the leaves of the Palaguiums, thereby C ébtaining an earlier vield from the plantations than would be pos- sible othemmise, and several processes have been already patented or this purpose. A large sample of the dried leaves of the tree ielding the Gutta Taban Putih was therefore forwarded, so that : xperiments could be made to determine the amount and quality i the gutta-percha contained in them, and the feasibility of ex- racting it upon a commercial scale. * ne ae ae — SSS _—- 4 | sf ¥ ‘ + > hee DESCRIPTION OF THE SAMPLES. ; No. 1—Gutta Taban Putih from Palaquium pustulatum : eo i The specimen was a conical mass which possessed a curious colour externally, varying from brown to bluish black, but whell freshly cut it was almost white within. It was hard, very tenacious and contained very little foreign matter. On immersion in hot water it softened, becoming plastic but not sticky, and could be. readily moulded, after which treatment it returned to its original condition on standing. ee rr ee | No. 2.—Gutta Simpor from Palaquium Maingayi. This was a rounded cake, light brown externally, but whitish within which had a distinct cinnamon odour, and contained a small amount of foreign vegetable matter. It was hard in the mass but the inner portion were easily friable, whereas the outer layers were tougher and somewhat laminated; the greater part of the sample was easily reduced to coarse powder 1 inca Soe It became plastic but not sticky when immersed in hot water and the water acquired a slight v ellow colour. After this treatment it hardened somewhat on standing but exhibited little tenacity, readily breaking when bent. al wale teagan ide f Ww > < ~ 7 No. 3.—Gutta Taban Chaia from Palaqguium polyvanthum 7 The specimen was a small rounded mass which was brown — externally but much lighter within, and contained a small quantity of vegetable matter. Tt was hard in the mass and exhibited con- siderable tenacity ; small pieces were slightly elastic and softened a little when held in the hand. When placed in hot water it — behaved exactly like the preceding specimen, but exhibited much i | greater tenacity after cooling. No. 4.—Gutta Minjato from Aassza sp.? from the Langkawi — 4 Islands. The sample was a rectangular cake, dark brown externally but light brown within, which exhibited a laminated appearance when — cut and contained a slight amount of vegetable matter. It was ~ hard in the mass but fragments were easily friable, and it could be reduced to coarse powder in a mortar. When treated with hot water it formed a very soft sticky mass and communicated a slight yellow colour to the water. After this treatment it remained flexible for some time, but finally became hard and brittle, breaking readily — with a short fracture. 7 No. §.—Gutta Susu from Dyera sp. from the Langkawi Islands. This was a flat rounded cake, dirty white externally but quite white within and almost entirely free from extraneous. vegetal ble matter. It is probably identical with commercial Pontianac,* | Le it closely resembles in appearance. The sample was fairly hard ; the mass but small pieces could be moulded in the fingers, beco ing slightly sticky. On immersion in hot water it softened, beee rap." ¥ a ra | y Y 1g quite plastic and rather sticky, and only hardened a little on tanding. No. 6.—Gutta Taban Merah from Palagutum gutta, {rom Penang 7 Forests. This was a rounded mass which presented a mottled appear- the colour varying from light brown to nearly white. A fair nount of vegetable matter was present, chiefly small pieces of ark. The material was very hard and tenacious. It softened in 0 water, becoming quite plastic but not at all sticky, and regained S$ original condition on standing. j CHEMICAL EXAMINATION. _ The samples were submitted to chemical examination in the Scientific and technical Department of the Imperial Institute, and the results are given in the following table -— * Dyera costulata (Felutong)—Ea, 7 - flies sheen ccederincattentatadpailte te dil sihe ns slit nis dail Nin Bibione | ‘ A 7 ite 22 a i “Oh sas ~ ae “yas 4 ee a ot? .f>*' an, - ¢ ts" “j ~~ > 4 ? a in ® 2 ps :& m4 = b. [2-3 “ oe ; _ A - a : ' - ++ ~ ) “eo ~“Aqipenb ’ 14 s : yuayjaoxa ‘Suoijs | | | | | | Fg sa : ips OITPA ‘Inojoo Ws] 68.0 | 1. 254 | £.g9 DIN wuninbowg qeiayy i 1 j ‘ | F ; | “eyyns on | | | . | aay Jos ‘MYM OU pamrEJUOD| 140 gg 69 | 8.61 ge avadg|* sng eyne ) ) | ayes = "yudon] | “AXP JEON | | ‘SUvI] pur prey — -aWOS pue 3]qe | | | Sh ; Bes — “UMOIG-YSIMOTIAA | “ly ‘UMOIG-WySI] } 99.0 6.4 ee ke 4 | Ze | Q.z pi J °9s vissug| > oyelulyy eyND > S. pue, | | | : +e = ‘quoon] =| T‘sON ueyy AW, | i | 4 . . ag “sue: 7 a paey | -enb 19330q J9y3 | | | A eae | eee WMOIG-YSIMOT[OX | “er “UMOIG-yysr] |) gt | UF. PER FY o.z$ ae Va J Uuny? rs | " | | -uvdjog mnmbppy| eveyy urqey eyny © a ‘SUOI]S | | | | “prey ‘ayy AA ‘UMOIg-jYySI] | C4.2 0 shee Si | Girls roae ae wos ) | ump wmnimbowg\|*'** sodwig eyWny) ‘Suoys | | | | - é ‘ { H | . } "prey ‘any A, UMOIg-jySI'7 zl o VL | S.6P*"| 9.8 oa! mny | _ “yuao 19g |"}UI9 19g *39 19g WAG "yuao 19g -wyngsnd uninbywog yong ueqey eyny) 1 : SS Re #1 AA | | mais state 2 ho aoe "MIP ur | caagquur | | | : ‘QUIRNT OANRN 4 “UISIY "eqnr) pte re HUISOY "LIN “ainqsiojy “9oAMNOG ]eoluRjog | evYydJaq B})N4) “ON 7 / jo Ajoue A . is _ For comparison, the percentages of gutta, resin and dirt have been calculated for the dry material as follows :— ~ Th. mo. 3. | | No. 6. ee =o. 1. No. 2. Gutta | No. 4. | No. 5. Gutta gutta Taban| Gutta § Taban Gutta. Gutta Taban Putih. Simpor. Chaia. | Mapiate. Susu. Merah. —<— Gutta 38°5. 4575 | 52°6 meres 2" 4 Resin 53°5. 46° | Dirt and I[n- ~ soluble mat- | ter 8’o. | 875 | 34 50 1O'9 yo Ash (included | | 7 | in dirt) 0°77 | eee O04 o'7 o'g 1°O These results show that the sample of Gutta Taban Merah, _ No. 6, which represents the highest class of gutta-percha, is of excellent quality, and far superior to any of the other specimens. _ The Gutta Taban Putih, No 1, contains a much higher percentage of resin and is therefore much inferior in quality to the preceding ; the gutta which it contains is strong aud of good quality however. ~ Gutta Simpor, No. 2, is also an inferior grade of gutta-percha, owing to the presence of much resin, but here again the actual gutta is of good quality. The Gutta Taban Chaia, No. 3, is very similar material to Nos. I and 2, but contains a little less resin and its gutta is of rather better quality. The Gutta Minjato, No. 4, and Gutta Susu, No. 5, are not true gutta-perchas, since they con- tain no proper gutta. The “gutta” obtained from No. 4 was a friable and somewhat waxy substance, possessing little or no strength whilst No. 5 which resembles Pontianac, contained no gutta, but a quantity of rubber-like material, which was completely dissolved with the resin on treatment with ether. Neither of these samples could be utilised for insulating purposes. For comparison with the foregoing results, some analyses by Dr. OBACH of similar samples of gutta-perchas of known botanical origin may be quoted, ye inhi pIAWeS tiie 7 ae etait iinet: # pets > | = = sly: 3 Ot atte tle eee egw La “hs rie SP) Rg Aj IOP tpt FEM Pope eeeOn g A Se en a, — = — ——— a + sound ‘SPIO edi rie ie * e. ‘ ‘ual OOH aaa qsppard-aq Sry ot me Se Lope ae ‘ystyuid | Pay sid oy? | | ore “au §19.4, am ef aig | “1ySe]9 | oo ‘UMOA ws] / “UMOIG TSI] re gor |. £5 Saat Sam “UBdIO (*Xo]|Suayy) ; : | ss | | eres OUUM] epuzngsnd sesgoysuy } savey Ueqe {, en | onseje ‘umorq | | £ |. -usrsre ; : | | pary “qWYysty A139.) — ystyard-qysry ZV he 8g ark ba ee Ayquan.y: uvao (‘ayae])) Se, | | = SOU Ape N eo ae BH Te: ‘rodung uvqr. Can ey | 3° Rae = (21558 en te. ale (‘Yjuog) , (-231y Ay) V9r | OL | OTF | uel ‘ayy A | vyzuwdzog sesfoy2cy | yang uvqvy &}4NL) "39 19g “I4SeIa a “2 YUG*uMorg- Gis | Sees "JO JO 99 9d "Jo 19g | | | | ek Se Bre 2 j t | Seok ere pater "ABIN “aN A ~ Sage | “oR OArze “uIsay jo coutasten 1) eye) jossqowey)) ete Ulsay ny: 1978 \\ “eouvIveddy ‘eee % eae aoe | | | | | | 9IINOG [BNULIOG | INL) JO AIBA —______ , , alg = CLegs uz pastpou FP) PEST Ul Moy ‘sueprey otuejog [eAOY oY} 03 pejueseid pue ung ACI PrBuoay “If AQ YVl9q UI poyooT[oo vyourod vy4yn-H Jo sueuttvedg 127 _A second and larger sample of Getah Taban Simpor from Di- chopsis Maingayi was sent to Kew oy Mr. WRAy in 1886. On b analysis this was found to contain 31.2 per cent of gutta and 62.3 _ per cent of resin, and wa§ therefore of better quality. than the first s. ecimen. 5 cen of Gutta Percha obtained by Dr. OBAcH from Mr. | N. RIDLEY in 1892. ete tbe ae ; . / Appearance. Variety. Botanical Source. Priatic, Pinkish Wen: Getah Taban Merah. Dichopsis Gutta (Benth.) 5 Serge arene a - - }- Charaeter’of |--~ . : | Character of resin. Water | Gutta Resin Dirt : gutta. ) — eee ae oe ae >|. | Light, Pinkish, | Hard, reddish-brown, 13.1 66.7 14.00 | 6.2 very strong. | translucent. The results of the chemical examination of the present series of samples are in general agreement with the previous analyses just ‘given. The sample of Gutta Taban Putih analysed by Dr. OBACTI was of rather better quality than that now under notice, whereas _ the present samples of Gutta Simpor and Gutta Taban Chaia are | distinctly better than the earlier specimens. It will be noticed that _ the botanical sources of Gutta Taban Putih and Gutta Taban Chaia are transposed in the two series. Commercial Valuation. _ The samples were submitted for valuation and technical trial to _manutlacturers using large quantities of gutta percha, who reported _ that as the result at cheer examination, they valued the specimens as follows :— No. 1 Gutta Taban Putih & 25¢ PELiUD. No. 2 Gutta Simpor a Is. 6a. per |b. No. 3 Gutta Taban Chaia a 2s. 4d. per |b. No. 4 Gutta Minjato No use for insulating purposes. No. 5 Gutta Susu do. do. et No. 6 Gutta Taban Merah ie, 6s. per |b. The price of the last sample may be taken to represent the mar- ket value of the highest grade of gutta percha, subject to fluctu- ations, and it is therefore evident that Gutta Taban Putih of similar “quality to the present specimen will only command one-third the price of this. It will be noticed too that a higher value is assigned to the Gutta Taban Chaia than to the Gutta Taban Putih. The Gutta Susu would fetch the market price of Pontianac. Conclusions This enquiry has therefore shown that the Gutta Taban Putih is very inferior in quality to the Gutta Taban Merah, and that it is only worth about one-third the price of the latter. No information has been furnished regarding the relative vields of gutta percha obtained from the two trees in these experiments, but previous: investigations upon this point seem to indicate that there is no : great difference in this respect between the two species. If this be so the establishment of extensive plantations of the trees yielding Gutta Taban Putih could not be recommended in any locality where the much more valuable Taban Merah trees can be success- fully grown, as there can be no doubt that the latter would give the best financial results. If the aban Putih trees can be grown at higher altitudes than the other species, it would probably be advantageous to establish supplementary plantations of them in suitable districts. The trees yielding Gutta Taban Chaia may also be worthy of further experiments if they are suitable for cultivation in any districts where Taban Merah trees cannot be grown, since the gutta percha furnished by them appears to be slightly superior to the Gutta Taban Putth. | EXTRACTION OF GUTTA PERCHA FROM THE LEAVES. About 50 lbs. of the dried leaves of the tree yielding Guttah Taban Putih (Palaguium pustulatum ?) were forwarded so that ex- periments could be made to determine the amount of gutta percha they contain, and the possibility of extracting it upon a commercial scale. It may be noted at the otitset, however, that the examination of the gutta perchas obtained from the trees has shown that Gutta Taban Putik is very much inferior in quality to Gutta Taban Merah, and this is also likely to be true in the case of the product from the leaves of the two trees. The problem of devising a suitable pro- cess for the extraction of gutta percha from leaves is a difficult one, which has not yet been satisfactorily solved and at this stage it would be desirable in any experiments upon the subject toemploy the leaves of the tree furnishing the best quality of gutta percha. | The leaves were ground to coarse powder and were extracted in various ways by different solvents, with the result that they were — found ‘to contain about 2 per cent. of pure gutta, together witha — large amount of resinous substance. The gutta thus obtained ex- — hibited very good physical properties. Since thé sample of Gutta Taban Putih derived from the tree contained only 35.6 per cent. of pure gutta, the above yield would indicate that the leaves contain | 5.6 per cent. of gutta percha of similar quality to that yielded by | the tree, z: It is very probable, however, that the yield of gutta percha obtain- | ed from dry leaves in Europe is’much lower than would be obtained | from the same leaves by treatment on the spot. The gutta percha © in the leaves is in a very finely divided condition and is therefore ~ extremely liable to oxidation with the formation of resinous sub-— stances, so that owing to changes during transport, the quantity of vutta is likely to be considerably reduced. According to published _ obtained from the jee by extraction with solvents when the pro. cess is carried out on the spot. The possibility of extracting gutta percha from the leaves lias been the subject of many investigations during recent years, and Bepmerous processes, many olf which are protected by patents, have been already devised for the purpose, Most of those depend upon the extraction of the gutta percha by means of solvents, but others have been suggested in which the gutta percha is obtained by “mechanical treatment. Several of the extraction processes have been tried upon a commercial scale in Europe, but for various rea- sons the results have been very unsatisfactory froma financial point of view, and it is believed that at the present time all the factories established in Europe have practically suspended operations. It would appear from the results of these trials that in order to make any process a success it will be necessary to worl it on the _ spot and that further experiments are required to determine the _ particular method most suited to the local conditions. Many of the processes which have been suggested involve the use of solvents of low boiling points, and would be very difficult to carry out in the tropics upon a large scale. From this point of view a mechanical _ process would be much preferable if one giving satisfactory results could be devised. It has been stated that the quality of the gutta percha obtained by mechanical methods is better than that pre- | pared by the use of solvents, but the yield is said to be very much less. It would be well if this latter point could be definitely settled aad experiments might be made to determine whether the yield _ could not be ‘greatly increased by suitable treatment. A process | depending upon the digestion and agitation of the crushed leaves with hot water in suitable machines may be suggested as once deserving experimental trial. The gutta-percha in fresh leaves could possibly be readily sepa- rated by such treatment, and could be easily washed free from vegetable impurities. Machinery has been designed for extracting rubber from bark in this way, and is at present “being used in the French Congo for the preparation of “root-rubber’’. If such a process, suitably modified, could be used for extracting gutta-per- cha from leaves, it would be much more preferable and cheaper than any method involving the use of solvents. It is understood that several processes are at present undergo- ing practical trials in the East, and the results of these will afford some indication of their suitability for general use, and the possi- bility of their proving a financial success. It would probably be desirable to await the results of these trials before commencing operations upon a large scale in the Straits Settlements, and in the meantime to carry out some Sepeiments upon mechanical processes as sugested above. Another point which arises in connection with this subject is the Boscibility of obtaining regularly a sufficient supply of leaves to nake the industry remunerative. It seems probable that, whatever ocess be adopted, it could only be successfully worked in con- = ve nection with extensive plantations of the trees, and even th hy: may be doubted whether it would be advantageous to pluck leav ‘ from cultivated trees for the purpose of extracting the gutta- percha from them. This point, however, must be left “for the con- sideration of the local authorities. f “f In view of the great superiority of Gutta Taban Merah over chad ' other varieties of gutta-percha it would be desirable in any further experiments upon this subject to use the leaves of that tree, as they would in all probability furnish the best results. i esi REPORT ON RUBBER FROM THE STRAITS SETTLEMENTS. I ‘sample of Para Rubber, No. 7, was forwarded with the pre- ceding specimens of gutta-percha for mechanical examination and valuation, It had been prepared from a tree growing in the — Botanic Gardens, Penang, and consisted of three rectangular cakes — 5 inches by 6 inches, and about one-eighth of an inch in thickness. | The rubber had a dark brown colour, was translucent and con- tained no visible impurities. One piece was slightly sticky but otherwise the sample exhibited very good physical properties. On analysis it furnished the following results :~~ Moisture... ... ODS percent Caoutchouc ... ...95'O ¥ Resin Fh. A HS 35 Ash a Or ; The rubber was therefore of very good quality, and it compared very favourably with hard Para from South America, though the amount of resin was rather higher than is usually met with in the best qualities of the latter. The brokers to whom it was submitted for commercial valuation reported that consignments of similar quality would realise the current market value of good Para Rubber. | WYNDHAM.'R. DUNSTAN. gth February, 1904. Analysis of Castilloa and Funtumia Rubber. Samples of Castilloa and Funtumia rubber were sent from Trini- dad, by Mr. HART, the Superintendent of the Botanic Gardens, the Imperial heatitwrs where they were examined and analys edi D} Professor WYNDHAM R. DUNSTAN, of the Castilloa, rubber Wa taken from trees of four years old and also from old trees comparison, The difference was very striking. That frome young trees showed very little resemblance to true rubber ; possessed no elasticity and very little tenacity. It contained 6: of resin.and only 33.6 Caoutchouc. S @ é fe 4 « a eo 2 Raq we ee, ae — (> et C — “a * * 131 _ That from the old trees was good rubber and possessed all the _ requisite qualities. It contained 81.9 Caoutchouc, and only 15.8 ‘Resin. The age of the old trees is not stated, but it is certainly clear that Castilloa trees cannot be tapped to any good purpose as young as four years and probably not for a good many years after that. It is pointed out that even in the old trees the amount of esin is far too high and much more than is permissible. Of the Funtumias, the samples were sent from /. africana and F. elastica for comparison. Reports from West Africa have stated that the former is inferior to the latter and this is confirmed by the analysis F. africana giving only 39°3 Caoutchouc to 60°00 Resin while £. _élastica gave 60°4 Caoutchouc and 15°3 Resin. Samples of Caséidloa rubber and Funtumua elastica, of differcut ages were compared. The analyses show that while Fvz/unzu for dry rubber at 43 years 85°3-80°9 per cent. Caoutchouc and 112 and 100 Resin. Caséclloa of the same age gave 41°3 to 44'4 - Caoutchouc, and 49°3 to 56°2 Resin, so that Funtumia may be said to come into bearing much earlier than Castilloa. Castilloa trees 12 years old and over gave from 82°7 to g1°2 Caoutchouc, and 873 to 13°8 Resin. The author of the report, however, points out that WEBER, in trees on the Isthmus of Columbia, of the ages of 4 and § years, found 26°47 and 1818 per cent. resin, which is about half the amount in the Trinidad rubber. The Funtumia and the Castilloa rubber from the older trees were valued at 2s. 2d. to 2s. 6d. per |b. for Funtumia and 2s. 4d. to 25. 9d. - for Castilloa. __ Some Castilloa rubber prepared by Dr. WEBER'S process of add- ing Formaldehyde to the creamed latex, was found to have only _ 82 per cent. Resin and g1°2 Caoutchouc, and was a very satisfac- tory sample, but very similar to the best sample prepared by creaming and adding alcohol in the ordinary way, and was valued _at the same price, vz. 2s. gd. per lb.—(Extracted from Bulletin Imperial Institute.) THE FUTURE OF RUBBER IN CEYLON. Prices now and hereafter. Although considerable activity is being shown in the planting of tubber in suitable districts in the island, the question of future prices introduces an element of uncertainty which hitherto, however, has not exercised a very restraining influence upon developments. Tt is well, however, to be prepared for all eventualities. To those of us who went through the hot lit of the cinchona craze, when acres of that product seemed more valuable to our dazzled eyes than the Witwatersrand, a modest estimate of future prices is po- pular, and acceptable. ‘That those who have rubber trees capable 1" * i ray Hi u 4 Ve Y a 2 + ea ale Ad, vee ie 4y TBEY a" iT | ; ie) of being tapped during the next three or four years possess a re valuable adjunct to their tea or their, coconuts goes without saying but what we should all like to know is what range of prices are likely to be ruling, say, six years hence, when the rubber now being extensively planted in the Straits, in India, and in Ceylon, comes — cradually into bearing. So far as one can see there is no likelihood | of any great reduction in price. The demands of the markets of ] the world, evenat the high prices now ruling, are ever on the in- J crease, and so far have been almost entirely met by a supply of — coarsely cured wild rubber. What we have, therefore, to consider — is this—to what extent will supplics of cultivated rubber affect the } market six and eight years hence when all the rubber now planted | in British India and the Straits comes into bearing. Hitherto, — no very reliable estimates have been framed as to the extent of the ' area now under rubber, but about 4,000,000 trees were supposed — to be put out in Ceylon by the middle of last year. This is of itself | no very large quantity, when it is remembered that the total con- | sumption of the world is estimated at about cwts. 1,250,000. But, although that is a very large quantity of rubber, it is well to point | out that it represents only 1 Ib. per annum from 140,000,000 trees—or 2 Ibs. per tree from 400,000 acres at 175 trees to the acre. This is a vast quantity, undoubtedly, but it is not so very over- | whelming. Many, many years must elapse, no doubt, before any- | | wy thing like this quantity of rubber is produced from cultivated areas, but it is well to have the position brought into proper perspective, | For some years to come no appreciable effect is likely to be pro- duced upon prices by cultivated rubber, so far as we can see; but | it is of course, only a question of time. With continued expansion — of the area under this valuable product, the production will steadily } increase, and tend hereafter to depress prices, and for this all | careful men should be prepared. [l*or ourselves we are inclined to | think that the area in the island thoroughly suited for the produc- ] tion of Para rubber is not so unlimited as some people seem to imagine. Whether this be so or not we are still far from possessing an area under cultivation in rubber likely to influence prices ad- versely. But, with extensions in other parts of British India rapidly proceeding, the day must come when the markets of the world are affected. And this fact should not be lost sight of. The present price of 4s. and 5s. a lb. cannot last for ever, but there — is this undoubted safeguard—that cultivated rubber, when available — in any appreciable quantity, will always displace an cqual amount _ of the uncultivated product. The latter costs much to collect, and | any substantial fall in price would inevitably drive it out of the | market at once, leaving space for vast supplies of the better prepared | and purer product of British India and the Straits, 4 From the ‘* Times of Ceylon,” | | Thursday, March 3rd, 1y0f. —eeeee ree me : 4 | a 2 | | | COMMON TAPIOCA FLOUR. By A. L: DE MORNAY. The smaller Chinese growers, not having the sufficient capital to erect steam machinery to work off their crops, discovered a method some thirteen years ago, of producing an inferior Tapioca flour, or more correctly speaking meal, by means of rotting the tubers in water instead of disintegration, and thus ay oiding the necessity of motive power. It may interest some of your readers—especially those desirous of introducing a catch crop to work as a concomitant of the per- manent cultivation of their Estates—to have a de scription of the process, which is as follows :-— A hole or shallow well of suitable size in proportion to the extent of crop to be treated, is dug in the ground at a spot of sufficiently low level to ensure the water remaining stagnant and not draining away. The hole is then charged full of Bieached tubers, care being taken that all are entirely submerged, and there left for 4 to 7 days. The time they take to rot depends to some extent on the weather (a low temperature retarding putrelaction) and partly on the degree of foulness the water may have reached according to the length of time the same ee may have been previously em- ployed for the purpose. A new hole with pure water, taking a considerably longer time to eich putrefaction. When it is found that decomposition is sufficiently advanced to mash the tubers to a pulp between the hand, they are removed from the hole and placed in a large tub into which a man enters and treads them out to as fine a pulp as possible. A basket of about { in. mesh is placed in a separate tub, and the pulp is poured into this and stirred till the greater part passes through the meshes of the basket, leaving only the woody and imperfectly rotted portions of the root. Water j 1s frequently poured on the pulp to assist in straining the basket. When the desired quantity of pulp has thus eee treated, the basket is withdrawn and the pulp Icft for 24 hours to precipitate. When it has settled, as well as its fibrous nature will permit of, the water is baled out of the tub and skimmed off the flour as much as possible. Ordinary gunnies (sacks) are then tied to sticks driven into the ground in a triangular position, and the pulpy mass removed froy the tub and thrown into the sacks, where it is left to drain._J way the water drains out of the pulp, and becomes off consistency to be removed trom the sacks, separated in and spread over a cement space to dry in the sun. W4] the lumps are broken smaller, and when comparatively den out and finally sifted through bamboo siev mesh, and packed for the market. The proportion of so called “Flour” obtain may be calculated at 27 to 32 %. Ae ta’ DE 134 COCONUTS. If r901 and 1902 were the most properous years the island has seen as regards prices realized for its Coconut products, the year 1903 has the pre-eminence of having exported the largest amount of all its products within the last ten years, and perhaps even be- fore, Coconuts in the shell, alone being about two millions below the largest number ever exported. The figures are as follows :— Coconut oil cwts. 665,357; Copra cwts. 721,575 (cwts. 28 1j780 above the previous highest); Desiccated nuts 17,485,369 Ibs., nuts in the shell 13,129,346; Rope cwt. 20,638; Yarn cwts. 92,124; Fibre cwts. 132,203. Your best customers have been the United Kingdom, America, Germany, and Russia. The United Kingdom took three. fourths of the oil, and most of the yarn and fibre also 11 million pounds desiccated Coconuts and 9 millions of the Coconuts in shell. Germany is first in Copra and Poonac, and Belgium is a close second in Poonac. These two countries took cwts. 290,750, leaving only cwts. 9,222 for all other countries. Russia is a close second in Copra. America is second in desiccated Coconuts with close on 2 milion pounds. Americais also second in Coconut oil. As usual Singapore took almost all the rope, leaving only cwts. 301 out of 20,638. Prices from last year have dropped all round. Coconut oil from Rs. 15.60 to Rs. 13.50 per cwt. Copra from Ks. 52to Rs. 46 percandy. Desiccated nuts from 18 cents to 15 cents per lb. Poonac from Rs. 80 to Rs. 70 per ton. Prices however keep well above those ruling four or five years ago, and may be considered satisfactory in the face of the large increase in output in the different products. The manufacture of Coconut Butter is reported to be well under way, and it is hoped the enterprise will be successful. Your Committee has not hearned that many are cul- tivating the sensitive plant as a nitrogen producer; land owners are on the look-out for some plant less ‘objectionable. A modifica- tion of the Malay States Ordinance for the protection of Coconut from the ravages of the red-beetle might with advantage be intro- duced locally, the black-beetle is in Ceylon practically harmless. The weather as a rule has been favourable and an average yield ~ may be expected. It is useless to try and forecast prices. (Extracted from the 50th annual report of the Planters Assotia- tion of Ceylon) ’ RAMIE. 25, BIRCHINGTON ROAD, WeEsT HAMPSTEAD, N, W, @ Esq., London, February 2oth, 1904. o High Commissioner, H bed Malay States. I ) thank you for Agricultural Bulletin No. ver all the points as they occur to me as I read r, . ve Wat = ice Pg - H - 135 starting from page 356. There is much truth in the contentions of the London Correspondent to Pioneer and he has erred in so far he has wnderstated the case. ! must respectfully differ with the Editor's note on page 359, and I would ask you to read enclosed cutting from the Draper Textile Mercury Magazine of Commerce. It is absurd to expect buyers to contract till they know what the planter can produce. The planter is afraid to experiment. It is in his power to start cautiously if he will and prove his produce can be used but he cannot expect Costly Machinery to be fitted here in the hope he wiil at some future time feed it. There are more mills now than the Indian Crops can supply. This is proved by the high prices obtained for Raw Material. 1 note Mr. BAXEN- DALE tries retting and expects same result with Ramie from Flax methods. Treat Ramie as it should be not as one does other fibres. Filasse Ramie onthe plantation. Till this is done all the disappoint- __ ments mentioned by Mr. BAXENDALE will continue. First there is the loss in freight and not least the greater difficulty and expense ; in treating Ribbons. Why not produce as the Chinese do if your _ planter won’t filasse, but i expect the ribbons were brown “Rhea” : ribbons as they are known by here and though I can treat them, : ie [ must admit the China supplies yield better results. But even brown ribbons would find a regular market and if Mr. BAXENDALE will guarantee regular supplies I can assure him a demand. I note Mr. BAXENDALE thinks it is the spinner who has to be con- verted. Let me assure him the trade are anxious for supplies but cannot get planters to guarantee supplies. No mill can work with | intermittent feeding, the quantity and quality must be regular. - Mr. BAXENDALE’S idea of the quantity used in incandescent gas mantle is quite misleading, | know factories that have orders booked 6 months ahead. If your “planters are prepared to supply one thou- sand tons per week I am able to find them customers. What produce does Mr. BAXENDALE refer to, as far as I can gather he has 400,000 plants, how far could that go towards keeping a mill employed, but even that small amount if sent regularly will be taken. Mr. BAXENDALE talks of small farmers wanting hydraulic presses, &c., as well as talk of farmers establishing mills to grind a few acres of corn. When the growers are there then the middle man will be there to collect Blasse bale &c., &c. As to not recom- mending the Government to take the matter up, this rests with your Colony, but you will find to your cost the trade will be captured by others; already the German Government are subsidising their African Colonies and encouraging Ramie production, and the _ French are capturing the Indian “planters for the supplies now _being grown in India are for French markets. Mr. BAXENDALE’S ‘results. should suffice to convince any one. £18 13s. 4d. per acre _what other crop produces it. I would suggest you print and cir- culate the Article [ send you from the Draper. All the proof you want is obtainable. It is quite true a very different state of things exists now than when Mr. BAXENDALE was here. How is it the Japs and Chinese do so well with Ramie. That should suffice to prove there’s an Industry lurking at your door. Once Ramie takes “ig yA 26 ta? 4 fe Wil oe . ¥ : the place it deserves there will be no more Cotton fami nering, gambling and the like curses. ‘ To conclude if you will appoint an agent here to if vestigalen possibilities | am prepared to convince him, and Mr. BASEN “s will deserve well oi ie shareholders if they start the Ramie indus- ; try, Please reprint this and circulate it as you have kindly done ny 2 other letters and may I suggest you appoint a a Committee to inves~. tigate the possibility of starting the industry ou Commercial lines | I have offered my service on “the cure no pay’ terms. I repeat I‘loreat Ramie. i Yours, &c,, D. EDWARDS RADCLIFFE. . Please send a copy of this to Mr. BAXENDALE Cuttings per — same post. JUGRA ESTATE, Selangor, Apri oth, 1904. In reply to Mr. &bDWARDs-RADCLIFFE’S letter of February 2oth, 1go4, to Secretary Lo High Commissioner, | beg to make the fol- lowing observations:— | 2. Ramié spinners have frequenily told me that noe have costly machinery fitted up out when | produced my China Grass (produced by Faure machirie) the best quctation was £17 a top. # | This allowing for a reasonable loss in degumming works out to less than half the value of the best cotton. be 3. Mr. RADCLIFFE says he can treat brovyn riobons. The Com- | pany with which he was associated in Igo said the same thing and did, [ believe, filasse and spin one bale which was _ highly reported on but the treatment of brown ribbon appeared to become | a lost art, for when we offered them several bales as a present | they replied that the stuff was useless to them. 4.. 1 did not say I ‘‘exp@cted” success when [ttredi las methods, as ! was fully aware at the time that every similar expe- — riment had faiied. I did it at the earnest request of a friend who was interested in flax spinning. If I was to blame for wasting my time over this, | was equally to blame for producing Ramie in any shape or form as up to the time I started no case had been recorded of any European plaater making a success of it. i. ee PI INI gi Sen 5. 1 do Ks SEE Dat yes remarks as gas Bde are neces-_ orders bpekee 6 Shs aneadl I have heard that there are mills in England which think 2 tens a month quite a large order, 6. [ grant that 400,000 plants compare poorly with the mag 1 ficent acreage we read about in story books written by Company promoters ; but in real life if took time and cost a good d deal of moucy to get them together ; and, at any ratc, a small fractic 137 their produce seemed to be more than enough to meet the require- -ments*of Mr. RADCLIFFE’S friends. 7. In using my figures, apparently as an argument to persuade the planter to shut his eyes, open his movth and see what the spinner will put into it, Mr. RADCLIFFE quotes the hypothetical value of an acre’s production, i.e. £8 13s.4d@. and naively asks “what other crop produces it’? He has failed to notice the little items of expenditure that must te set against it. _ 8. IJ question if it would pay to open land for Ramie only in this ccuniry—even assuming that degummers are willing to buy it on the spot at the rate of Aes: pence a pound for the peas filasse. Until the Ramie spinner backs his oft-expressed opinion -that it is equal (if not superior) to flax, by offering a similar price for it, the “King (of Fibres”’ ts doomed to the humble position iat best) of a supplementary product or catch crop. 9. Chinese methods cf produc tion might be adopted by our natives, were it not for the fact that the "Malay can earn enough in a day to keep himself for a week, by other occupation. 10. While I still retain the highest opinion of the potentialities of Ramie fibre and believe it will ultimately revolutionise the textiie industry, | cannot recommend the Government to fritter away public funds in any experimental work, until evidence is forth- ; coming that Ramie spinners are prepared to take a practical inter- y est in th re venture. B CyYRIP ES. Baven NDALE. e JUGRA ESTATE, Apri! 9th, 1904. cn 9 en VANILLIN., IMPERIAL INSTITUTE, (South Kensington, Londen, S. W.) Memorandum on the Manufacture and Produckon of Vanillin and its employment as a substitute for Vaniila. -Vanillin is the constitueat to which Vanilla owes its aroma and avour. It was discovered in 1858 by COBLEY, and was subsequent- investigated by a number of chemists, notably by TIEMAN, who rst prepared it artificially from Coniferin, a glucoside found in rtain coniferous plants. Since that time a large number of pro- sses for the artificial preparation of Vanillin on a commercial scale ve been devised. The first of these to meet with commercial ecess was that of DE LA!rE (English Patents: :8q0 No. 17,547: 91 Ne. 17.137), who used as a starting point exgero/, the sub- nee to which oil of cloves owes its characteristic odour. DE RE’S process, either in its original form or slightly modified, s workec in France by Dr LairE & Co., and in Germany by —— “+ = hafitns — = ———— _ —<—s SE eee ee———E—E—EEEe SE ERE ONG Sey TP ae Oe 138 ere oe iis: —) ik, BAARMANN and REIMER during the period 1891-1896 apparently under an agreement to avoid competition in prices. About 1897, however, a period of competition set in between the French and German makes, which was further accentuated by additions, in , France, Germany and Switzerland, to the number of firms making vanillin. The result has been that the price of this product, which was 49 per lb. in 1890, has steadily fallen until in November last it was quoted at £1.1.4 per lb. It is probable that all the vanillin so far placed on the market has been made from eugeno/, and its price has therefore been governed by that of oil of cloves as the raw pro- duct. In 1901, however, a patent (No. 310,983) was taken out in France by VIGNE, in which an electrolytic method for the prepara- tion of vanillin from sugar was described. If the claims of the || inventor are borne out by practical trials on an industrial scale, it is probable that a further reduction in price may be expected, owing to the great difference in cost of the two raw products | eugenol and sugar. | There is no trustworthy information as to the extent to which artificial vanillin is manufactured and used at the present time, but to judge from the number of firms engaged in its production the amount must be considerable. | As regards the effect of the manufacture and sale of “ artificial vanillin ’’ upon the demand for vanilla, it is remarkable that this has up to the present been comparatively slight. When it is con- sidered that vanilla is employed principally as a flavouring agent, and that its value in this respect depends upon the amount of vanillin it contains, it is curious that so recently as November last ceood qualities of vanilla should be saleable at 17/- to 19/6d. per Ib. whilst the equivalent amount of artificial vanillin for flavouring purposes, could be obtained for about one-thirtieth of this cost. It it probable that this preference for Vanilla over artificial Vanillin is due partly to conservatism on the part of the consumers, and partly also to a somewhat widespread belief that vanillin does not wholly represent the flavour of vanilla, which it is alleged is partly due to minute quantities of other aromatic substances present in the plant. Some evidence in favour of this view is furnished by the statements made at various times by chemists who have examined particular varieties of Vanilla, and have isolated in addition to Vanillin small quantities of heliotropin, benzoic acid, etc. These substances are | however both cheap and readily obtainable, and if necessity arose | it would be a very easy matter to mix them in a proper proportion | with vanillin, in order to modify the flavour of the latter in the required direction. | The foregoing statement of the present condition of vanillin manufacture indicates clearly the possibility in the near future of — the replacement of vanilla as a flavouring agent by vanillin. It is difficult to obtain reliable statistics of the production of vanilla since the cultivation of this product is so widely distributed in tropical countries, and the imports of it into the principal con- suming countries are comparatively ef so little value that they are : ; y y i 4 i 4 4 8 [39 rarely separately given. The United States Trade Returns for 1902, however, give a table of the imports of Vanilla into that country for the decennial period ending in 1902, of which an ab- stract is given below. Imports of Vanilla into the United States of America. Weights Value. Average Ibs. Value per lb. $ $ 1894 171,556 727,853 4.2 1896 235,763 1,013,608 4.2 1899 = 272,174 1,235,412 4.5 1900 225,906 1,209,334 As? 1901 248,988 875,229 3.5 1902 = 361,739 350,399 2.3 These figures show that although there is at present no falling off in the demand for Vanilla, there has been a great decline in value. The same state of things is shewn by the results of the two auctions held in London in February and November of the present year. At the former, 2,800 tins were sold and at the latter 1,410 tins. These quantities are in excess of those of former years. The prices obtained in February ranged from 22/6¢. per lb. for best qualities to 14/6¢. for somewhat short chocolate coloured beans, and 7/6 to 11/6d for “foxy brown” beans. In November the best qualities realised only 17/ to 19/67 per |b. short beans from 8/6d to 11/ and poor qualities 4/ to 7/ per |b. It is almost impossible to give accurately the total annual pro- duction of Vanilla at the present time, but it may be estimated at about 250 tons, of which about 150 tons are produced in the British Colonies and Bourbon, and the remainder in Mexico. Such statis- tics as are available indicate that the total production has remained almost stationary during the last few years, the increased out-put from Seychelles and Mexico being compensated by small exports from Mauritius and Bourbon. This being the case it is evident that the depreciation in value of Vanilla must be ascribed almost entirely to the competition of Vanillin as a flavouring agent. In this connection it is desirable that it should be known that the so- called ‘Artificial Vanillin” is identical in every respect with the Vanillin contained in Vanilla, and to which the flavour of the plant is chiefly if not entirely due. For this reason it is not possible to encourage proposals to prevent the sale of Vanillin as a ‘substitute’ for Varitla. WYNDHAM R. DUNSTAN, 29th December, 1903. 140 i , Notes from the India-Rubber Journal. The International Rubber Planters Association.—The Editor of the Journal publishes a letter from Sir WILLIAM THISELTON DYER accepting the position of President of the Association. Sir WILLIAM has always taken the greatest interest in the cultivation of Rubber and indeed it is to him that we inthe East are indebted for the introduction of the Para rubber tree into the East. Dr. WEBER is the Honorary Expert of the Association. The Editor suggests to members of the Association, that they should prepare 5lb. samples of rubber in any way that seems to them best or by any method to which they are best accustomed, Details of the process used should be given, and the samples will be examined by a prominent broker, then by a buyer, then by Dr. WEBER. A _ portion of each will be analysed, after which they will be sent to an expert manufacturer who will give his opinion on their merits and who will then pro- ceed to manufacture each sample separately. A report of their behavior after vulcanisation will be given, a microscopic examina- tion will follow and a general report. on the value of each sample will be given. This system should produce the most valuable re- sults, and one would certainly think that members of the Associa- tion would not delay to send samples in for so valuable an examina- tion and criticism. Mr. SINNEY PARRY writes a deocriptive letter about hanes planting in the Peninsula illustrated by good photographs of Para trees in Kajang, 35 and 6} years old and trees on Kent Estate. frditor, Minutes of the first meeting of the General Committee, held at the Selangor Club at 11 a.m. on Saturday, the 26th of March. The Acting Resident presided, there being 33 members present out of a total of 42. 2. ‘The Chairman in a brief address informed the meeting of the objects of the show, remarking that this was the first of a series of shows which it had been decided to hold annually through the Colony and the Federated Maiay States: that agriculture was a subject in which the Resident-General takes a creat deal of interest and concluding by expressing the hope that those gentlemen who had keen so good as tc consent to serve on the various Committees, would do their best to make the show a success 3. The agenda was then read by the Chairman of the Local Standing Committee (Mr. W. W. BAILEY), and it was decided to — deal with the fifth item on the agenda first, viz—-: ‘Tc consider suggestions made by the Local Standing Committee.” 4. The following suggestions were agreed to ‘mem. con. :—— (4) That the show be held on the race course,—subyect to” ; ih e approval of the Turf Club; I4! (2) That the date of the show shall be about the end of July, but not on such a date as will interfere with the race meeting. (3) ‘That the show shail remain open three days. 5. Suggestion 5, viz-—: ‘that subscribers of five dollars and upwards, be entitled to complimentary tickets” was, on the motion of the Chairman, amended so as to read “ subscribeis of ten dollars and upwards shall be entitled to complimentary tickets’. This was agreed to unanimously. ww 6. Suggestions 4 and 6 relating to the prices of admission, and time of opening the show respectively, were on the motion of Mr. SEVERN, referred to the General Purposes Committee. 7. It was proposed by Mr. PARKINSON and seconded by Mr. PRIOR that Mr. STANLEY ARDEN be appointed General Secretary. Carried. 8. On the motion of Mr. PRIOR, seconded by Mr. W. W. 3AILEY, Mr. H. C. E. ZACHARIAS was unanimously elected to the post of Hon: Treasurer. A discussion on the subject of raising additional funds fol lowed, and a motion of Mr. SEVERN “that a subscription list be opened and that Government be asked to subscribe dollar for dollar of the amount subscribed ’’, failing to find a seconder, Mr. BAILEY proposed ‘‘that in addition to the sum already provided in the estimates, viz: 2,000 dollars, Government be invited to give dollar for dollar of the amount raised by private subscription’. This was seconded by Mr. H. F. BROWELL and carried by a large majority, 10. It was unanimously agreed that the collection of private subscriptions should be left in the hands of the General Purposes Committee. ir. Mr. PRIOR proposed and Mr. SKINNER secouded “ that the cost of transport of exhibits approved by any member of the Com- mittee shall be paid for by the Committee’’. Carried unanimously. 12. The General Secretary submitted to the meeting a draft list of rules and regulations relating to exhibits. These were agreed to ‘zz ¢oto’, but referred to the General Purposes Committee for _ consideration. 13. On the motion of Mr. BAILEY it was agreed that each sub- committee should appoint their own Judges. 14. The General Secretary was instructed to approach the Federal Government, with a view to making arrangements for the attendance at the show, of Messrs. RIDLEY and DERRY ol the Singapore Botanic Gardens, and Mr. FOx of the Botanic Gardens, Penang. 15. The next meeting of the General Committee having been fixed for Saturday, the 16th April. The meeting terminated at 12 20. P.M. with a vote of thanks to the Chairman. ——__ ____ eee ——— “a2 mn MISCELLANEOUS. a ee Notices to Subscribers. I. For the information of subscribers and others who have been unable to complete their series of the Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and Federated Malav States notice is here given that Nos, {1 7)00; 0, Ol the vT Series (1891-1900) and Nos. 1, 8, 9, 10, of the New Series Vol. I (1g01-1902), the first issues of which have long — been exhausted, are now being reprinted, with plates, and will shortly be ready. II. Subscribers whose subscriptions are still unpaid are cequaeree to send in their subscriptions for the present year as soon as pos- sible. Members of the United Planters Association are requested to send in their subscriptions in future directly to the Editor and not to the Secretary of the Association. II. Subscribers outside the Peninsula will in future be charged $3.50 per annum instead of $3 in order to cover postage. Meteorological Observers are asked to send in their returns to the Editor, to arrive before the 1oth day of the following month if possible, so as to be in time for going to press. Wanted Nos. 8 & 9 of Vol. 1 (N. S.) of the Bulletin to complete the volume. Address I. B. Manson, Park View, Fytche Road, Rangoon. Rainfall tor March, 1904 :— The Prison 2. piss hea 2868 _ Government Hill nie 3-88 The,Port?. SAE 2-69 Balik Pulau 2 - 2-03 Pulau Jerajak Bare NT) 2-99 . Bruas a pled 4-24 Pangkor aA a 1-00 Lumut ye 1-63 MEE. SCRIVEN, Assistant Surgeon, Penang, 8th April, 1g04. Prison Observatory. 143 SINGAPORE MARKET REPORT. March, 1904. Articles. |; | Paes siey| Bichest | Lowest sold. : price. | price. Tons. > | $ Colfee—Palembang - agihe & 26.00 25.00 Bali - - - Bee Ae 1 21.50 Liberian - aos |, 18.75 17.50 Copra - - -| 1,758 3.40 | °7.00 Gambier = - -} 5055 10.873 | 10.2 Cube Gambier, Nos. 1 & 2 - =] Med KS, 16.50 | 14.50 Gutta Percha, Ist quality - abe one 270.00 | 200.00 Medium - S| abner 190.00 | 100.00 Lowery t= - =: 120.00 | 17.00 borneo Kubber - - Sree 140.00 85.00 Gutta Jelutong - - 6 ae Brag i 6.99 Nutmegs, No. 110’s - ~ aa 45.00 | 42.00 No. 80’s - ny ee 65.00 , 62.00 : | Mace, Banda - - Soe OE 95.00 | 85.00 Amboyna - - 2 eS 70.00 | 65.00 ; Pepper, Black - - - 705 29.75 28.00 White - - - 121 48.00 47.50 ; Pearl Sago, Small - -| 140 6.00 5-00 Medium - - 15 ie vd | Large - - # PIED WP | Sago [lour, No. 1 - -| 2,836 3.75 3.354 | No. 2 ; - 840 [.30 1.10 | Flake Tapioca, Small - =| 442 4.75 4.60 | Medium - =; 67 5-25 ust | Pearl Tapioca, Small 2 a7 4.70 4.56 | Medium - “| 432 4.90 4.45 Bullet 2 OS Ae i ve Tin = - - - - 1,480 $0.75 74.50 | iA rat. Exports from Sineapow Gna Ponte to Eu and America. Lor fortnight ending 15th March, 1904. Wired at 3.45 p.m. on 16th March, 1go4. To England. Tin from Singapore & Penang to England - and U. K, optional any ports. Gambier from Singapore to London - 2 3 is 4 4 ,, Liverpool- | pune 5 ‘ >». to.U. K. & foram pie | tinent ~\ > . ‘9 » to Glasgow ~ a a Cube Gambier * bs ,, England 4 [yi | White Pepper a OU 4 ~ 7 20 . | Black +5 »” ” ” ” aq 370 q White Pepper . Penang _,, s: = eee hs Black ” ” ” ” ” = 50 * Pearl Sago }) - SUEBADOTe ,, 5 = So Sago Flour y bs , London. =anam y) r» y ¥ 5, Liverpool- 1,400 ” ”) . ”) ) Glasgow c% see Tapioca, Flake . Singapore & Penangto England 380 ase oe Cath ge ue bees 4 53 re + 2 ee i oP lour Penang 3 1 1@ Gutta Percha 4 ', Singapore i et 20 Buff hides ‘i ; 4 <4 ae 2 Pineapples . esa aude 20,000 To America. 5 Tin from Singapore & Penang - 635 Gambier ,, Singapore : 2000 Cube gambier i is - & = eto * 4 Black Pepper > ~ = - - 20, Ae Ri Penang »>- - + SS % 3 White Pepper 4, Oingapore - =. = gta . S ,, Penang - - a poise Nutmegs ,, Singapore & Penang - 2 ae Tapioca, lake & Pearl ,, » ie =o. é 40 Pineapples rs . - - cases 1,000 To the Continent. af aa Gambier from Singapore to South Continental Ports- 180 _ »” ” y ” North oe ~ 300 - a Black Pepper t € 5, south Wt a a 1) ») iB) ~~ North ) i. i, Black Pepper ,, Penang ,, South Bas: atin 4 », North =e ic White Pepper from Singapore to South Continental Ports > » ”) ” us North Ke ae « ,, Penang to South Continental Ports cx SeVOrLh >< ’ )) be) 99 Copra from Singapore & Penang to Marseilles ,, Odessa +B] ’) ”) 3) ) d) Tin n Tapioca Flake __,, Tapioca Pearl __,, Cube gambier ,, Singapore Pineapples’ ., Sago Flour - 145 », South Conti- nental Ports- 440 other than Marseilles and Odessa » North Conti - nental Ports ,, Continent ) 1,000 178 - 80 - 440 _- 220 cases 3,500 = 1,500 N.B8.—By ‘‘South Continental Ports’? are to be understood all inside and by ‘North Continental Ports” all outside Gibraltar. 1,050 tons Gambier J contracted for during fortnight ending 580 ,, Black Pepper (in Singapore) as above. —-———__—.» Telegraphed to A. A. Nisterr, Ingram House, 165, Fenchurch Street, London, E. C, Nb ww NH bw YW Wb 5D Qwmn £o % = Oo com 3 G2 Ud G2 GIG) GI G2 GO lo ELI DnLw wy = OW”) ©. Ko) 40 wun UI On ¢ iS) um aun ut ESNI Quik ov 48 (0) 146 Export Telegram to Europe and America. For lortnight ending 31st March, 1904. Gambier Do Do Cube Gambier Black Pepper Do White Pepper Do Pearl Sago Sago Flour Do Tapioca, Flake Do Pearl Do Flour Gutta Percha Copra Buffalo Hides Pineapples Gambier Cube Gambier Black Pepper White Pepper Black Pepper White Pepper Nutmegs Blake & Pearl Pineapples Do Gambier Do Cube Gambier Tapioca Mlake Tapioca Pearl Copra Do Do Do Black Pepper Do White Pepper Black Pepper _ Do Sapo Flour Do Do Gambier Gambier Flake & Pearl Cube Gambier White Pepper White Pepper Pineapples Gambier Copra Black Pepper White Pepper Black Pepper Do 3) > soo tons Gambier L¢ Black Pepper J ~ Wired at 1 p. m. on Ist April, 1904. Singapore & Penang Pe) ” Singapore CE) 3 » ory Penang Singapore Penang Singapore 93 oe 3° Singapore & Penang - Penang Singapore Singapore & Penang Singapore 5 Singapore 2 Be) ”° Penang BB) Singapore & Penang 3 Singapore Dp) ) dd ” Singapore & Penanp »” Singapore ” 99 Penang a ” Singapore bb) Singapore Penang Singapore ” By ” vw Penang ontracts é Tons United Kingdom &/or 551 Wi. So A ; 5 Continent 286 London 20 Liverpool # U. KK. &/or Continent 330 United Kingdom 50 7 100 i 160 > 50 ) 20 i) 60 London 200 Liverpool = United Kingdom 300 Pe. 220 25 725 »” 30 Be 10 59 cases 15,000 U.S. A 2) » 9 2 » I ) Contment S. Continent N. Continent Continent 55 cy) Marseilles Odessa S. Continent N. Continent 5S. Continent N. Continent S. Continent N. Continent S. Continent N. Continent S. Continent N. Continent SSA. Continent Glasgow Glasgow US, ANG .y) S. Continent Marseilles S. Continent S. Continent WrSwAG Ul, Ss AX, ,caSe€S 2,000 vio) 80 50 40 eye) 1894-1902 -_— MONTHLY RAINFALL 1894-1903 IN THE VARIOUS DISTRICTS OF NEGRI SEMBILAN. SEREMBAN, 1694-1902 1903 Average COAST. 15G4—-1902 [Qos Average JELEBU. 1 SOA—-1902 1903 A verage | KUALA PILAH. 1QG3 Ayerage ‘TAMPIN. 1594-1902 nOOs Average * 1896-1901, 6 years only. | | January. | February, March. April. May. June. | July | : | | > ie 4 | oe | 49.58 54.70 O42 On 32 POO 3 SS I BS c50) : erat ane | eee aie a ees 4.70 1.15 Aegis 0.42 4.79 3.07 ae wes SS 54.28 | 55.85 CHO KOO) | WOE : 8250 | 50,900" | = 42556 lira —|— th a etal aaa a So a aes ee ae ee a 5.42 | 5.55 5.GO 10.45 8.25 5.909 | bl D8 *20.22 |(@) 19.74 |(4) 10.58 (ce) 26.27 (@) 32.45 |(¢) 45.58 (7) 32.98 Aye Ona 108 LAO | 3:7) er es OOo 30.69 DAS 12.51 BOO7 | 30 |) Ag at 42.06 | es = ae ase Ee | ees ee 38 | 4.03 Rae O73, | 6.02 7-91 | 7-01 | : | item) 126.52) | 70.054 957-00) 14006 137-477) 140.05 4.35 BOs | 2.02) | BOO 7-51 2202 [.04 ee [a aoe eae areal ey Oey Caen © ree ae BOON S168) 73.777) | Ol.e2 57-47 A020 2= 41805) a SSS SS A.02 FS Se) 5 O56 6.38 A.A A.G5 | CS re 0, Oh 2007 9 50 654-7 35.03 4) 20,72 oro2| ge os OO era 250 O57 TeOOus 250 2.10 | AO:02"| = 30:34) — S157, 58.22 ABrAR 29:22 20.12 | | ae |. bated ee om ee | i 5.04 | 5.62 4.51 Oogl 6.20 ASF Disa | | ' i ' aa ) 1 | as 5 L232 | LIMO NO | AC). LO PaO aU5: | 635200 : IZA O IN C2272 4.05 _ Af 2.55 | 4.80 AOS) | 2.55 8.25 : | SS pales 2braf 2) 23600 |) GIS 43-058 = 4olts | 25-11 | 30158 5.07 4.76 Oe: 8.79 8.09 | 5.02 | 6.16 + 1804-1901, S years only, t+ 1898-1901, 4 years only. (¢) 1898-1901, 4 years only. August. September, October, November. December. 40.11 Seo) 89.30 | JOOS |; 77,22 = eZ as aS es | 6.71 : 50.98 | 58.63 98.06 88.51 33.93 Sieg a ee | *48.24: | *5 3.50 | *26.59.| SOO 7. | = Aeae Oo | 4.04) 108s geno apy Sebo ae 58:03 | 5850, 64.35! 77.73] 47.32 : ee eee 516 a ee | | | $40.18 | 443.93 | 149.87 475.07 | 168.12 | 6.54 eee aie eo 6.47 | 46.72 | 40.91 54.09 80.40 : 74-59 5.19 | 5.2K ec, | 8.93 8.28 96.81 | 24.50 | 47.51 | 49.88 | 56,20 4.05 4.39 6.35 717 5.63 | 30.86 F aca ERs 7 oon Oils 4.40 ee I 7622) ae | 8.83. $22.70 | $23.99 |(@) 41.92|(d) 5.45 \(d) 33.86 | 8.10 4.50_ 5.90 Ol 6.06 | 30.80 | 28.49 47.82 | 57-461 40.52 616| 369) For) 957| 645 (a) 1896, 1898 and 1901, 5 years only. (1) 1897-1901, 5 years only. (4) 1898, 1900 and i901, 3 years only, Ly tS bs ie) td W bt bv bv co Ko) NANO WN 1438 Table showing the daily results of the reading of Meteorological Observations taken at the General Hospital, Seremban, for the month of February, 1904. Vemperature of radiation. 15 H : fas} & i) fo} fe) | 84 182 82. 80's 84 82 84 | 81 84 | S1 84 | 81 85 S15 75 | 78.5| 85 84.5) 84 84 | 85 | 83°5} 84 83 | 84 | 82°5 85 | 835 84163 | WSS \\ IE 82 | 91 | 84/83 | 82. 81 82 | 81 | 2 | 82 32 | 82 82 83 82° 81 82 | 81 | 82 | 81 Minimum. NWO Ww bs N= WwW SNSNN™N STINSON NN Nok (a : Temperature , Computed. | Saas ol | Wanna Ce | te LO evaporation. | — tension. | ; eer. | ; : ty | 2 Direction. | ; | | le all a ell fee gi PESD | Qe ES pclae one! ee eens ue lee 28) OS o 15 |H|H |H | oH See eae il eee lee Alger < Sel ie a | S| B ae ole" | |= | = ) ° ° o | ® S | ios || SU, 150, 63 | 65 @ N/a PB 71.6, 70.7] 71-1 775) -751 703 150 63 | 66 | 61|N.E. | N.E. | 72.3) 70.3] 71.3) -793) -742| .707 155] 68 | os | 8 | E. N.E. | 71.6; 72.4) 72 |-775| -794|-734 158; 71 | 66 OV ESHE N.E | 72.9 72.4| 72.6] .8ro| .794! .802 158] 62 | 66 | 6/E. N.E. | 72-9] 72.4] 72.0| S10) .794 .802| 154! 66 | 66 6 line N.E. | 72.9! 72.4] 72.6] 810) .794 .802 105) 70) |.60)| 5 | .E- E. | 79-9! 71.8] 72.3! 810) «781 .745 160] Ti ) C8 & | Goi8, || 1B. 79.3|75 | 72.5)-742| 868 .805 102] 75 | 66 | 6|S.E. | E. 174-7 75 | 74.8) .856|.873' 864 166} 79 | 66] 6|S.E. | E. | 74-7| 74-7] 74.7| 856] .856) 856 166| 78 | 66 | 6 |S.E. | N.E. | 73-5|75 |75.+|-877| 873] .875 1631 75 | 65 | 5|S.E. |E. | 73.6174 | 73.8] 830} 840) 835 105/70 65 | O}S.E. |B. 474174 |74 |.844 B40 344 165) 76 | 66] §|E. | S.E. | 75-3] 73.4) 74.3| 877| 826) .837 160| 72 | 66 5 | S3E. | SB, 178-0174 73 8} 530! .840] .835 100) 73 | 65 BAS ID, 18h 70.6|75 | 75.8) -916 868) .892 165) 78 | 66 AW S18, || 1 75 | 75:3) 75-1 8671 .877| 872 162| 74 | 60 | 4/S.E. | E.- |73:6|74 | 73.8|-830) 840 .835) HOS 7 | CO | a S95 Ia 175 | 75:3] 75-11-8607] 877 .872 iO 7 | CH |) 5 Geld, 1/18. 75 | 75:3] 75-1) 867| .877 .872 TORI ZONNGON |) Sie BY 4175-31 75.31'75-3)-077]| 077 5s | = = ie m - i “SF : . : =a seo Eee | | a ah Bite LOeisty oe 5 bX Siienl po jae = | shes = | , a. fo) =) SE i 3 = > ae 3 ‘ = a aio | oo ere — / on | a | ° . vey ’ = 5 | | | =. | = = S, aaa 2B | Pact: eo | item z “og ‘1979 MOIS AY ‘ginyeradtua y | + . - 5 ) | | ‘Foor YOAV TL 40, SOUIPVAY 109180) 0402)0 Lf? fO QIVAISGE : | ¥ ‘suvued ‘VIIVID Lf ‘UOISANG 7010/07 ‘MAHONON)D ‘A ‘A —————— é J ‘FOOL ‘Y2avyy pucE “vIIVI,IY ‘IOWYJO S,UOISING [eIuojoy 6&y.6z “jeydsoy, uneg ueiing ‘sut= | *sanoy ‘AIprUN FY “UUM WITUT IT ALE} 0G “WINWIX? 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P< aie asuey 82 8 | & ¥: S = + S =. eles S > we Pt % Dv a a “i = Oo, “WNWUIXB G > rs | tS : = % S = > ‘qjna Agq, uBoy ou ~S ae eae | y Cee =) UNG UL WNWIxeyy i D 4 Piece Ls P nS Bq oct ie ie < “Ye oft 3 <= dinssoig feoljewoivg ure | 2: ae N So) ‘ Sig : x SS District Lanadron Estate. - — =~ z= Se —" a a ee te a E o ym we bee AL a : = iP - - +f. No.5.) AGRICUL! URA L BULLETIN ANP W NF OF THE STRAITS AND FEDERATED © MALAY STATES EDITED nee Ho. REDLEY, ieee. ’s.. Director of Botanic Gardens, S. S. CONTENTS. Tapping scars in old wood—Plate 5 Rubber Planting in Southern India Cotton Notes Coconuts in the Federated Malay States in | 1903 The Experimental Plantations of the Malay States Imports and Exports of the Federated Malay States In 1903 Forest Administration in the Native States in 1903 Ramie Gutta-percha i in the Philip; pines, sSZalace a conferta Hail in the Malay Peninsula, = otton Cultivation Agricultural Show,—Termites and Rubber Rubber in Perak Parasitic Fungi on Hevea Braziteenere Notes on the Moisture in prepared Rubber Tengah Dye Rubber-tapping in the dry Season, —The Use of Jeringu Acorus Calamus against te:mites Erratum,—- lhe Belgian Rubber Expert A sri-Horticultural Show ~ Miscellaneous, Notices to Subscribers Singapore } Market Report Export Telegram to Europe and America . Rainfall for ‘April, 1904 - Meteorological Observations, General Hospital, Seremban, for the month of April, ‘908 Meteorological Returns Annual Subscription—Three Dollars, Single Copy—Fifty Cents. and fifty cents.) To be purchased at the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, or from Messrs. KELLY & WALSH, Be iited. _ No. 32, Raffles Place and at Orchard Road, Singapore. SINGAPORE : | NTED AT THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, M. ag ( oa ee OL. Tk. hicke (Annual Baer ption— —Outside the Peninsula—Three Dollars NOTICE. THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL DEPARTMENTS OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. His Excellency the Governor has received a despatch from the Right Hon’ble the Secretary of State for the Colonies calling attention to the advantages offered by the Imperial Institute to Merchants, Planters and others, who may wish to have samples submitted to scientific experts for opinion as to their commercial value, &c. The following extracts from a Memorandum published by the Authorities of the Imperial Institute will give an idea of the work undertaken and carried on there. “The Scientific and Technical Department of the Institute has ‘been established to acquire information by special enquiries and ‘““by experimental research, technical trials and commercial valua- “tion regarding new or little known natural or manufactured pro- “ducts of the various Colonies and Dependencies of the British “Empire and of Foreign Countries, and also regarding known “products procurable from new sources, and local products of ‘manufacture which it is desired to export. This work ts carried ‘out with a view to the creation of new openings in trade, or the ‘promotion of industrial developments.” 2. In an extensive and well equipped series of Research Labor- atories, a numerous staff of skilled chemists under the direction of Professor WYNDHAM R. DUNSTAN, M.A., F.R.S., carry out the investigation of the chemical constitution and properties of new dye-stuffs, tanning materials, seeds and food-stuffs, oils, gums and resins, fibres, timbers, medicinal plants and products, with a view to their commercial utilization. Whenever necessary these mate- rials are submitted to special scientific experts, by whom they are made the subject of particular investigation or practical tests. Re- ports are also obtained from technical or trade experts in regard to the probable commercial or industrial value of any such products, while full information is collected from official or other trustworthy sources regarding the probable extent and cost of available supplies. Reports on the results of enquiries or experimental investigations are supplied as a rule, without charge, but should special expenses be incurred in connection with any such reports, or with the com- mercial value of particular materials or manufactured products, which the Council do not consider themselves warranted in meet- ing, a statement of such outlays will be furnished, for repayment, when the Reports are supplied. Should an investigation or report of exceptional character be asked for by a Government Depart- ment, an estimate of the attendant expenses will be submitted, with a view to ascertain whether authority for such expenditure avill be given. 4 : SECTION OF PARA RUBBER STEM, SHOWING OLD TAPPING SCAR, OF THE Meri CULTURAL #eBULLETIN STR AVES® AND Seat h ered M Ate ees TATES., wot erase le No. 5.] MAY, 1904. (Voc. Ill. Part I, —— <= ee TAPPING SCARS IN OLD WOOD. EIATE & CO A A IO EE I One of the oldest Para rubber trees in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, was recently blown down in a gale and on being cut up for removal it was found to bear in the interior distinct marks of previous tappings in the herring-bone manner. The tree itself had a diameter of 17 inches and was planted in 1884. The annual rings are mostly rather difficult to make out, but some are fairly conspicuous. They are very irregular in breadth and distance apart, but twenty-seven can be made out. If these rings represent years, the tree must have been raised [rom seed in 1870, and transferred — to the Economic Gardens in 1884. oe eee The stem bears the marks of two herring-bone tappings on dil- ferent sides of the tree and at different dates. The earliest is five inches from the centre when judging from the rings it was about 18 years old, and this scar was covered by 4 inches of sound wood. _ The marks are quite clear, and when fresh were of a reddish brown colour, standing out clearly against the white wood. The wood _ of Para rubber trees is when quite freshly cut white, but on expo- sure it becomes of a light reddish brown. | ; | | | . . . . There is no sign of any injury to the surrounding wood which however, it was noticed was a little harder. The rings of wood formed after the wound healed were broad and sound showing no signs of any check to the growth of the tree. On some of the lateral cuts, knots of harder wood were found, evidently due to suppressed buds. The development of these oval or globular balls of wood on the lower edge of a deep cut are doubtless well known to many ylanters. _ The centre of the trunk showed signs of decay especially at the : yase, but this had nothing to do with any tapping cuts, fromthe ppearance of which it was clear that absolutely no injury had ; een caused to the tree. The tree had also been tapped with the short single cuts during the past year and these made no trace of any kind on the wood. This instructive specimen is preserved at the Herbarium of thes Botanic Gardens, RUBBER PLANTING IN SOUTHERN INDIA. In the proceedings of the United Planter’s Association of - Southern India is an article by Mr. CAMERON, Superintendent of Government Plantations in Mysore, which includes some remarks on Rubber planting in that district. Para rubber seems to be a complete failure owing to the long dry season, which is fatal to it. Ceara however seems to be the best rubber for the district. It will flourish from the sea-side to the elevation of at least 4,000 feet. It sheds its seed so abundantly that thousands of seedlings can be i picked up wherever a few trees can be found. Recent tapping experiments showed that trees ranging from 8 to 14 years in age are highly charged with latex and that it flows freely when tapped i in fie correct season and the proper place. During the dry seasons | when the tree is leafless the large root limbs should be tapped, and after the rains the tapping should be transferred to the trunk. : The experiments proved that no two trees are exactly alike in — productiveness of latex. Between the two extremes of a copious : discharge and hardly any discharge at all we seem to possess every degree of productiveness. ; It seems to be rather a constitutional feature that some trees contain more laticiferous vessels than others. A mature tree tap- ped twice a week for 3 months gave of coagulated latex (not all pure rubber) a trifle over 3 lbs. and was still being tapped with good results and no diminution. Ceara rubber 1s generally considered inferior to the other cul- tivated rubbers but with improved methods of preparation it may perhaps take a higher place. It seems certainly well worth cul | tivation in dry places, where the other rubbers are unsuitable. Ed., | ree ee ee we COTTON NOTES. Pests —Mr. MACHADO sends from Kamuning a number of bugs | which have been playing havoc with the cotton pods. They were — of two kinds, the red cotton bug Dysdercus cingulatus described in Bulletin Ser. 1, p. 272, and a well known Cotton pest, and not con- fining itself to ‘cotton but living also on the Sidas, and herbaceous Hibisci, common plants of waste ground. The other bug is a broad shield shaped insect about ball anin ch — long, plain green above and yellowish beneath. It is known as | Nezara viridula and seems to occur in most hot parts of the world. It has been accused of damaging potato plants in India and is ~ certainly a most objectionable pest. Judging by the number received — both ofthese insects must have been very common on the sahioce 161 The pods attacked by them were quite destroyed, shrivelled up, and the cotton ill developed and short in staple. In the cotton cultivated in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, ap- peared Dysdercus cingulatus as was expected, as it 1s a common insect here, but not in any great abundance. A leaf-rolling caterpillar attacked the leaves rolling them up and fixing them with silk. It isa slender caterpillar little more than half an inch long. The head deep brown, the first three pairs of legs black. The rest of the body pale dull green with a darker line down the back. It hatched out at the end of April into a Pyralid moth an inch across, of a pale straw color reticulated all over the wings with blackish brown markings. I have not as yet identified it. I found no remains of pupz in the leaf and believe the caterpil- lar leaves the leaf when full grown and pupates under ground. [ found the coccoons of an Ichneumon parasite in one of the rolled up leaves and | noticed that in some cases the rolled up leaf has been bitten through by some enemy which has eaten the caterpillar. I think this must have been done by one of the small caterpillar wasps, of which I saw a number about, who store their nests with caterpillars for their young, but I saw none at work. These leaf-rollers are the most troublesome insects to deal with on a large scale as their habits effectually prevent the use of any insecticide against them, they being protected by the rolled up leaf and their silk web from being touched by liquid. Nor do they fall from their nests when the bushes are shaken, as some leaf rollers do. Sothat hand picking seems to be the only remedy. The amount of damage done does not appear to be very great, but it is probable that if they appeared in great nur bers they might devas- tate the cotton fields. The cotton borer is another serious pest. It is a very small moth- caterpillar about § inch long, rather thick and stumpy, mottled black brown and w he and sprinkled with a few long white hairs. The head is polished black with white markings. . This bores up the terminal shocts of the branches causing them _ to wither up. Its burrow is about an inch long, and it does not _ pupate in its burrow but apparently bores its way out and falls to : the ground to pupate. | It pupates ina box in a small oblong hairy coccoon about a _ quarter of an inch long, but I do not see any of these coccoons _ about the cotton plants. A small yellow aphis has also attacked the cotton plants in the Botanic Gardens and caused the leaves to shrivel. It is quite yel- low except the eyes and long paps which are black. It attacks the under side of the leaves. 102 COCONUTS IN THE FEDERATED MALAY STATES IN 1903. The Inspector of Coconut trees, Mr. L. C. BROWN, Has BH: q published his annual report for 1903, which contains a good deal of instructive information. He says that the area under Coconuts | amounted at the end of the year to 77,500 acres, which may be roughly valued at between 12 and 15 million dollars, This is a large increase on the acreage recorded in the previous year. A ~ little more than half the cultiviied area is in Perak, the restis 4 almost evenly divided between the three other States. The Inspec- tor gives an account of one estate showing how a little carelessness may produce a great development of the beetle pest. The estate chiefly Para Rupes contained 50 acres of coconuts mixed with the rubber , and these it was decided to destroy. “Unfortunately this was done without sufficient precaution being taken to see that each tree as 1t was cut down was thoroughly de: stroyed. The conse- quence being that in a very short space “of time the red beetles and | erubs were simply swarming in the stumps and stems lying about. | Soi idea of the enormous numbers may be gathered from the | fact that as many as 20,000 beetles and orubs. were killed in one day and before the pests could be got rid of and which was done | at considerable expense in about 2 months time over 170,000 of — them were collected and destroyed. They spread also to the ad- | joining estate and several thousands ol the beetles were caught in the coconuts there, but the Manager put on several hands to deal with the evil which is now eradicated.” - onesie In some instances the Malay owners were aroused to take more interest in their holdings, and collected a body from themselves to clean up the villages in regular order, with highly beneficial | results, but the Malays in other parts were callous and indifferent. At Bagan Dato Estate where there were 800 acres under European cultivation, Mr. BROWN found on his first visit that | much damage had been done by rats, but the trees were free from | beetles, but towards August the place became suddenly and se- riously infested by beetles and grubs, which were found in large numbers in the decayed stumps and in the top soil of black loams, The pests were exterminated by flooding. It is noted that trees — between 8 and 10 years old or even older that have been attacked | by beetles easily become recoverable with ordinary care in a very | short time. On the other hand young trees between the age of three | and six years require continual and particular attention and Sa q give considerable trouble, and this may also be said of very old— trees which take even longer to come round, | As regards the prospects of the coconut cultivation, owing to | the increased interest in Para and other rubbers, the Inspector does not look for a great increase in coconut c altivaties by Euro. peans. In fact it may diminish the coconut trees being cut down to make room for the rubber, This however, he does not thi ¢ 163 necessary for some two or three years at least when it will be time enough if necessary to destroy them. On the other hand among Natives the cultivation 1s very much on the increase. He has oreat faith in the cultivation of coconuts by natives as no other kind suits them as well except, perhaps, that of padi. He would also favour the cultivation of fruit trees and other productive catch crops planted between the trees, as this yields a better return and there is less vacant land to keep clean. He considers too that the ield from the trees in the majority of cases of native plantations could be increased 50 per cent, with increased care and attention, and that the outlook of the industry in the Peninsula is hopeful. THE EXPERIMENTAL PLANTATIONS OF THE . MALAY STATES. "7 Mr. ARDEN’S report on the gardens at Batu Tiga, for 1903, shows a good deal of progress. ‘The Gardens have been increased by 274 acres to a total area of 66 acres, and a good deal of work done in the matter of roads, drainage and buildings, and a large number of useful economic plants were added to the collection. — The Funtumia elastica made good growth but was persistently attacked by Cafrinia conchyla/is as indeed it seems to be almost everywhere. It is proposed to plant a future lot in lines cut through the jun- ele where they may be less subject to attack. | A collection of fodder grasses is being got together. Paspalum dilatatum, a fodder grass of great reputation was introduced and proved very successful. A strong growing and deep-rooting grass, it grows well on steep banks, and might be used for railway embankments. The Natal red-top 7richolena rosea, a very pretty grass of good repute as a fodder also has done well. (These two grasses certainly looked exceedingly promising when I saw them in the Batu Tiga Gardens. The 7richolena was introduced into the Singapore Botanic Gardens many years ago and did well for | atime but was eventually driven out of the place it occupied by the native creeping grasses. The Paspalum is a valuable acqui- sition giving a remarkably good mass of fodder, and holding’ its own well, Could we but replace the Lalane which covers and renders useless so many miles of country in the Peninsula with this grass, there would be a good chance of raising cattle on a reasonably large scale—Ed.) Experiments were made with Sanseviera, and Para rubber seed and Blumea balsamifera were sent tothe Imperial Institute for investigation as has been described in earlier Bulletins. Cotton seed, Egyptian variety, was obtained from Messrs. PRITCHARD and planted experimentally, but did not prove very ecessful, as owing to excessive moisture the plants grew sickly and were attacked by a mite which destroyed a large number. ’ ‘ - : i 164 There is reason to believe as Mr. ARDEN suggests that other kinds — may do better. (Egyptian seed obtained from the West Indies and planted in the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, was a practical failure, but that from Mr. PRITCHARD who liberally distributed it did better—Ed.) (Having visited the Gardens myself last February, I may say that Mr. ARDEN has done a great deal towards forming an establish- ment which should prove of the greatest utility to the country, in spite of more difficulties than usual in starting a garden of this character—Ed.) IMPORTS & EXPORTS OF THE FEDERATED MALAY STATES IN 1908. Mr. STUART in his annual report on the imports and exports for 1903 in the Malay States, shows an increase in imports of, rice, in« all) the. States;.ig Perak 6,500 bags, in Selangor 108,000 pikuls, in Negri Sembilan 6,330 pikuls over last year, and an increase in the import of beans and peas of 31,500 pikuls in Perak and 13,300 pikuls in Selangor. Exports of Gambier decreased by 3,000 pikuls, Copra fell in vane but increased in quantity by 1,000 pikuls, Guttas of all kinds (unfortunately the different kinds are not specified and apparently the item includes Rubbers) rose in value and quantity, Pahang supplying $53,000 dollars worth, an increase of $19,000 on last yearand Selangor supplying $13,000 as against less than $1,000 worthin 1902. The difference in quan- tity is less however than this would imply as the rise was chiefly. in price for the export for 1902 was 531 pikuls against 625 in 1903. Rattans and timber showed a substantial rise, chiefly due to sup- — plies from Pahang. Sugar and rice from Perak decreased in bulk though the value of the sugar exported increased. ice decreased by 12,700 pikuls. Coffee exports slightly increased though the price fell. Pepper also dccreuiee in Selangor by 1,300 pikuls, in Negri Sembilan by 3,600 pikuls. Tapioca exports decreased in all the States except Perak (un- altered) and Pahang an increase of 3,200 pikuls. The export of Betel-nuts increased from Perak and from Negri Sembilan but fell off from the other States, notably from Pahang. The export of Indigo from Perak and Selangor increased also a little. Generally speaking there appears to have been a decrease in the — native cultivator’s produce, and an increase in jungle produce, due doubtless to the increasingly careful administration of the Forest — Department. The increase both of imports and exports in Pahang is interesting as showing the steady development of that part of the ~ Country. Ed, ~ 105 Forest Administration in the Native States in 1903. This report on the Forest Administration of the Native States in 1903 has recently been published and shows a great deal of work done. We extract from it the following notes of more general in- terest :— Gutta percha.——A valuable area of 14,199 acres near Kuang, was found to be rich in Gutta percha, and an extension of 5,000 acres was proposed at Rantau Panjang, also full of the same plant. There is a tree at the latter locality measuring 41 inches at 44 feet from the ground which has been watched for seed for three years but produced none. The trees in Negri Sembilan flowered in February and March but produced no seed. Inthe Trollah reserve, Perak, the clearing made in 1902 greatly benefited the young trees which range from 24 inches to 25 feet in height. This area is well stocked with Gutta percha, but where there are blanks seedlings were planted. Plenty of young plants are still to be found all over Selan- gor, and many have been planted out in the Gutta percha forests. Extraction of Gutta Taban and getah sundik was not allowed during the year but as the fact remains that Singapore continues to receive large quantities, it is very probable that much still comes from the Native States. Merbau Afzelia palembanica, is reported to have seeded _plenti- fully in Selangor. It seems to reproduce itself readily, but like penak (Balanocarpus maximus) a large proportion of its seedlings do not even reach the sapling stage. Meranti, and Tembusu (Fagraea fragrans) seem to be much more successful in the struggle for existence. (This is interesting as the two first mentioned trees do not appear to have any special facilities for dispersal of their seed, which must fall to a large extent close to the parent tree, and all together, whereas Meranti, and Camphor Dryodalanops, also mentioned as a good reproducer, possess winged seeds which drift to some distance frem the parent tree when falling and Tembusu fruit is eaten by birds and bats which pass the seed at some dis- _ tance from the parent tree), Tembusu is mentioned as one of the best trees for driving out Lalang, (and certainly does well on the oldtin mines round Kwala Lumpur), Merbau and Chengal (2adaso- carpus) require to be grown with jungle alongside, to keep them clean would be fatal. Two hundred and-seventy trees of Merbau were felled and gave 340 tons of sawn wood. The methods of extracting timber are very primitive, as a rule a single buffalo is employed to drag it, there being a_ prejudice against two or more which nothing will shake. In Kwantan most the heavy logs are dragged by Chinese lumbermen over a rough ack made by laying jungle rollers over large poles at right angles. arge loys are some times dragged as far as two miles in this way. 166 RAMIE. — “4 Me Under the title “ China Grass”’, its past, present and future, | Mr FRANK BIRDWOOD read a paper on Ramie at the Indian section of - the Society of Arts (March toth, 1904) which was published in No. 2679 of vol. III of the Journal of the Socie ty of Arts. The paper} contains a good deal of interesting matter. In dealing with the past — history of the fibre he shows it was an article of tribute in China in B. C. 2205. He describes the manufacture of the plant by hand in China, and alleges that the cost of production there does not exceed ~ £12 a ton. With regard to supply he says, In Europe a considerable quantity is used every year but England only takes a small percen-_ tage of the whole. Japan is the principal purchaser. China to-day has a virtual monopoly and it is his opinion having regard to the market conditions which during the past few years have proved a || very pointed lesson to manufacturers it would be mere madness } to start an English business on large lines, that is a factory turning out many tons a day, floated with the intention of competing all along the line with other fibres in general use and at the same time dependent for its supply on the celestial merchant. Unless through seme arrangement with the local Mandarins it had been able to contract ahead for its raw material. A small company working special | lines competing with particular articles and treating a thousand tons _ or so of raw material every year could complete its juncture with- out materially affecting prices and there are good profits to be so earned. But if anyone is thinking of investing capital let him see that the output of the business is sufficiently small to remove all fear of enhanced price of raw material and ‘sufficiently large to mect a swamping dump from other rivals. It is essential that some other source of supply should be found so that by competition market prices should be regulated.” Se ro are ei = for“ My einen. Sass he SE ey ¥xe> a The difficulties of degumming, spinning, dyeing and bleaching he considers are things of the past, and “commercial success is un- ' deubtedly within the grasp of the China grass manufacturer. He has had to wade through mud to grasp it. The cultivator was the first cause of failure, he saw that the price of fibre was high, the market was declared’ to be certain and he rushed into produce. Failure was a foregone conclusion for Chinese methods and Chinese labour were neglected elements of success,” This is hardly a satisfactory explanation of the failure on the part of the cultivator, who could not possibly use Chinese labour in India or the Straits at_ the cost of Chinese labour in China, nor would he make “good profits”? at £12 the ton, with a maximum out turn of to lbs. a day | per man, ‘Lia It is hard also to see the special value of Chinese methods whet | the China grass of commerce contains as he says only three-fourths | of fibre and one-fourth of gum, . BS . The action of the manufacturer is also condemned, ‘“ what tl 16 Chinaman could do he could do and so sans process, sans experi “ sans machinery and sans market, he pou out his wealth ae r ate chile pe . of i 167 lapful ” and that was the cause of his failure. But the author has already explained that the Chinaman had no machinery, nor any- thing that could be called a process, while there was as far as any- one can sce as much of a market for him as for the Chinaman, so that this explanation is no more satisfactory than the previous one. The question of where the Ramie can be grown 1s next discussed, and a few (very few) of the countries where it has been successfully grown are mentioned. “In the Straits Settlements, the comment was made that there seemed little chance of establishing its cultiva- tion unless the Government first showed that the experiment was likely to succeed by cultivating a patch of an acre or thereabout”’. (The author does not seem to be aware of how much has been done in experimental cultivation in the Straits Settlements, or indeed elsewhere,) “It is stated to be indigenous to Singapore’ (which it certainly is not) etc. After giving the outturns from various experimental patches and showing the discrepancies in them and the causes of them, he says that speaking g generally the yield of clean strips (ribbons) would approximate a ton per acre, at all events if care is taken and the plant properly cultivated over half a ton should easily be obtained in the course of a year. “But one thing is clear (he says) ifthe fibrous strips can be pro- duced by the cultivator at £20 a ton without loss he will not have any difficulty in earning a dividend on his outlay but not through sales at public auction for once again stress has to be laid upon the fact that the crops will be machine not hand produced and will resemble nothing in the market. The planter’s production will in fact at all events until the commercial use of ramie fabrics has be- come more general be unsaleable except to the owner of the pro- cess by which the strips will be degummed and who will alone be in a position to spin or dispose of the filasse. So here we have a planter producing a substance which we will assume it would pay him to grow but with a one man market. The conclusion is obvious the cultivator and the manufacturer must for ail practical purposes be one,—the agreement being that what one produces the other will take”’. The characteristics of the fibre and its various uses are discussed, and in conclusion the author. suggests that the time has come for further action on the part of the Government of India. Germany he says in her African Colonies, Belgium in the Congo and Holland in Java are fostering the cultivation ef the plant and the production of a raw material which will * * * ccntaina fibre which manufacturers are prepared to buy,” England and her Colonies lag behind. His suggestion is that the Government should guarantee to the manu- facturer, (1) interest on the capital spent in the erection of a plant capable of treating a certain amount of fibre a year, (2) to give the goods of the manufacturer the preference if he can produce a thread yarn or other material compared with other samples used by them, and manufactured from other than Indian products, and (3) to guar- antee interest on the manufacturer’s present products, if he will <) ik ; , ro undertake to use the Indian product when grown, and to the cul-— tivator the Government is to guarantee interest on capital fora | period of so many years, to carry out the necessary experiments on the undertaking that if they are successful the cultivator will annually grow a fibre of right quality to a given weight. A discus- sion followed the paper. Though exception may be taken to some parts of the paper, it is worth the attention of Ramie growers and others interested in cultivation generally. . Pr ay = = PR? oo: a GUTTA-PERCHA IN THE PHILIPPINES. MR. SHERMAN’S REPORT. i A Bulletin by Mr. P. L. SHERMAN, Chemist in the Bureau of Government Laboratories, Manila, on the Gutta Percha and Rubber of the Philippine Islands, carefully reviews the subject both from a commercial as well as scientific point of view. Mr. SHERMAN has collected information in all the principal gutta producing countries and naturally concludes that the future of gutta- percha lies in plantations. Underthis head he remarks ‘The prin- cipal gutta-percha plantations now under cultivation and in which much useful and desired experimenting is being done are located at Tjipitic and Buitenzorg in Java, on Rhio Island at Singapore and Bukit Timah on Singapore Island, on Penang Island, and at one or two places in the Federated Malay States. | Enough time and work have been speiit to demonstrate mostcon- | clusively that gutta-percha trees can be raised not only successfully but also without much trouble or great outlay of money, andall the nations having tropical possessions in the East, except the United J States, have made a start toward gutta-percha plantation, but the Dutch are the only ones so far who have gone intoit ona grand scale, and unless appearances are deceitful they will have a monopoly on — the plantations of the gutta-percha of the future, as sure as they have on the forest gutta-percha of the present day.” | R. D, « “tat ee —= 4 teh ioninbtllibewe —_—- “ | ZALACCA CONFERTA. 4 This palm is very abundant in the Malay Peninsula, and is well known under the names of Asam Paya, and Kelubi. It grows in jungle swamps, and is almost stemless with large and horribly spiny, thickets of the plant being almost impenetrable. The fruit is pro- | duced in a dense head, about a foot or more long, each being — about 2 inches long and covered with yellow scales. The seed | inside is covered with a very acid pulp. These fruits are collected | and sold by Malays for the acid pulp of which they seem very fond | _and indeed, acid as they are they form not a bad thirst quencher. — | | Mr. DUNN of the Hongkong Botanic Gardens lately sent me a bit — of one ofthese fruits which are imported into China, and writes — —- ey ee ee 169 “The Chinese call it Loong Lun Ko, which means Dragon scale fruit. The ‘flower’ (perhaps the husk of the fruit) 1s boiled to provide a Cough mixture and the fruit is eaten as a sweetmeat.’’ F-ditor. Hail in the Malay Peninsula. KUALA LUMPOR, The Editor Forest Office, 5th May, rgo4. THE AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN. Sir,—I notice in the March No. of your Bulletin some remarks upon Hail in Ulu Langat, It may be of some interest to you to know that on two occasions I have seen Hail in Perak, First in 1889, at Ipoh, when visiting the District and Mr. GRANT MACKIE was with me. It commenced by avery heavy thunderstorm and heavy wind, after which it hailed for about 5 minutes. e Second occasion was when [ was Manager of Mr. DOUGLAS OSBORNE’S Coffee Estate in Gopeng, Kinta, Perak. in 1897. It com- menced in similar manner as above but only lasted for about one minute. Yours faithfully, FRED. DENNYS., COTTON CULTIVATION. JUGRA ESTATE, Selangor, May goth, 1904. DEAR SIR,—On page 94 of the Bulletin you publish a Précis of Correspondence on the above subject, wherein I am credited with the assertion that ‘“‘the whole crop per acre would only pay one coolie for two months, ”’ My experience of the cultivation has been so limited that I would not be justified in expressing such an opinior. To the best of my recollection, some quotations from broker's report and Javanese opinions, which appeared in my brother's original paper, have been my only contribution to the subject. I am, Yours very truly, CyRIL E. S. BAXENDALE., - The Editor Agricultural Bulletin, Singapore. 170 AGRICULTURAL SHOW. | At a meeting of the General Committee of the Agricultural Show held at Kuala Lumpor on April 16th, the Secretary reported that the funds collected up to date amounted to $4,827.50. a The prize lists were discussed and the money allotted for the — various sections. The prize fund was put at $2,630. The prize list will shortly be printed. . The date for the Show has been fixed early in August when it is | hoped that His Excellency the Governor may be able to be present, and will be open from 11 A.M. on the first day and from 8 A.M, 4 on the following days to 6 P.M. | The price of admission has been fixed as follows :—— ) First day from 11 A.M, to 2 P.M. - - $2,00. All other times -. - - - 0.20. / All subscribers of $10 and upwards shall be entitled to free | tickets for themselves and their families on all days that ~ the Show ts open. | All exhibits and exhibitors will be carried free over the Fedér- | ated Malay States Railways, and the Straits Steam Ship Company has promised a reduction of 25 % on the usual passages, A notice giving additional information is published on page 180. ES A TERMITES AND ROBBER. Mr. FREUDWEILER of Bila, Sumatra, has been visiting the Gar- dens and Native States, and reports that he has had some trouble with termites, which he has been.treating successfully with Corro- sive sublimate, a solution of which in water is poured over the trunk of the tree after removing the mud casing thrown up by the termites and a hole being dug at the base of the tree, the liquid is poured in and causes the death of the pests. Tle mentions a curious case of damage to a tree by the termites. The tree was about 6 inches through, and was tunnelled out by the termites for about 6 feet so that it was quite a hollow shell. | It was however, still alive, and produced plenty of latex and - | seemed quite unhurt. However, a gale of wind twisted it round § and upset it, and on being cut up two pounds of rubber was found § in the hollow interior. The termites in trying to bore their way | to the outside had tappea the bark from the inside and produced | a flow of latex into the ‘hollow trunk. The rubber was of course — very dirty, mixed with debris of all kinds. Meee we! ~- 76 Pe aie : Se hI hn nip canoer s 5 = sere) 24m + ge —e aie hak i at Ai RUBBER IN Epa k. KLANG, F. M. S. ; 14th May, 1904. DEAR SiR,—At the annual mecting of the Selangor Planters’ Association held in Kuala Lumpur on zoth April, I was asked to place on record, in the form of a short letter, my impressions of the work now being done in connection with the cultivation, tapping, and preparation for the market, of Para Rubber, by Mr. F. A. STEPHENS of Tebong Estate in Perak, and this I gladly agreed to do, inasmuch as | think that we are underadebt to Mr. STEPHENS, the magnitude of which will perhaps be realised by those who care to hear what [ have to say about the part he is playing in the development of this important industry. Mr. STEPHENS commenced tapping in October last, and up to the end of March he had collected 4, 004 Ibs. of wet rubber, equal at a 20% loss to 3,203 dry. The cost in labour was $929.49, with a Check Roll average of 44.8032 cents. More than one small lot has already been shipped and sold, the price realised for the last con- sienment being 4s. 6a. On the seas at present, is another lot, this time of no less an amount than 14. piculs, or 1,867 lbs., and in his drying-shed, is a stock of sheets in various stages of preparation, which in itself would provide food for thought for men over here, could they only see it. The Cevlon ‘export for 1903 Is given at 41.684 lbs. so that Mr. STEPHENS has in six months collected on his Estate, about =th of the whole Ceylon production for last year. Mr. STEPHENS kindly let me see his books, and from them it is clear that the collecting, curing, packing, despatch to Europe, payment of export duty and all other charges, have cost him 55 cents per lb. of dry rubber. The account is made out as follows :— Tapping, Curing, and Packing on Estate per lb. .... 30 cts. Account Sales. Including all Penang & home charges 23 ,, Export dutv and freight to Penang ee yd Bnd Total... 56 The big commission of 6% had been paid to Agents and Brokers, andas Mr. STEPHENS pointed out, this made his account sale charges very heavy. With a Check Roll average of 35c. therefore, planters may, if they are as successful as Mr. STEPHENS has been, calculate under 50c. per |b., as the cost of their rubber from the tree to the buyer. There are obviously other items which have to be taken into consideration, such as Management, Buildings, Weeding and so forth, but as these differ with each Estate, | do not propose to deal with them here. It is enough that Mr. STEPHENS has shown us what the actual handling expenses of the rubber are. An ordi- nary clothes mangle, a heavy ink bottle as a preliminary roller, some kerosine oil tins cut in half lengthways in which the latex is poured to set, a fine mesh sieve, jam or milk tins to collect the milk, far- riers’ knives costing 75 cents each and bought in any kedei, lines prada 2 172 of bamboos upon which the sheets of rubber are hung to dry, anda few pans of charcoal to hasten the process, and keep off mildew, are Mr. STEPHENS’ stock-in-trade. His latex shed is an attap build- ing about 12’ square, his drying-house an enclosed space under his Bungalow, say 18° square. Withthis simple equipment and limited accommodation, he is able to turn out rubber which, I venture to think, will command the highest prices. The tapping coolies, with their six months’ training, are doing fast, and at the same time most careful, work, and each man brings in two large pails of latex, equal I should say, to about a kerosine oil tin full. Mr, STEPHENS swears by the old ‘“‘ herring-bone”’ system of tapping, which he has proved to give him the best results. He drives a small nail into the foot of his tree, hangs his tin upon it, and leaves the tin there until that particular tree is finished with. He says that perhaps he gets more scrap in consequence, but then of course he is saved the enormous cost of tin distribution and washing. His methods may not be as clean as you would expect to see in a first class dairy, but as he gets the best results at a minimum cost, I judge that his ex- ample i is well worth following. He taps as arule from 5.30 until rr A. M., and if he sends his coolies out in the afternoon, he finds that they get only about jrdsas much latex. His trees are tap- ped once every other day. Having been very short of labour, it was impossible for Mr. STEPHENS ‘to keep his weeds in hand, so he set to work with scythes and now succeeds at a cost of about 50 cts. an acre a month, in mowing his land so close that from the colour of the coffee trees, which still grow amongst his rubber in some fields, it is evident that not only do the latter in no way suffer from the grass, but the remarkable freedom from white ants, which Jebong enjoys, rather points to there being some truth in the theory that the presence of grass keeps these mischievous insects away. This does not pretend to be at all an elaborate report upon Mr. STEPHENS’ work. It would take me much longer than I have time for to treat the subject as it deserves, but I think that when a planter does what Mr. STEPHENS has succeeded in doing, with a force of (I may say) 50 coolies on an Estate of 380 acres opened, and in face of difficulties which would have made many a good man give up, it is about time that his fellow planters, at any rate, should hear of it, and if they are wise and want to see for themselves what can be done by a man who puts all his heart into his work, they had better start for Jebong without waste of time, and they will not only find that this account is in no way exaggerated, but they will be given every opportunity of seeing avery fine Estate in the bargain. I am, Dear Sir, Yours faithfully, EK. VieCARERS The Editor, ? Agr icultural Bulletin, Stngapore. = 173 Parasitic Fungi on Hevea Braziliensis. In the Notizblatt des Konigl. Botanische Gartens und Museums zu Berlin, (Vol. 4, No. 34, p.133) is a paper by P. HENNINGS on fungi parasitic on Heveas. He describes and figures fine leaf- fungi, v2zz., Phyllachora Hubert, Dothidella Ulei, Apospheria Utlet, Ophiobolus Hevex and Parodiella Melioloides, All have only as yet been found in the Amazonas district of Brazil, but do not seem to be very serious, though the Ophiodolus quite destroys the leaf and is perhaps the most dangerous of them. A. Meliola probably MW. Amphitricha, Fr. also occurs with the Phyllachora and is very destructive. On sick and rotten trees of various species of Hevea Adlesche- riella uredinoides was found. Professor ZIMMERMAN has found in the Culture Garden at Buitenzorg Cartzcium javanicum, Zimm. which also grows on Castilloa and other cultivated plants, and Wectria coffetcola and on the leaves, Phyllosticta Hevea and Glaeosporium Elasticz, a known parasite on Ficus elastica. Stcdbum Hevea occurs on dying twigs. Though none of these fungi are stated to do serious damage as yet, it would be as well for cultivators to keep an eye on any spots or signs of fungi appearing on the leaves or twigs. Attacks from leaf-fungi would be much more difficult to deal with in the case if a lofty tree like Para rubber than with a short accessible plant like Coffee, and all know the damage done to the latter plant by Flemileia. _ The Ceylon canker is reported from the Malay States, but | have not seen it. A planter in Sandakan sends me a specimen of a fungus which appears to be most pernicious. He writes “My attention was attracted by a tree which appears to have been white washed. Th« colouring commenced about eight feet from the ground and ex: tended upwards for about six feet, taking the branches in that space from I to 2 feet. ‘The first branches affected were dead and as red as you see by pieces sent, the other affected branches were dying. All over the affected part the rubber was streaming in long tears. It is apparently purely local. A two stemmed tree was | affected in one stem only. There are four trees attacked in this : _ way. The bark sent was densely covered with a fine mycelium run- ning between the bark ridges, and these latter were covered with a salmon pink mass apparently of felted mycelium. I[ can see no fruit on the plant. I have seen a somewhat similar fungus, on stems of Ramie, and S¢vod:/anthes when grown too close together and very damp. The fungus had grown over the small mosses and hepatus on the bark, which was quite dead and the wood be- neath was dead and bored by wood beetles, 4 ire : 174 has; Mr. FREUDWEILER to whom. | showed the specimens, said he t ad seen the fungus in Sumatra on a few trees and had noticed that it was all in a line. of trees as if the spores had been blown along b: by the wind. He tound that by scraping the bark and treating: with copper sulphate and lime. Of course a pest like this should be looked for and vigorously treated, the destroyed bark cut away and burned, affected boughs removed and sulphate of copper liberally used. It is probable that too close planting may be res- ponsible for the development of this fungus, as the similar one on the Strobilanthey was in the dark part of the bush where the boughs were crowded together. Fomes semitostus—Some eight or nine years ago the coolies carelessly made a large bonfire close to a row of Para ruboer | trees, of fairly large size, the trunk of one of which was badly | burnt and another considerably injured. Both trees gradually died | and were removed. But the next two or three trees on either side — became sick and eventually a large mass of the fruiting stage of Fomes semitostus was seen at the base of the trunk just pushed up above the ground and the roots being destroyed the trees perished. This year two more smaller trees have gone in the same way, and it is clear that the fungus has been slowly spreading underground. Attempts were made to check it by treatment with copper sulphate and lime, but as the fungus had got a strong hold of the roots of the tree treated and it was very difficult to get at all the infected part, this was not successful. The development of the damage was very slow, and very different from the rapid growth of such underground fungi as oseldmza. Nor did it attack any young plants, seedlings or any other herbaceous things on the ground as the true root fungi do. - The fruiting part (sporophore) of fomes semitostus is a broad flat — rounded plate often very irregular in form, usually reniform 4 to 6 inches across, and of an orange red colour beneath paler above, where it is marked with rings and fine striz, beneath can be seen with a lens the honeycomb-like structure of the hymeneal surface. The texture of the fungus is tough and it possesses a strong mush- room-like scent. The ‘sporophores growing close together often form large irregular masses. a ee ee ia ie : us ra - —_ Ba yy oe Oe ee a ee eed This fungus is very common on decaying stumps of all kinds of © trees and is properly speaking a dead wood feeder, but like a— number of allied species attack also living trees. ¢ As a disease-fungus I would class this as condagious as opposed to an wufectious fungus, as it appears to spread ‘from root to root in the ground without being dangerously dispersed through. its spores. A dead stump may be attacked above or just below the ground, and the mycelium spreading along the decaying roots may ; come into contact with those of a living tree ‘and so the attack is spread. These contagious fungi are more easy to deal with an the infectious ones, of which thie’ spores are blown from tree tot tre and attack the plant where they light, (as in the fungus previou s|) Jie described). The infected trees should be destroyed and the roots _ dug out, every bit of dead root. or decayed timber being removed and the ground well saturate! with copper sulphate and lime. TUBEUF in writing of a similar parasite in Europe (/omes annosus) Whose habits are very similar to those of F. semztostus states that the best way of combating the ravazes of the parasite is isolation of infected areas. These should be isolated with ditches with vertical sides deep enough to cat througn all roots, care being taken to leave no diseased stems or roots outside the circle. After remaining open for a time the ditch must be filled again with soil _ to prevent the formation of spo-o shores on the exposed roots. All diseased stems should be felled and burnt, or deeply covered with soil to prevent the formation of sporophores. In fact isolation of these contagious parasites should be done by ditches as the in- fectious parasites are isolated by screens of trees of another species. Since writing the above I have seen further attacks of this fun- gus in a Rubber estate and have also a report of what is probably the same thing in Selangor. The roots of the trees are destroyed usually on one side, a puff of wind comes and over it goes. If the _ orange colored sporophores are ripe the spores may then be blown on to the next tree and infect that. 3 Bie Ny SLO LEY: Note on the Moisture in prepared Rubber. A biscuit of Para rubber from one to three millimetres in thick- ‘ness which had been smoked and was commercially ready for shipment and which was apparently dry was found to contain 3°09 % of moisture. The moisture was determined by drying for 32 days in a dessi- ‘cator over calcium chloride. The ‘drying ec rapid at first but very slow at the finish, 2°1 % of water being lost in the first 48 hours. This experiment was carried out in order to give some guide to ‘the probable loss of weight of rubber during shipment from here to Europe. If managers “of those estates from which rubber is now being exported will, during the next two months send to the Gov- ernment Analyst's Laboratory, Singapore, samples of such rubber I will determine the moisture in the samples and publish the results in the Bulietin, and in that way arrive at reliable figures as to tlic Maximum loss of weight properly prepared rubber should give he ON VARIATION IN QUALITY OF LATEX. The variation of quality of the latex from Hevea Brazilicnsis in jifferent positions of the trec. The following data were obtained on analysis, the source of lates t eing a tree 13 years old, tapped for the lirst time. a ee Oe eee. i ee ee ee ee 1 ia 1a fl : } { t +] } Percentage ol Percentage °) Position ObtHE | suture OF cal crude Rubber in) Resin in the cut. | latex. crude rubber. 1s: Adarge a Simple three 43.8 2.29 exposed by inch cut. . , removal of some soil. bo 2.12 The main | Herring bone. trunk 1-2 feet above | the ground. | | | = aS aN Uo The trunk af-) Herring bone. — 39.8 1.88 | ter forking | . ZO JCEL | ! above | - ground. | | _ Some difficulty was found in ensuring “the purity of the latex and its collection from different places under similar conditions, and the above results must be regarded as preliminary. Further investiga . d tion is in progress. : It will however be noted that the latex from the higher portion of the trunk are poorerin rubber than the latex from lower down— al the same time the proportional amount of resin in the latex aps pears to decrease. P. J. BURGESS. Tengah Bark. fron DISTRICT OFFICER, DINDINGS, . To HH. N. RIDLEY, Esq., Svagapore. rf. 20th May, 1904208 Mr. BURN-MURDOCH asked Mr. BORGES, Forest Ranger, Din- dings, to write the attached memorandum ve Tengah Bark for the Agtic ultural Bulletin ; it is condensed from a report on the Man- erove growth in the Dindings River. The dye obtained being pre ferred to “bakau’ bark dye. There has been a very large qu ; tity of it exported from here, so much that the “tengah” has been rf cut in’ preference to “be akau ” owing to the valuable bye-pro¢ al ‘ furnished by the bark which also strips more easily. 177 H. N. RIDLEY, Esq., Director, of Botanic Gardens, S.S. 20th May, 1904. Tengah Dye. The Tengah tree grows in salt swamps preferably inland, as it does not seem partial to the presence of water. The leaves are small fleshy elliptical and grow in clusters. The bark is light red and the heartwood redder than the other species of mangrove, straight fibred and fissile. _ This tree if protected will soon form the prevailing species as it is hardy and comes into bearing at a smaller diameter growth than the other kinds, and is a profuse seeder with a tendency to _ gregariousness. It is popular as fuel and can be used immediately after conversion, but is supposed to burn fast, barking may ac- count for it. The bark is stripped off the freshly felled logs with “parangs’’ by ; women, and arranged into hollow cylinders at fixed lengths ( 9”). Rings made out of the climber “Jhanghat”’ are slipped on to both ends. This maintains uniformity as chips of bark are then ham- mered into the crevices with a wooden mallet. Bakau bark is here used for filling instead of Tengah which is now rather scarce. This depreciates the dye as that extracted from Bakau bark is not so well absorbed and tends to harden cloth, etc., perhaps owing to its coarse constituents. It is easily washed out. In two days time a hundred bundles could be prepared for 50 cents, The selling price per 1,000 bundles is $15 locally and from - $20 to $25 in Penang. The price fluctuates owing to the importa- tion of Tengah bark from Siamese territory to Which place this trade is chiefly confined, about 8 to 10 bundles can be extracted from a tree 6 to 8” cts The Tengah bark yields a rich red dye indispensable as a pre- servative for sails and fishing-nets, the latter being dyed every fortnight. . A tub is well packed with Tengah bark and then water free from saline or mineral matter poured in. Three brews of dye are ex- tracted, the liquid dye when ready being poured off and fresh water added to the tub, the processes taking about four months altogether, each time it has to be kept. longer in water till the required strength is attained. The first dye is extracted in about 20 days. ‘Sails and nets before being dyed must be carefully rinsed in resh water and dried. Sails are steeped twice or thrice as required nd dried each time. “Finally to fix the dye it is put into an inverted tub placed over ‘pan of water, and steamed for fifteen minutes, care being taken at it has been previously air-dried; a framework resting on ipports in the tub prevents contact with the water underne: ith, V¥. P. BORGES. RUBBER-TAPPING IN THE DRY SEASON. Mr. LARKIN whose estate at Castle-wood I have recently visited, tells me that during the late dry month of March, all his trees in one part of the estate ‘shed their leaves simultaneously and remained bare fora time. Hecontinued to tap during this period and foums no diminution in the amount of latex produced. There is a general idea that latex flows slowly or not at all during this period, and there was a certain amount of evidence for this in the experiments of the Botanic Gardens last year. Have any other planters tried continuous tapping through the resting” season and with what result ?—Ed. 2 “THE USE OF JERINGU q Acorus Calamus against termites. iE i Mr. MACHADO, lately sent some rhizomes of the Jeringu or | Deringu (Acorus Calamus) a plant often cultivated by the Malays © for medicine. It is one of the Avrodew ; an aquatic plant with | swordlike leaves about 3 feet tall and an aromatic creeping stem. : This is being used by the Malays as follows :-—The dried roots | are pounded to powder and spread round the base of the tree. All ants die and the otheis do not appear to come up to the surface to | replace them, as in the case of other insecticides. Mr. MACHADO | tried it for ten days and found it efficacious. The plant is so com- ~ monand so easily grown in any wet ditch that it may be well worth experimenting with it. H...N) RIDERS Erratum. LANADRON ESTATE, MUAR, jeth May, 1904 DEAR StrR,--In my article on the “ Preparation of Crude Rule ber’’ in your last issue a printer’ s error occurs which | shall be glad if you will correct, page 120 line 11 should read “ bal Gs loses 15% in washing instead of 5% as stated. Yours faithfully, F, PEARS. The Editor, Agricultural Bulletin, Singapore. THE BELGIAN RUBBER EXPERT. His IMPRESSIONS OF CEYLON. M. Octave Collet, the Belgian rubber scientist and expert, wh on a visit to the Island, investigating our methods of pa ore .- r 7 ” ar = - es} a 4 in * ee TS SS EOS eee See ne ae ee Perey ay, Pye . 179 ‘growing, and collecting rubber, has just ended his visit to one of the best and most representative rubber estates, Culloden, in Neboda. A description of the tapping on this estate from the pen of the manager, Mr. R. W. iIARRISON, appeared on the 12th instant, it — 2 a a a eee Se eS ee sc ae ements eel Ne dee eee EY =| i d a $i ec The Ist A | { taries above-mentioned, the Hon. Secretary, General Purposes h Committee (Mr. J. P. Swettenhim), or the undersigned. | I have the honour to be, , Sir, a Your obedient servant, 1 STANLEY ARDEN, i General Secretary. q To the Members of the Standing Commuttee ; f and the District Officers, /. M.S. I ' MISCELLANEOUS. 1} Notices to Subscribers. f I. For the information of subscribers and others who have been | unable to complete their series of the Agricultural Bulletin of the f Straits and Federated Malay States notice is here given that Nos, 1, 7, 8, 9, of the Old Series (1891-1900) and Nos. 1, 8, 9, 10, of the si New Series Vol. 1 (1g01I-1902), the first issues of which have long . been exhausted, are now being reprinted, with plates, and will 4 shortly be ready. | II. Subscribers whose subscriptions are still unpaid are requested t to send in their subscriptions for the present year as soon as pos- i sible: Members of the United Planters Association are requested to send in their subscriptions in future directly to the Editor and i not to the Secretary of the Association, II. Subscribers outside the Peninsula will in future be charged : _ $3.50 per annum instead of $3 in order to cover postage. . Meteorological Observers are asked to send in their returns to the Editor, to arrive before the 1oth day of the following month if possible, so as to be in time for going to press. i gy 7 . t j & ~ al Lee’ _- - ‘ . oe eo SINGAPORE MARKET REPORT. April, 1904. a y Articles. Quantity) Highest sold. price. ee | | Tons. |. 33a Coffee—Palembang . - .» .| 2eiora Bali - - -| 30 | 24.007 | Liberian - -| 253 || *20.0gunas : Copra - - a Sot Be 8.20 | li Gambier - - -| 2,520 10.50 i Cube Gambier, Nos. t & 2 - 4] $925 16.00 | | Gutta Percha, Ist quality - EDs eas 270.00 | 200.00 f ~ Medium - -| 190.00 | 100.00. 1) Lower - -| 120.60 |. 17.00 Hl Borneo Rubber - “| 140.00 | Ht Gutta Jelutong - ~ - | " Nutmegs, No. 110's - - i | No, 80’s - = l Mace, Banda = - ~ } Amboyna - : - " Pepper, Black — - - oe i White - - = if Pearl Sago, Small - - \ Medium - - i! Large - oF i Sago Flour, No. 1 - Be ; No. 2 t - 1 Flake Tapioca, Small - = 4 Medium~ - - Pearl Tapioca, Small - is i Medium - - t Bullet - * ogee ; sa ; = Ee ~ >= ~ ~ ae I 4) 10 N to b ms Qu w b A Ow Tmo PRL PHP EAR RWWWWWWWWwWwwbkWdwHNNN YHOO OV ONE DH OO ON ANKO 3 >) Yy iss 73 1,600 tons Gambier 470 ,, Black Pepper J 183 Export Telegram to Europe and America, For Fortnight ending 15th April, rgo4. Wired at 3 p.m. on 16th April, tgo4. Gambier Do Do Cube Gambier Black Pepper Do White Pepper Do . Pearl Sago Sago Flour Do Tapioca, Flake Do Pearl Do Flour Gutta Percha Copra Buffalo Hides Pineapples Gambier Cube Gambier Black Pepper White Pepper Black Pepper White Pepper Nutmegs Flake & Pearl Pineapples Do Gambier Do Cube Gambier Tapioca Flake Tapioca Pearl Black Pepper D fo) White Pepper Do Do Do Black Pepper Do Sago Flour Do Do Gambier Gambier Flake & Pearl Cube Gambier White Pepper White Pepper Pineapples Gambier Copra Black Pepper White Pepper Black Pepper Do Str. ) ” Singapore & Penang Singapore or ” 9 enang Singapore Penang Singapore IF 3 oo Singapore & Penang | » Penang Singapore Singapore & Penang Singapore ” Singapore > Penang 5S Singapore & Penang y8 Singapore ” Singapore ” ” Penang ” * ” Singapore ” Singapore Penang Singapore by] Penang 0 Contracts Tons. United Kingdom &/or 850 Wh Ss A 1,330 Continent 4Ut London aan Liverpool 50 U. K. &/or Continent 330 United Kingdom 40 - 150 - 190 ” bP) ” 20 London 400 Liverpool 1,500 United Kingdom 170 % 120 59 750 a 100 » cases 24,500 UFSiAG we ”) 40 a 100 33 50° bp) = [2 is 210 » 359 Continent 2,000 S. Continent 110 N. Continent 290 Continent 30 ° 170 - 160 Marseilles 440 Odessa 920 S. Continent 220 N. Continent 1,350 S. Continent 190 N. Continent 190 S. Continent 30 N. Continent Igo S. Continent To N. Continent 4.0 S. Continent 7° N. Continent + Ul SaAs 170 Continent 1,150 Glasgow 200 Glasgow 100 WS, Ato oy) 5 »” by} 33 S. Continent Marseilles S. Continent S. Continent Wa SiAr URSAY 10 1] AA DNHWb WWwWWWWwWWbhdnNbhH WN ND VY MmMBEWdnH Ow wmtn un Qui — o bw Dvr1yrmur nn OW Mr 184 Exports Telegram to Europe and America. For fortnight ending 30th April, 1904. Wired at 1 p.m, on 3rd May, 1904. Pin Str Do ” Do 5 Gambier 54 Do » Do 35 Cube Gambier __,, Black Pepper » Do White Pepper ae Do 5 Pearl Sago 3p Sago Flour 9 Do ” Tapioca, Flake ,, Do Pearl ,, Do Flour ,, Gutta Percha 4 Copra ue Buffalo Hides 55 Pineapples *) Gambier $0 Cube Gambier 45 Black Pepper 9 White Pepper o Black Pepper a White Pepper 3 Nutmegs % Flake and Pearl .,, Pineapples 55 Do RA Gambier: ) Do * Cube gambier - Tapioca Flake Re Do Pearl ,, Copra - Do ) Do 53 Do a Black Pepper 5 Do 4 White Pepper 5 Do 53 Do ba Do 29 Black Pepper 95 Do ae Sago Flour H Do a Do . Gambier - Gambier Str Flake and Pearl ,, Cube Gambier 5 White Pepper 3 White Pepper cs Pineapples ” Gambier 25 Copra i » Black Pepper - White Pepper » Black Pepper of Do goo tons Gambier 410 4, Black Pepper Singapore & Penang ” ” Singapore » » ” ” Penang Singapore Penang Singapore bP) BB) Singapore & Penang F ” Penang Singapore Singapore & Penang Singapore be) Singapore ” ” Penang 9 Singapore & Penang 39 Singapore & Penang ”» Singapore »” ” oe] Penang 99 ”) ) Singapore > Singapore Penang Singapore ” ” ” 9 ” Penang ) (C Val ontracts s United Kingdom &/or Wa SHAG Continent London Liverpool U.K. &/or Continent United Kingdom Wondon Liverpool United Kingdom Continent S. Continent N. Continent Continent ” 39 Marseilles Odessa S. Continent . Continent Continent v. Continent Continent . Continent Continent . Continent . Continent . Continent WaSsAr Continent Glasgow Glasgow Ws Se ZA WZ eZ, GAnan J ZA » S. Continent Marseilles S. Continent S. Continent URSiWwAr Ue Se AL 185 Rainfall for April, 1904 :— Government Hill 03 Ins. )-55-Ge The Prison re 9-70 The Fort 5 ee NE Balik Pulau Apts «iar 2: 5 Pulau Jerajak Ma f 9-00 Lumut are 5) > Pangkor yy LOGE Bruas M 10-61 M. E. SCRIVEN, Assistant Surgeon, Penang, roth May, 1go4. . Prison Observatory. S) .* Table showing the daily results of the reading of Meteorological Observations taken at the General Hospital, Seremban, for the month of April, 1904. ahe | Temperature of rs | Temperature ) Computed Relative Cloud | Temperature of radiation. ete Wind. of vapour ee Cloud o to 10.) and weather : P | radiation. evaporation. one humidity. : ae Rain, | | Direction. | : | | | ©} 15 | oe Buy, eon) 05. 9 | 15 | o-| 15 = : as) as = eal | OW oer 9 P56) 203 pee | os ee Oe the | | | ce aules al 3 | B° vi a | Ree eae Lv ey eis MH | |e a | a | ag | am (2) | ie | | = = S & repiees | | | | | | | ro) o | ° o On ieo Io | ° fo) ° | | ° | ° mene ||) Soap | | 5 Sr | 82 (S15) 88 | 72 | 16 160) 72 | 67 5 | B. |S-E. | 74°2) 75.3) 74-7| 849] .877| 863) 80 , 80) 80 OF OG Onbh ee eal Boies Pe Stee Ol aesen 2 | TON 10577 907 5) Sab. | Se.” 74 2)75'3| 74-7\\-840| .577! 803) So | 8c|\807|— oF | o' | o | B | Bi | BY) -o7 RB Beeson) Ola S872" 101 105) 77 | 07 iS Sales SE. 75 NGS) NS 8287 7\ S07 O72 CO |) 9 85| S25 On| 20/5 2 Bo Beles AQ Dy S2u tO ole 6S 7a) 10) |) 100727208. | 45 E. |S.E. 75°3| 75 | 75-1|.877|.867] 872! 80 | S5(G25e 1G | 22eon BeBe Be eas Ooh 7onnoo O85 71 14 100) 750-68 Ba SylBs | S.E. DBE ONAN S77) O57 -CO7 OOn | SO sa00|) OF sae Sy Bale | eae or 6 eer cOn CO 7m rs) | UES Go) 0S Ba Sue ins. 75 72-0) 74 Wie oy 7lnoSy, 807, SOO 1O4,5 Ora 8 6 Sl bu) Culn@ er too 7 82 | 80 on Seog. 72 | I5 | 155) 68 | 68 BASSO Sh GIGS GS || Sail ela Kel 7) 9774) 0) 85/ 82.5] 0 AV 38s Pe Naa 8 7S) | OG) Sy || Ge an (GO Gi) | CS |) VA Ses | Sul8s | 7 72s ee aay -793 .835| 80 | 80 So Ones: = Sat Beers @ saroy 83 |)80 1615) 87 | 72.) 15 160] 73 68 AN Saal Soke | 7Oe 175 79.5} .G56| .867/.911| 85 | 85/85 OO Say ees Om eee =e, BG 826215) 87 | 075) | 15) | 10) 7g) OS | 4.1 S.By |S 178 alge Wo! O50 F026) OAT S85: Ss! Ch On O)| agua Ra Be ei ST Ot Ole eS 7721 00S eS eGo | all) i S.E. | 742) 74.2| 74.2! .849| .849 .849) Go | 80) 50 Ph Pers y Teh pets) til Pa 5 = OD. < wil os | Beech = Be Sf aaa That haat B ‘< =e Re = ‘njer atten te 9 re Pape Be : | eo | ee | nee = | +? 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Sa : . a4 sup SU] Be ad eee ss) as as ae ae ae a aa ae | | | | | ie cs ms re SORE ES =: oe ——Ss—, TT = be ome | : #3 ees) ois =) 2 | S|) S| S| Se] , =| oO qat.£ | @ & m4 ee 5 ~ | 63 m o eee aes | 6S Zz a ep ae OP | kK | ep pee Ss tot o3,| cS 5 gg Bi | SAS |S es cee eget ES Ss: o U e eas, eae 5) ky! ; am| A joa =| oy a = & S Os 0 . a an a = =) = C0 = << 5 ey | 7) =) | Ga + alee en —_e je) ie} i - mee] Y D, ee | ey eS ‘LOIMISIC] a) = | =) ox a eae =e —| a 2 2 =) lo | —_e / | be jab] ou 2) | mw pre | —s : = i = | a2 ! 6 Dir | ge TE EE ‘at f | - ‘19J9MIOISA PY ‘ainyesodua J, | A | ~ ‘toor Giadyy sof ssuipoay 7vI180, 040939 Jf JO IDAISG ® ‘suvuoed * ‘DIIVIDY ‘U0aT ANS puiuojoz ‘Fob1 “Ay yage ‘vaovpv] 4 ‘MAHONOW) “dA A | S9YO §,Woasing yeruojo7 ’ . —— ——————__— oe ~ re | A | | | | fo.€ | V1.9 ue $6: 10202, Or: AVS: MGTIO eon (9.08 8.6L 9. 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Cy ae eee . | / wee | ‘sul | “suy % pee | SUE | do | do , 4 ne ) a E a met ey reer. | = 28 as 5 = = ee) oo | a RE SS eal Pe ae aot Be Be : 3 eieeiee er & jo | Pl te SOR Pe on a ree | hee con 7Q + 2. 35 og Ee 3 = 2 3 @ D ~~ ae RR igh Ae : > 4 | = fs ee ee Din S| “LOIMLSIG , , pe Ss “oC g o = ae = oe . oy" se — — =] | S aes, 4 a os : o | | is | | > ea re NL ¢ “= = ea i SES gett SRE: <- ES oe hare <9 ye 5 | SA fi kg ae, an | : ~_ S | BESEYUCHERG S| oinjyeradw y, | |e ld \ é ‘tobr, qudp fo yzuouw ayz 10f ssuipvay pvrsojosoaga py f0 JI04ISQY on ‘UBIIQCUIOS ILLISON “ , > 7 Re eat sae nia TRAE? ‘“SUDYD ‘U0ISANS 27075 OAS | : ‘sinoy $z Sul — ypeyurey yeq07, | -INnp ][VjureY jsoyeII1yH ‘SPULAA Jo “Appin | ‘WUIOg MOC] j ‘uoisuay anode, | | | | qIng JOM UveaTY ‘TayWOISAL{ o.0c 0.2L | 0.26 1o.$1 |o,0L | 0.$9 Lo.v1 |o.zL | 0.26 Le.gt-1.0.0f+)|0:26 Go.21 0.69 0.16 90:22 50:01), 14.26 ~~ = < pa ae tes et Al ae = 5 | | : | | sia | —ganqesoduie T, ai ‘qing Aq ure ‘tobr ‘App yaSe ‘sidi7 vjpny ‘yey cf ye oinssoig jPoLawWOIeg ued] yojs9wa |. uejuEny ueyog suojwueq ss dae «| sidiq7 eyeny “OUISIC| 1O4 D* ‘sanoy = bz PaeOee ejare a. scakianaay m £3) N ™ Reel 13°17, = an YN) oF < = "SpuLA a. wv k (| & o) eo) a jo piace paved _—— id | a | } “Aypruun y ¢ r | a 2 WLog MI ay = . aaa a ie q x a ‘uoisua] inode, x aE; es : e) | ‘ SS "Gib VM Ue | ae Bae. 5 s S pene 5. wa op Re 2 . | C eae asuey a BS Eee: | ei S| gs Ke S$ 3 WUNUULUT Ay tess $ BS ae if = 3b, : a ot | % Lv a : = = ie ~ = “UINWIXB J | oa > ae | a RE Bree S ‘ S — $ ‘qing Aiq ues x ect x x ‘ung ul wnunxeyy |: Ces | | , va hiah "yey cf ye | SF dInssaig jeoljowolieqg ues | iS cee ao Be oe Le S + ete E a id Stk ee 5: ae Ese Sel (@) - aeerr! 2 S aes A |. 2 ae = ou ; } A a: — - INO. ING : - \ % s » vs “at Soe ii «$-- a Sa na \ tees Pt) eee be "G ma Dy hint Be 6 JUNE, ee bol lI. Part I, AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN | OF THE STRAITS AND FEDERATED MALAY STATES EDITED BY H. N. RIDLEY, M.A., F.L.S., Director of Botanic Gardens, S. S. CONTENTS. 1. A Review of the Introduction of the Cotton Industry in os Annual Subscription—Three Dollars. Single Copy—Fifty Cents. 3 (Annual Subscription—Outside the Peninsula—Three Dollars and fifty cents.) ” To be purchased at the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, “or from Messrs. KELLY & WaLSH, Limited, No. 32, Raffles Place and at Orchard Road, Singapore. ———— SINGAPORE: PRINTED AT THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, PAGE, Netherlands India, by Dr. K. W. TROMP DE HAAS 195 2. Cotton Note 232 3. Agri-Horticultural Show 232 4. Miscellaneous, Notices to Subscribers 234 5. Rainfall in the Duff Development Concession during 1903 = 235 6. Rainfall for May, 1904 235 : _ 7. Singapore Market Report : ney 240 8. Exports from Singapore and Penang to ee ie America “3 237 % g. Meteorological Returns =e om el ZAO \ NOTICE. ~ ——__— THE SCIENTIFIC. AND TECHNICAL DEPARTMENTS OF THE : i IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. q His Excellency the Governor has received a despatch from the — Right Hon’ble the Secretary of State for the Colonies calling — attention to the advantages offered by the Imperial Institute to Merchants, Planters and others, who may wish to have samples — submitted to scientific experts for opinion as to their commercial — value, &c. The following extracts from a Memorandum published — by the Authorities of the Imperial Institute will give an idea of the — work undertaken and carried on there. “The Scientific and Technical Department of the Institute has | “been established to acquire information by special enquiries and — ‘“by experimental research, technical trials and commercial valua- | “Empire and of Foreign Countries, and also regarding known — “products procurable from new sources, and local products of ‘manufacture which it is desired to export. This work is carried ‘‘out with a view to the creation of new openings in trade, or the | “ promotion of industrial developments.”’ { t 2. In an extensive and well equipped series of Research Labor- atories, a numerous staff of skilled chemists under the direction of | Professor WYNDHAM R. DUNSTAN, M.A., F.R.S., carry out the” investigation of the chemical constitution and properties of new dye-stuffs, tanning materials, seeds and food-stuffs, oils, gums ‘and | resins, fibres, timbers, medicinal plants and products, with a view . to their commercial utilization. Whenever necessary these mate-_ rials are submitted to special scientific experts, by whom they are made the subject of particular investigation or practical tests. Re- ports are also obtained from technical or trade experts in regard — to the probable commercial or industrial value of any such products, - while full information is collected from official or other trustworthy | sources regarding the probable extent and cost of available supplies. | Reports on the results of enquiries or experimental investigations are supplied as a rule, without charge, but should special expenses | be incurred in connection with any such reports; or with the com= mercial value of particular materials or manufactured products, which the Council do not consider themselves warranted in meet- | ing, a statement of such outlays will be furnished, for repayment when the Reports are supplied. Should an investigation or report} of exceptional character be asked for by a Government Depart=| ment, an estimate of the attendant expenses will be submitted, | with a view to ascertain whether authority for such expenditure} will be given. AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN _ OF THE be STR Abe | AND Se DE RALED: MALAY -STA-TES, ——— PNo.6.] - JUNE, 1904. (VoL. IIL Parr J, | A Review of the Introduction of the Cotton Industry in Netherlands India, 3 By Dr. K. W. TROMP DE HAAs, a REPRINTED FROM THE ‘ TEYSMANNIA”’ t4th ANNUAL, oy IOTH & LITH EDITIONS. By kind permission of Dr. Treub we publish a translation of this important Dutch paper on the cultivation of Cotton in Fava. It has been translated hy Mr. W. Seelnorst. INTRODUCTION. The influence of Watt's invention on the intellectual and material development of mankind, is in no way better demonstrated, than by the perusal of the history of tvo manufactured products, taking one from the mineral and the other from the vegetable kingdom, for instance iron and cotton. 9 If we follow the histories, of tnese two products, and note care- fully the different stages of progress, the power of human skill, in adapting the uses of one to those of the other, will become evident. _ Hail, to the country that is able to produce both the raw materials ! _ How the cotton industry has been affected, by the power of steam nay be seen from the following figures. From 1790—1850 the production of cotton increased from I—3 nillions of bales and from 1850—1894 from 3—15 millions of bales f 400 lbs. each. In 1895, the product of the world amounted to 17 millions of ales of 400 Ibs. each, representing a value of about one thousand illions guilders. Is it a wonder therefore, in view of these figures, at each individual Country, endeavours to cultivate and spin its wn cotton ? Java and Madoera alone import yearly about 30 millions worth cotton and linen ware. 196 It need not therefore surprise us, that considering the develop- ment of the cotton industry, eyes are set on our colonies in order to profit by the advantages gained by that industry. An eventual war between the Northern and Southern States of — North America would cause a still-stand of the spinneries in Europe q owing to the lack of raw material. f Referring to the archives, relating to the Agriculture of the Netherlands Indies, of the beginning of the second half of the last i century, we clearly see, that then already great endeavours were made to make our colonies into the chief cotton growing countries, This old and much cherished hope, is always revived again each ~ time that the price of cotton goes up, and it is only to be hoped, — that the. Government will take the initiative, to bring about the — realization of this hope. E: In order to see to what an extent this hope may be nourished, and before enticing people to undertake experiments on a some- what large scale, it will be useful to gather together, notes of all — that has been done, here and elsewhere and to see what lessons are to be derived from them. A brief review of the cotton industry in general may be of use to, thoroughly convey to the mind the chances of success. HISTORY. It is impossible to trace the time when the cotton fibre was first used in a woven state. No matter how far we go back in the history of mankind, we find everywhere mention made relating to cotton. ai The Hindoos and Aztees, natives of India and America were — already acquainted with it. In the year 2,300 B.C., the time of | Emperor Yoas, the sons of the Heavenly Kingdom wore cotton clothes. The Egyptians used linen and cotton cloths *to wrap round their mummies. Mention is also repeatedly made in the Biblical History, of cotton fabrics. One of the Pharaohs presented Joseph with a cotton dress. It was through the conquering journeys of Alexander the Great, — that cotton cloth was first introduced to the Greeks and Romans ~ of which only the richest made use. The Arabs brought over cot- — ton to the South of Spain. It is supposed that India is the original i native land of the cotten plant. America can also lay a claim to — this, for when the Spaniards conquered Mexico, they found the i cotton plant there, and that the natives generally used its product | as wearing apparel. It is difficult to explain, how it got thither from India. BOTANY. The cotton plant belongs to the family of Malvacex and to the genus Gossypium. It is a native of the tropics, where it flourishes — * The presence of cctton can be easily detected by the structure and chemical appearance of the fibre. = “ea be 07 F eecrantly on the islands and sea-coasts. Through the art of cul- tivation it is possible to rear the plant up to 40° northwards as well as southwards. In America it can be reared with advantage up to 37° northwards. The plants belonging to the genus Gossypium are of a tree-like as well as shrub-like nature. They have a root penetrating deep 4 “into the ground. The Ben bear from 3 to 5 sometimes also 7 lobed, more or less petioled, large leaves. . tie straight- growing cylindrical stems have a dark reddish ~ coloured bark, and a white skin, and bear a wide, out-spread crown. The round or sometimes rough boughs grow straight, and spread out; cultivated plants have these short. The structure of the flowers and fruits growing on the branches, of the different kinds have much mutual similarity. The three large outermost, heart-shaped sepais, parted on their extremeties, surround a short fringed five-sided cap. _ ‘The fine large petals are mostly yellow, (only those of Gossy- pium hirsutum are w J after opening they become reddish. The fruit has from 3-5 cells each containing a certain number of seeds. On the whole surface of these seeds, long ‘thairs (the cotton) de- ~velope which always remain single-celled and attain a length of from 4-5 c.m., as in the Sea-island cotton. On the bursting of the ripe fruit, these hairs bulge outwards in clusters. 4 In some kinds of Gossypium the seeds, besides being covered with the mentioned hairs forming the cotton, are covered witha _ felt-like mass; as for instance in Gossypium herbaceum, etc. te In other kinds, such as; (: barbadense. L. and G: peruvianum. Cay. this covering is wanting. In those cases and especially in G: barbadense, the hairs (the cotton) are easily removed which is i ” great advantage i in collecting i it. - On the removal of the a there remain the hard, black and "smooth seeds. In those kinds of Gossypium, whose seeds have the _ above mentioned felt-like covering, the hairs (the cotton) are diffi- Beult to separate from the seeds. = In consequence of the great tendency to vary which these species have it is difficult to determine their number. Linnaeus describes _ three kinds, but since then this number has increased considerably. | The “/ndex Kewensts’’ mentions 42 names, of which however se Perey wy 1 _ kinds, which are since looked upon, by it as synonyms. - The great variability and inclination to hybridize make it very ¢ ifficult to specify a plant of this kind. No plant answers more oe to improved growth-conditions than cotton, The most widely spread are 4. kinds which differ from each other in the following way. _ A. Besides having the long seed-flocks (cotton), a yellow felt- ike covering over the seeds :— L Gossypium herbaceum. L. (Indian cotton) with 3-5 seldom 7 ‘only a few havea specific meaning. It also makes mention of 88 | port re ayergern 2 ~r TOT z r= “ ~ = Peat’ eoyareugiak' Pa REP a re Tah ine Sooke) Oo et re . i = : ve . c cm So S3 ~ ee = eh le ce ia ie ae eae eee Ee gente a ee, ek eg Lh LA A, i ttl ily ct elit tliat ey itt Ta -_ ¥,* 7. on A ‘ : lobed leaves, yellow flowers and a large calyx, which is about the same length as the fruit, from 5-7 seeds in cach chamber, the long seed-hairs are 2-2, 8 c.m. long. IT. Gossypium hirsutum. L. (Upland cotton) with strongly haired leaves and flower stems, 3-5 lobed leaves, where the lobes reach about half way down the leaves, smooth fruits and from 6-8 — seeds in each chamber. The long hairs have an average length of — 2-5 c.m. This kind is of greatest importance for America. The produce of cotton in America consists chiefly of this kind. B. Only seed hairs and no felt-like covering over the seeds. ITT. Gossypium barbadense, Z. (Sea-island cotton, the best kind of cotton) with 3-5 lobed leaves yellow flowers, and 6 loose seeds in each chamber. Seed hairs to 5 c.m. long. IV. Gossypium peruvianum. Cae. (Syn: G: reigiosum. P/t,) South American cotton up to 5 m. high with big from 3-5 lobed leaves white flowers and from 5-10 seeds in each cavity which are © connected with each other. Seed hairs up to 3-5 c.m. long. All these Gossypium kinds are over-one-year plants but G. her- baceum is the only annual plant, outside tropical zones, G: arboreum. L. which will be mentioned later reaches a height of from 5-7m. Asaculture plant this kind has not been much used. According to TEYSMANN, there are three kinds of cott»n in Java of which many varieties are known. He divides the cotton into yearly and shrubby or limited- yvrowth cotton varieties. ‘Ihis classification is more of an artificial nature and rests more on a practical than a scientific foundation as, as is already mentioned above, all kinds of cotton with the exception of G, herbaceum, grown outside tropical “countries, may be considered as plants of limited growth. But, in fact in prac- tice only perennial kinds are reared as annuals’ To the annual kinds to be found here, TEYSMANN reckons :— I, G. indicum, Lam, G. herbaceum. L., one and the same — species. . Il. G. religiosum. Sw. ; Il. G. barbadense. L. and to the shrub-like kind or limited-growth cotton kinds, the following pair :— IV. G. vitifolium. Rxb. ‘ VV. G. micranthum., Cav. i According to later systems, G. redigiosum and G. vittifolium — should be varieties belonging to G, barbadense and G. micranthum | a P| ee oe ait ies _ . . ne 1 xt Payton eee ee pee 4 i il Let i apie al gloat pelle tho el PO Sey I ave oe ee ya todeonry > belonging to G. herbaceum or indicum. As in some other plants which have been cultivated for a consi- derable time it is also the case with cotton that the systematic varieties and kinds are difficult to determine. However it may be from TE YSMANN’s investigations, it is clearly seen that in our archipelago besides the inferior also the best kinds are cultivated. The best varieties are those which come under the species G. barbadense.- TEYSMANN considers as belonaali to G, ¢endicum or Pe eee 199 i. The so-called Kappas djawa, which is also called K. Koema, K. gaga, K. kuras, and which is generally cultivated in Java, the Tegal. lands and Sawahs. 2. Out of Java, in the neighbourhood, is cultivated of this cot- ton kind. Kappas Palembang. This kind is chiefly grown in the districts of Palembang and Lambong and is there known under the name of Kappas ogan, K. oeloe (ulu). This cotton feels rough to the touch and is chiefly exported to China. } 3. Cotton from the West Coast of Sumatra comes from the | V. Kottas. TEYSMANN doubts whether this kind really differs from No. 2. 4. Kappas Dakka formerly imported into Java from Bengal. From this kind the Dacca muslin is made, and this is considered the best variety. _ 5. Kappas mera was formerly accidentally found in a garden in Batavia. This closely resembles Dakka cotton, with this differ- ence that the whole plant, stem, leaves, flowers and fruit has a reddish appearance. It cannot be cultivated with advantace. 6. Kappas hoema besar, coming from Bali, also found in Java. Does not seem to be recommended for cultivation. _ The named kinds of which 1 and 2 are here mostly grown do “not actually die after the first full crops, but they begin to yield scantily and pine and their product is small and of inferior quality. Under G. reltgiosuim. Teysmann ciasses— | 1. New fidiinas grows well in Java and Palembang, was im- ported from North America. -2. Siam, Cambodja or Cochin China cotton. % Nankin cotton, compared with the above-mentioned cottons this i is of a yellow colour, Of GC. barbadense. are imported into java according to Teysmann 1. Sea Island cottoh from North America. _ 2. Egyptian cotton, (imported by the Netherlands Trading Society.) | _ These kinds are faster in their growth than those of G. cwdezume. and more resemble the shrub-like cotton of G: vitifolium. The 2 seeds are easily separated from the cotton. or As already mentioned they belong to the best and most oughts- for kinds of the shrub- like cotton only the above two are known here. F G. vetifolcum, is known under many names such as, Nierzaad, ' Pernambuco, Brazilian, Guiana, Cayenne, Demerara, Berbiex Es- ) sequibo, Surinam, cotton de picrre, kidney and link cotton and in this archipelago as, Kappas Kosta, K. Kompa, K. besar, K. Kling, KK. agries, K. Sanu etc, the last name is also used for the annual -tndicum. Of this one variety is known (K. Kompa) with sulphur yellow flowers, and a dark coloured centre while the first kind is light yellow and the dark colour in the centre is wanting. Gossypium vitifolium is the biggest kind known here and attains a height of 12 feet. Of all the above mentioned the Gossypium barbadense and New Jrleans kinds, deserve, according to TEYSMANN’S verdict, the most 1 200 encouragement in order to replace the short (native) kinds of Gos- sypium indicum, as their product is superior both in quality as wel as quantity, to that of the last named. If we bring TEYSMANN’S classification in accordance with the latest views, that is the 5 principal kinds, G. barbadense. L. (Sea- island cotton); G. peruvianum. Cav. (G. religiosum); G. hirsutum. L. (Upland cotton); G. herbaceum. L., (G. indicum. L.) and G. arbo- veum. 1. (tree-like cotton) then that which TEYSMANN calls G. religiosum must be G. dzrsu‘um, and that which is described by him as G, vetzfolium must be G. peruvianum. Whether the native kinds of cotton can be replaced by those which offer planters better advantages is a question which we may — well ask ourselves. : It is not sufficiently satisfactory from an economical point of — view to satisfy ourselves as to the similarity of the conditions of growth with those of the land from which the cotton is imported. [tis true that it is a prominent factor, but the others, capital, labour, transport etc., are of equal if not greater importance, to — the production as the growth conditions which are unsuitable can — be modified if they are not favourable. ) The special remarks concerning this we will postpone at present, — but later on will find an opportunity to view this point closer. s] CONDITIONS OF GROWTH. The cotton plant requires an atmosphere containing a lot of © moisture. It likes chiefly sunshine during the day and dew at — night. Heavy rainfalls are harmful to it, both in the first, and in i the last growing stages. If they happen to fall in the harvest time, — they may do great damage. ; Occasional mild showers followed by sunshine are good from ; the beginning to the blossom time. A want of rain can be re- — medied by artificial irrigation. If this is not possible then the rainfall in the first 3 months must amount to at least 75 m. m. per ¢ month. Later on the dew may be able to completely replace this. 5 A proof that the cotton and this is especially the case of the finer varieties, grows best in tropical countries with a medium — rainfall may be seen from the rainfall tables of the cotton growing — countries in America which are given below :— 201 ) Ohio South : Atlantic| East and West | une ; yon territo- | Guif territories. V ile e Tem Months. ries. ety paths | Rs aldea | m.m m.m, m.m. | m.m | m.m SS ee : | ; | | _ January - | 107 | 130 96 | 31 | 104 February - Ql 120 86 27 103 ~ March - 110 165 | 95 28 [Ol . | ) . ) _ April - 98 © 137 100 _ 17 | 95 _ May - | 95 112 | 119 69 go june - 130 12a 96 | 54 118 — July - | 147 120 | 95 | 40 109. August - | 161 116 | 78 | 78 QI _ September - 133 | 96 133 | 150 | 70 _ October - 104 67 105 88 68 _ November - | 97 105 112. 41 86 _ December - | 103 | [2a 104 | 390 | gI | | Total -| 1.358 1,407 | ‘3,210 | 654 : 1,126 How it stands with the rain divisions during the growing time of the cotton may be seen from the tables (to follow) borrowed from America which refer firstly to the whole cotton growing coun- try and in particular to the two chief growing states, Texas and \ est Louisiana. _ Egypt, where an even better quality of cotton is cultivated than in America, has, compared with that country, a very dry climate, which may be seen from the following rainfall observations made in Alexandria and in Cairo. f | | ' ; September. | a | .m. | October. , | November. December Bye} 6) es) & Alexandria airo With these small quantities of rain it would seem to be impos- ible to grow cotton in Egypt if it were not that artificial irrigation medies this want, 202 The Nile makes Egypt independent of the weather changes. Vc rains or droughts endanger her harvests so that little risk is con. nected there with the cultivation of cotton. The cultivated cotton plant requires a growing time of from 4 to 5% months according to the kind and tothe climate, on the average 5 months. | It is not simply grown as an annual but as a perennial plant — which can only be done exclusively in forest-free places. But the cultivation of this is less profitable, as the second and subsequent crops decrease in quality as well as in quantity. The cotton plant requires for its vegetation a temperature of 18°C. This must never fall toO°C. Shade does not suit the plant. 4 As regards the soil cotton is grown with more or less success on ~ nearly all sorts of soil. It is grown on light sandy soil, heavy 7 soil, sulphur-bearing soil etc. On the higher lying sandy soils, the harvest of cotton is gene- rally small, on heavy clay soils, especially in wet seasons tha plants attain large dimensions but the produce of fibre is not — proportionate. ; It is an established experience that cotton growing on these | extremes of soils, suffers more from disease and plagues, and from |§ unsuitable temperatures than otherwise. If the temperature is |§ suitable and other factors good, then the heaviest clay soils yield® the biggest harvests. The light clay soils may be looked upon as those yielding the surest harvests. The soils of South Carolina which may be taken as a model of hel best cotton soil consist of from 25-30% of clay. At the time of - ‘| growing they contain from to to 12 % of moisture. ee The Sea-island cotton, the best kind grows on very different — kinds of soil but the best for it is light fine-grained sandy soil — which has from 75 to90 % of fine sand. It contains during the growing-time of the cotton about 5 % of mvisture. The percent-_ ages of the moisture in the soils are of great importance to us. | It seems to us though that there are to be found here, fairly few — soils, which have even in the driest mouths such a low percentage — of moisture, as those cotton lands in America of which mention — has just been made above. + ‘ During the severe drought of 1902, when the leaves of different — plants in the Agricultural Gardens were drooping, we found that the soil on which those plants were growing still shewed the fol- lowing percentages of moisture :— At a depth of 3.c.m. 18.4 %. ”) ”) 25 ) 22.2 9 ”» ” 60 ”) 24.8 ”) ! ’ | - 5 hy 203 me © ea Be: ! oF & Pc : 3 5) = epee TPP is Ar oe = / Y = aad < YS} No. of rainy days over the | / _ whole cotton territory ... .O-14 Q-10 | 5-15'| 8-12 a1. | a ae . Ay ie b exas and West Louisiana 5-8 4-10 | 5-11 5-12 ae ae ' No. of dry days over the | : | whole cotton territory ... 6-12 | 8-14 {| 8-15 g-15 i | | a | | : _ Texas and Louisiana 5 gQ-20 | II-Ig | 11-16 II-17 a ame 3, ksi Ragan we Ramana No. of partially clouded | _ days over the whole cot- — | _ ton territory Aer 13-16 12-17 12-18 10-13 ; | | i Texas and Louisiana ms 12-16 | 9 Q-I5 II-I14 QG-13 7 ? SaaS eee _ No. of cloudy days over the _ whole cotton territory ... 5-10 | 6-8 4-9 | 5-10 Texas and Louisiana __... I-6 ' 3-5 | 3-6 | 4-8 - 7 a: If it is intended to introduce the finer Ameri_an kinds of cotton, elsewhere, then it is advisable to consider beforehand whether they would not be put under too different climatic conditions. If ye adapt our own archipelago to these conditions, then it becomes evident that there are few places there, which could come under consideration. It seems to be clear that in Palembang, the land #f cotton in our archipelago, there is a lot of risk connected, with the cultivation of the mentioned kinds of cotton when we consider ie rainfall there. The driest months for Palembang are, accord- Wg to the ‘‘Rain observations in Netherlands India” (and these gn the chief places), May, Jrne, July, August and September with espectively, 14, 11, Q, 10, IO rainy days; with respectively, 194, 34, 108, I10 and 131 m.m. of Rainfall. ‘Ihe quantity of rain in ¥e sowing and harvest months is thus here greater than in merica. ‘To what extent good cotton soil must contain nourishing mineral Ontiuents is difficult to determine with the material at present our disposal. As long as we have no better insight into the quantities of plant- od (which the plants take up) which are present in the soil it is t possible to quite strictly determine the limits. Soils with less an 0.05% phosphoric acid must be considered as very poor in that nstituent, unless they have a sufficient amount of lime, to make for this want. 204 Sandy clay soils containing 0.1% phosphoric acid anda sufficient quantity of lime are sufficiently productive for a period of from 8-15 years. If lime is not present in sufficient quantities then the percentage of phosphoric acid present must be at least twice as much. The best valley soil of the Mississippi contains 0.3% phosphoric acid, and the so-called Black-Earth has 0.46%, The red clay soils of Tennessee are foremost in that respect with 0.563%. As to potash, with 0.56 the limit is reached so that potash manuring must be considered a necessity. | The soils of the fruitful valley of the Mississippi contain 1.3%, other heavy clay soils contain from 0.8-0.5%, light clay and sandy soils contain, even up toa considerable depth not less than 1% of this constituent and 1.4% of lime. The soils of the South of the United States are generally rich in potash and therefore seldom need manure containing enough of that substance. Not much importance is to be attached to potash if the soils are rich in phosphoric acid and lime. No manure was used in America before the War of Independence. After the liberation of the slaves many good workmen became — free, who threw themselves into agriculture and specially busied themselves with cotton growing. From that time to the present day, concentrated manures are employed in the cultivation of cotton in the United States, with the exception of a few places where the virgin soil is used and in the alluvial soils along the great rivers. Perhaps on no other agricultural product has manure exercised such influence. Not only because with the assistance of manure, paying results were possible from soils which would otherwise have been unsuitable for cultivation, but the good effect of manure, manifests itself also in this respect, that the growth of the cotton plant is quickened, and thereby the limits of its area of cultivation is pushed further northwards. | And that no small amount of manure is. used is seen from the fact that in the states of South Carolina and Georgia one lot of manure, consisting of 60 kilos phosphoric acid, 18 kilos Nitrogen and 18 kilo grammes of potash is usually used per bouw. Te Is generally given in this form :— + etna) at abe Pye oes Se See pays «= 2S SS ret Hypophosphate 410 k.g, © Chili Saltpeter 135 Ag | Potass Chlorate Ioo ,, > | One lot costing about /. 4o. 4 s The only place where cotton is grown without any man on richalluvial soils. And even inthese cases some manure is uset as in the fruitful alluvial soils of Egypt, which continually receive the mud of the Nile, where 17—26 M$ of stable manure are us per bouw. ne CULTURE AND. HARVEST. =. In order to get a good insight into the Cotton culture, we can ¢ no better than to consider here shortly the states which exist 1 North America, the land which cultivates the most cotton, i 205 _ The difference between here and there will then become more evident. The cotton culture of North America covers an area 24 longitude and 15 latitude degrees, giving an area of more than 1.56 million “square milimetres or more than 4/, of the United States or three times the size of the German Empire. It-has a population of more than 8,000,000 whites and more than 5,000,000 natives, a total of about 13,000,000 of which each too produce 53 bales of cotton, or 250 lbs. of fibre per head. _ The Mississippi River divides the cotton country into nearly two halves, lying east and westwards of it. _ The ground on which cotton is grown is determined according to the geological state or condition. Accordingly the country is divided in the following: The Pine Levels; ie Pine Hills; The - Metamorphic or Piedmont Territory; The Sand Hills; The Prairie _ Territory; The Oak and Hickory Territory; The Bluff and Brown Table Lands; The Alluvial Territory; The Valley Territory; and _ The Alpine Territory. _ The Pine-Levels, stretch from the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, from 50-150 miles landwards and attain a height of 200 feet above the sea-level, covering an area of 19,000,000 bouws, of which 44 % consist of cotton land. The production is from 26 to 32 % of the total. The average size of a cotton farm is 68 bouws, but the farms Bes are larger being 110 bouws. Of these farms about 69% are worked by their owners while the _ remainder are let out. The tilling of the land here is easy, for 21 _ bouws, one requires only 1 draught animal while on the average one animal is necessary for 12.5 “bouws. Three bales (1,500 lbs.) are produced by each animal (which is high as this number is put to 2.1 bales for each animal, for the whole territory. The soil of this territory has the great est need of proper irrigation. On these lands, the Sea-Island cotton, in South Carolina and Georgia, is grown. | The Pine-H11ls, ‘border on the Northern boundaries of the Pine- Levels, attaining a height from 200-400 feet above sea-level. They cover an area of 22,309,000 bouws of which 58% is cultivated land, fielding a product of 15% towards the total. In Georgia and South Carolina mules are used for the work, but in Missisippi, Louisiana and Texas where Europeans are predominant horses are employed. Here 19 bouws require one animal. The Metamorphic or Piedmont Territory, borders on the northern bounds of the Pine Hills, passing through North Carolina, South varolina Georgia and Alabama. It covers an area of 18,830,000 ouws of which only ten percent are Cultivated with cotton, its roduct adding 16.8% to the total. The smallest farms have an fea of 30 bouws and are 40% of all the farms. Here they count ) bouws to one animal, with an average production of 3.7 bales. he value of one bouw of land is £37. The cost of producing a ound of cotton is 17 cts, Between the Piedmont territory and the Pine Hills lie the Sand ss - A A A a at 206 Hills, a piece of land of the size of 3,400,000 bouws lying on height of from 500--800 ft. of which 66% is farm-land, five percer of it being planted with cotton. Its share of the cotton productiag is F.0%. The Prazcrie Territory, includes the black prairie land of Alabatil +, Mississippi and Texas and further more the coast prairies of Ar- kansas and the red clay soils of the prairies of West Texas. This territory consists of an area of more than 37,000,009 bouws of which 55% is farm-land with a contribution of 20.6% to the total cotton production. One has to deal here with clay soils. The land has a value of from 24 to 53 guilders per bouw. In this part the most use of implements is made the planting year begins with the first of December, one month earlier than in the East. The ploughing of the cotton land is done mechanically. The ploughs are chiefly drawn by two horses. The ground here is so much heavier than in the Pine levels. The more or less hard prairie soil is ploughed with 4—8 horses when I—4 bouws are able to be ploughed to a depth of 5—-20 c. m. in a day, The soil here is so fruitful that it is on the whole not necessary, to use manure. If the soil has been worked for some years, it be- | comes easier to manage. The plucking requires a gre. t expenditure, The best pluckers gather from 500-600 pounds of cotton per day. Children from 6-9 _ years pluck on the average 100 lbs. per diem. The cost of production amounts to from 12-16 cents per Ib. The field labourers’ wages are high, in Texas. On the 250,844 farms, there are about 57,042 labourers. These. get on an average including food and housing £33 per mensem, The Oak and Hickory Territories, \ie on the Eastern border of the Black Prairie lands of Texas having an area of 24,600,000 bouws of which about 52% are farmed yielding 14.4% of the whole cotton harvest. Of its farms, 31-34% consist of less than 30 bouws. For 20 bouws, one draught animal is considered sufficient, Ihe value of | the ground is f25 per bouw. a: The Bluff and Brown Loam Table Lands, \ie towards the East of the Mississippi river, with an area of 6,300,000 bouws and a pro- duct of 6.8% of the total. The value of this ground is on the aver- age 40 guilders per bouw, and the average “cost of production i: estimated at 17 cents per Ib. The Alluvial Strips, are met with in every southern State, gener- : ally, the low lands along the Mississippi, the Red and Brazos rivers are meant with these. These consist of a total area of 17,000,006 bouws, of which 34% is farm land. Six percent of this 1s cultivateg with cotton giving 14.6% to the total The ground is chiefly let out at from 13 to 23 guilders per bou iM the while the average value of the land is estimated at S Cam pe bouw. , The Red-Loam Lands, lying on the east and west coasts of dl Mississippi River and the valleys cf the South East of Tenness and the North-west of Georgia, produce together 6.8% of t ET ART CVS eee SR Cae ee? 7 we ae @ 207 otal; the while the A/pzze Regions which are met in North and South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Arkansas and Texas produce 0.9% of the total cotton production. Of the total cotton production in 1894, the product of each dif- ferent State was as follows :— Texas - - 33.1% . Georgia - 2 Ea; 4 Mississippi - 12.2"; j Alabama - s rOT;, Arkansas - Z SO: : South Carolina - 8.0 ,, Louisiana = 60 North Carolina - | ae 4 Tennessee - a 4; jC a - #0°5, a Remaining states Gir <3 _ The production in 1893 were for ;— North Carolina - 294 Ibs South Carolina - 204 >, : Georgia - : Bolan tif Alabama - - 25@) 5; Mississippi - a2 5, Louisiana - - 448 ,, Texas - ~ > Pei Bd 4 Arkansas - - 329°, Tennessee - ” 2BO0: ~,, or an average of 339.5 pounds of cleaned cotton per bouw. It is of consequence to us to know what the cost of production hereof amounts to. The growing of cotton is in America nearly unlimited, as there s there no lack of land and labour. From the given figures, referring to the differences between, the otal arca of farm-land, and the area of the different lands cultivated ith cotton, may be seen how the latter can be considerably en- rged. Of thé vast prairies there is left over 55% of farm-land of lich the greatest part is suitable to cotton growing. If the cotton prices* rise the consequence will be that waste nd will be made capable of a profitable undertaking. The pro- ee ¥ ction is governed by capital and labour. The growing conditions are there so advantageous, that little pital need be expended, for improving the land and manuring. may be said that “/; of all the horses and mules on the farms are icient for the biggest possible harvest. © The quantity of cotton which can be produced is determined by The increase of the price of cotton is not always the result of an increase of con- ption but sometimes is urged on by speculators. The planter tempted by the high 2s and not suspecting the actual cause of the rise, thinks that the moment is of ntage to put labour and capital in the cotton industry. This does not last long, before loug the actual cotton prices are again paid, when the new planter finds is loss that he acted too rashly. the size of the land that can be tilled by one draught animal bet- — ween the 5th of May and the Ist of August. This is estimated at 20 bouws, The keeping of one horse, with the necessary implements, har- ness and insurance is estimated at £305 annually of which /135 go to the account of the planting. For ploughing f160 and for weeding and banking} /138 are paid per 20 bouws. The produce of 930 lbs. of raw cotton per bouw (including seed, waste, etc.) is equivalent to 310 lbs. of cleaned cotton, then the cost of harvesting amount to £183 per 20 bouws. If manure is used one reckons ‘an extra expense of £7.79 per bouw, thus for 20 bouws /155.80. Kent and ddministration cost /656 per bouw, or per 20 bouws /131.20. The total cost of pro- duction is thus for 20 bouws g03 guilders, or x 45 guilders per bouw or per lb. of raw cotton 4.84 cts. or per lb. of clean cotton 14.5 Cts. This refers to the cotton territories to the east of the Mississippi. or the west where the cost of production is cheaper, the cost price of one lb. of clean cotton 1s put at 14.2 cts. To this must be added the cost of cleaning and packing, but this is largely covered by the value of the cotton seed. Fifty-four per cent. of the total cost come from the labour, which, compared with other industries, is Bery high, and as this figure is about 27 % in the cotton mills, the conclusion must be drawn, that labour in the cotton industry of America is a prominent factor. It is interesting to compare with these figures the cost of pro- duction in Egypt and India. for Egypt these amount to £170.63 per bouw, or, with an aver- age production of 600 lbs. per bouw, 28.3 cts. per lb., about four times as much again as in America. The Egyptian planter would not be able to exist, if his harvest per bouw were not better and his sale-price moreover higher. In the North West Provinces of British India, the cost of produc- tion amounts approximately to (31.76 per bouw. The average produce of cleaned cotton is Igo lbs. per bouw, the cost of produc- tion therefore amounts to 16.6 cents per lbs. We will here shortly sketch those cotton-growing states of America, which specially grow Sea-Island cotton. On the sea-islands of South Carolina the field work is exclusively done by natives, of whom most are employed in farming. A large portion of them are owners of farms, but a still larger portion rent the ground, while, land is given to the actual workers in exchange for their labour. The greatest area of land, actually cultivated with cotton by one owner, is not more than 57 bows The white farmers have usually not more than 17 bouws planted with cotton. Such an area always necessitates their being owners of large stretches of land, as they have to pay for 2 days work in the week with 3-4 bouws; for which they can then have about 2 bouws of land, planted with cotton, so that if they want to =. @ eae 209 have 17 bouws planted with cotton, they must have at least 43 bouws of cotton land at their disposal. And as they grow other plants as well the whole amounts to 70 bouws. If it is then also taken into consideration, that in the case of that system the land is only planted once in 2 years, then such an owner must have at least 140 bouws of farm land. Mules are used for ploughing, digging, weeding etc. One mule is considered sufficient for 17 bouws; as has been already mentioned above, the land consists of very light, sandy soil. The preparation of the soil, before the planting of the cotton, is begun with the removal of the weeds, and the cutting up of the cotton roots of the last harvest, after which these are heaped up and set fire to, All this work costs about 2 guilders per bouw. The uprooting costs fo.35 per bouw. The land is not altogether ploughed, but in February two furrows are ploughed, between the cotton beds in such a manner, that a trench of 17.5—-20 c.m. is formed. Sometimes this trench is worked with an underground plough. Into these trenches the manure is put, consisting of 35 cartloads of mud and goc—-1,2c0 f.¢. of cotton seed. Mud and stable dung are also used, the latter in quantities of 7o cartloads to the bouw. Sometimes other dung is added to the stable dung. When that has been done, then the above mentioned furrows are ploughed, from the edges of the old cotton beds, which costs /o.75 per bouw. With a double roller weighing about 409 4.g. the mass in the two furrows is simultaneously pressed hard. All this work must be ended by the beginning or the middle of March. The cotton-bed is then raised higher by ploughing. It is of the first importance that the cotton should be in a good dry position. If the soil contains too much moisture, the growth and _ product are not up to the mark. For this reason the soil is properly drained. The old open drains are gradually closed and replaced by new ones. Though this may seem expensive, it has proved to be cheaper than the old system of drainage. | The ground is now ready for planting, which may be begun at any time after the 2oth of March, but preference is given to the time between the Ist and the roth of April. Three labourers do this work. The first man digs small holes into the top of the bed, with a spade, at distances of from 30-45 c.m. long and 1.20 m. broad. The next drops 8-10 seeds into each hole and the third covers them up. The seeds lie about 2 cm. deep. From 200-250 litres of seeds are used per bouw. Instead of planting in little heaps, the method of planting in rows is used in America. The rows lie 135 c.m. from each other and with a special sowing machine, the seeds, 5-6 together, are put out into these rows at distances of Io c.m. Later on they are thinned to equal distances of 40 c.m. The plants appear 8-12 days after sowing. The weeding is begun about the first of May, and for the second 210 ; = a time at the end of that month, then the earth is also heaped u again. . This is done by going throw the new beds, first with t ne shovelling machine, and then the earth is heaped up with the plough. By earthing up the cotton is pressed tighter into the: ground and the weeds suppressed. This costs /3. 50 per bouw. At the second time of cleaning a beginning 1 is made with the thinning and this is repeated each successive time that the ground — is weeded, so that in July only one plant remains in each spot. In ~ all there are four cleanings. Near the end of July nothing more is done to the plantation, with the exception of ploughing between the cotton rows in August. — The first flowers appear, towards the middle of June, when the — plants are about 40 c. m. high and in August the fruit open, the — plants having then attained a height of 1.50 m. The plucking begins in the last week of August and continues to the first week of September. The harvest is «nded about | middle of December. 4 When the cotton has been plucked, weighed and cleaned, then — it is dried in the sun on platforms of about 8 m, square. If this precaution is not taken, it may happen, that the stored cotton becomes heated. It is also said that by drying in the sun, the fibres obtain a more silky appearance owing to the absorption — of oil from the cotton seed. After the cotton is dried it is stored or treated with the foc } mills. Before this however, it is cleaned by hand from rubbish and dirty cotton. As a day’s work one man has to produce 150 lbs. of cotton seed. Now the cleaning is done more carefully and the above mentioned task is given to two persons. QOne cleans the cotton before it goes through the flock-mills and the other after it has left them. In the remainder of America the following general rules are considered :— In territories that are not drained, and that is the case of most instances, the cotton is grown on ridges, from 5 to 8 c.m, high, in distances from 20-35 c.m. broad and 120 c. m. long, this has already been mentioned above. Besides the plough much use is made of shovels or pa The proper use of the latter especially contributes much to thy good results of the culture. The number of seeds put into each hole, (one foot apart) is 5-6 In very dry climates the cotton is planted deeper than elsewher Starting with 10 c. m. distances, this is thinned to the distance above mentioned. At the time of growing care is taken to destro the weeds and that the top layer of the soil remains crumbly, { facilitate the air drying of the soil. When necessary the sidegy the beds are heaped up once or twice. The cotton plant seems to be well able to bear the cutting o} roots so that there is no cause for anxiety when weeding, of ns the roots with the tools. The planting is done between the tst of March and the 1c oth q . ,.* « on Leh Le Ge 2TH June and a start is made with the plucking between roth July and > th October. Singular characteristics, concerning the growth in South Caro- ina are shewn by the following :— q Of 100 seeds, planted to per hole one foot apart, on 29th March, 24 sprang up, of which again 2 died, 39 could not be found again, perhaps these were eaten by insects, 23 had rotted, and 14 seemed good but would not vegetate. The first plant made its appearance 14 days alter planting and the rest followed within 18 days and after thirty days no more came up. _ The climate was cool and moist. In very dry climates the seeds can remain in the ground from the rst April to the roth of June and still come up well. _ Eight days after the seeds had sprung up, or 23 days after sow- ing the third leaf appeared. The fourth leaf shewed itself on the Bbliowing day. y the first bud was visible 41 days after the seeds had sprung up 1 53 days after sowing, and 25 days afterwards it blossomed. _ The capsules visible on the 25th May burst open on the goth of August. _ If the weather is not suitable in the fruiting season, the cotton plant which is then weak shews the greatest sensibility. Then the uds, blossoms and half-grown fruits fall off. The following statement coming from the same source as the bove, shews the losses, which unsuitable weather can cause :— Eee ll = dea ee a 0 re Br? = huly2t tpl gta peal OM: ok ee laa oo mec | OS | She as| 9 | es ae=} = (eo a H i e) = ‘ id) | cD) ee cI | > Soa ah Meee a: oo o E> see ed oo ; oo ao} a = 6; o | ¥.= ee s ia 4 TN ESR | Ae | ca Pa ae we | Ak pa | | Sete | 7, <1 1,700.1 1,231 469) 163 | 306}, 18 * ETy hens tam be) | 4 : } ; May | “40. /2. 586 1,819 | 767 | 199s: 5 68 18 | | | | 2 | ee 196 48 sa 36 23 | 17 | II Hehty five fruits give one pound of raw cotton. | he plucking of the cotton is the most annoying =e the most snsive work in the cotton industry. ve harvest of 1894 amounting to 7,500,000 bales is said to have Q ‘0 pluck alone 150,000,000 cuilders. e - average cost of plucking 50 4.g. of raw cotton is from /1 to vA plucker can gather about 333 Ibs. a day but they usually er onl about too lbs, Bad plucking can cause a lot of harm oe i 212 by dropping cotton or dirtying it with earth or smudging it with the sap from the fruit. Attempts have been made to replace hand labour by machine labour in plucking, but without satisfactory results. q After the cotton has been plucked, the remainder of the plant is used as fodder, which is equal in strength to wheat straw. ; Animals are fond of the cotton plant in any stage of growth but not when the shrubs have died, or dried and become tasteless. | The tough stems which are not eaten by the animals are made into fibre. These are woven into a kind of sack-cloth which is very suitable for the making up, of the bales of cotton. DISEASES AND PLAGUES. The diseases which endanger the cotton plant are of three kinds; a, Diseases, due to physiological causes, amongst these rel the mosaic-disease or the: yellow-leaf disease: the autumn leaf or red-leaf disease ; the falling of fruits etc, 6, Diseases caused through fungi to which belongs amongst i others the root-rot; cotton-leaf disease, mildew, fruit-rot; * etc, c. Nematode-disease ; root-gall. The greatest loss is caused the cotton planter by insects. ve most dangerous of these being the cotton-caterpillar (A/etza argil- lacea. Hiibn.) The caterpillar which eats the fruit (Hfelzothis Armee q ger. Hiibn.) causes also a lot of damage } yet not by far to such a degree as the first named. f The loss of the cotton-planters, due to the cotton-caterpillar amounted to yearly 37,5c0,000 guilders, and that not so very long — ago. In some years this amount has even been surpassed. This plague has now practically been mastered by having a more rational culture and suitable remedies. In the first place the -otton planters do not exclusively plant thell fields with cotton but plant besides cotton, grain and fodder plant: on other parts of their land. Since the cotton plant has proved to be valuable as fodder % well as for the oil industry it is not the custom now as it was once to grow that kind of cotton which has few seed and long hairs. _ Owing to the value of the seed the kind having a higher pel centage of them is now usually planted although this gives le 4 cotton yet the loss is amply made up for by the other profit. The form and growth of these shorter varieties permit of a bett combat with the caterpillars. The plantation is more open. TI caterpillars become more conspicuous and cannot hide themsely in the bushy parts, as is the case in the other kind. ie Besides a dusting with Paris green is used with good suce The manner of dusting is very simple, it is done with the help two bags, hung ona stick held across a horse. In this way | man can easily manage 8.5 to 11.4 bouws per day. Next t cotton caterpillar, the fruit-caterpillar (Heliothis armiger. Hiibn the most harmful, 4 a a a ee 213 THE TREATMENT OF THE COTTON. Formerly it was the custom to store the cotton after it had been plucked in sheds, specially built for that purpose. A still older _ system was the keeping of the cotton in the open field on the spot _ where it was reaped. The cotton was simply stacked in heaps on a waggon and covered with a tarpaulin. With Sea-island cotton, which is, as has already been mentioned above, still dried on platforms i in the old fashioned manner, and then stored as raw cotton, another method is now adopted, in pre- paring the cotton for the market. The cotton, as collected goes directly to the flock-mills where it is cleaned a packed into ae by machinery. With this modification of the old method, all sorts of faults came to light which had rot been properly considered on the erection of m@ithe mills and many obstacles had to be cleared out of the way, be- fore the chief c leaning factories attained their present state. —_ {t has been noted that before the erection of these central flock- mills, the cleaning, sorting and packing by hand was done with ~ more exactness than the machinery is able to do it. On big plantations each plucking was treated by itself, by which different qualities were made. As the large plantations disappeared and made room for smaller 2 these differences in quality could not be made any more as _ one plucking gave scarcely sufficient cotton to make one bale. _ The central flock-mills have decreased the cleaning costs con- siderably but partly at the cost of the quality. __ The cotton suffers nothing by being sent through the plain _flock-mills, (gins) consisting of two hard rollers, turning in Oppo- Weite directions, which free it from the seed. That which has not _ been done by the machine is done by hand. _ The new gins driven by steam or water power do the work - quicker, but they give wore refuse and damaged fibres, with this o goes the fact that the fibres suffer in their elasticity. _ There are two principal kinds of cleaning machines, the so-called _ *Rollergin” and the ‘“Saw-gin”. _ By the spinning of the cotton into threads one reckons a loss of irom 13-23 % made up from loss of moisture, impurities, spoiled fibres, etc. These figures should be lower. ‘After the cotton has been pressed into bales it is packed into ack-cloth (rough jufe cloth) and bound by iron bands. As to measurements and weights of the bales, the American tandard bale has these measurements: 1.35 by 0.67 ?M. and its eight i is ahout 500 \bs. ‘It is curious that the size and weight of the bales has increased ith the increase of the cotton-produce, The weight of the American bale has been attained from 300 lbs, The American cotton is known for its slovenly and clumsy pack- g. A better and neater packing, for which special machines ve been constructed, has not found general use. One has to fight against old habits and uses, ~~ e 4 A Saar Se ae Sr aT eee ee iv x j ts i et 214 The cost of the sack-cloth and iron bands weighing togethial from 10.5-12 k.g 1s about /1.50 per bale, but in Liverpool where the price of the edt toni is made, the tare is counted 6 %. Each bale thus loses 30 lbs., a figure which is higher than the actual tare. Formerly the costs of cleaning the raw cotton according to the old system amounted to f12.50 per bale, but at present these have considerably diminished, as for instance in Texas they are about 77-50 per bale, the w hile i in some parts of the East, these have even fallen to 72.50. 2: The flock-mills, estimated at 23,000 chiefly owe their use to the importance which the cotton seeds have gained in the last years. The farmers who supply the cotton, take back with them cotton sead flour, which they use as fodder and manure. 4 It is intended to connect with the flock- mills, oil-factories and ~ to refine there the oil which comes from the cotton-seeds, so that > it may be used as frying oil. | Z) This oil is used on a large scale in stead of Olive oil, in the pre-_ servation of sardines and in the preparation of margarine, etc. These facts show that the flock-mills have considerably contri=— buted towards the decrease of the production cost of cotton. Besides the oil and the residue which can also serve as fodder, are also obtained. Through the absence of flock-hairs on the seeds in the New Island cotton, which cause the husks to be difficult to remove in the extraction of the oil, the oil got from the seeds of this kind, is of lower quality than that from the shorthaired cottom varieties. tt Literally speakirg no part of the cotton is wasted in America. — The cotton seeds contain about 20 % of oil, but the oil-factories | get on an average not more than 455 %. . The cotton-oil industry yearly Wields a produce of a value of 75,000,000 guilders. 4 As regards the sale of the cotton, formerly the planter himself, or his principal, shipped the cotton to the chief markets in Europé or. America. a At present the greatest part of the harvest goes over into — the i hands of the manufacturers or merchants who have given the oli ; ter advances. i The planter can get an average advance of f25 per bale, but tha however against the highest possible interests that the Governmer allows. | For commission and storage is calculated on an average Ja for the former and for the latter f1.25 per bale for the first mon and for each successive month the half of 71.25. : Including the iusurance the sale costs the planter 1.25 cents. Ib. of clean cotton. In America the cotton is quickly sold, as the agents of the s neries or merchants live in the neighbourhood of the floc ket 1 which buy the cleaned cotton fromthe planters at the market r At present also a large amount of cotton goes through the h of export firms, whose aim it is to bring the producer ‘and ihe ¢ as ~ 7 ee ae umer in direct connection with each other by which the costs of ransaction have been not a little reduced. _ These big companies are satisfied, with a net profit of 6% on the _ huge capitals with which they work. The following figures will shew how the expenses have decreased n the last years. In New Orleans they fell from 314% of the har- s value to 123%; in Memphis from 93% to 44%; in Charleston from 7% to 22%. y In conclusion a few words on the costs of transportation. 3 This varies according to the kind of thing; the place, the route and the freight charges. > Yet. although freight has generally become cheaper, it presses on _ the cost of production and this is especially felt when the price of cotton is low. The cotton manufacturers in the land where the cotton is grown, have here the advantage as they can procure the raw material _ cheaper than the foreign cotton spinneries. Yet one feels inclined to think that the freights are of little im- _ portance to the manufacturer, as the woven articles must be ex- ported back again but then one overlooks the fact of the difference Sears the freights of the raw material and of the things made ut ef it. Where the freight for the raw material if 75 cents. per 4 k.g., this is in the case of the woven goods f1.175. From the following figures can be seen what a difference the _freights on the total cost at different cotton prices can come up to. The cost of shipping raw cotton to Liverpool from cotton grow- 4 g countries on the Atlantic Coast amounts to £12.86 per bale of "500 lbs. 4 Beaming for instance that one pound of cones costs 12.5, 20, i cectively F160. 61, f18. 86 and f 21.10 or en in percent- ages of the prices 24, 18, 15% respectively. _ Let us once more consider all the expenses which have to be z id on the cotton from the time it leaves the farm till it comes to Liverpool into the hands of the cotton spinner. 3 _ ‘The expenses of cultivation up to the flock-mills amount to 14.45 per Ib on the average. Presuming that the costs of the a the expenses fein the flock-milis to Liv erpool. _ These amount to, at a cotton price averaging 20 cents. per |b., B77 ct. _Wethen come to the conclusion that America can deliver the roduct at 18.22 cents per lb. THE COTTON-CULTURE IN EGYPT. From times immemorial, the cotton plant has been grown in the pper Nile territories, especially soin Abyssinia. Seeds of this tton variety were imported into Lower Egypt about the year 1820, id the export of Egyptian Cotton to Europe dates from that time. ve export of cotton from Egypt does not annually increase in the a 98a WERE ——— a = a Je oye « .] Rix , ante ae LS oe -entey 2 ere oe pepe natal ape o sare CE Sra ey “ae Pe ee sion BH ot ey peaaet oar ate eee 27 ca ee eee rae - = 6 PS gr ere = aye Atte. —— 2 aod rears 3 Soper ee ——nerpenrn an . PES A ae rs gre yaw the: iat, ghee oes Perv so ew te - 316 same way as in other lands. In 1895 it exported 634,000 bales a 400 lbs. each. According to FOADEN, the present production is about 557, 50a o0¢ pounds of fibre, of which the greatest part is exported anc 810,000,000 fires of cotton seed of which also the greatest part is exported. 3 Extensive irrigation and drainage systems are in use, which un- | questionably increase the production. 4 Other agricultures are abandoned in order to work more ex- clusively on cotton. Bs The average product of the Government lands amounted to 44 lbs, — per bouw, during.the years 1879-1894, representing a value of ; 7186.50. During the 3 years, 1892, 1893 and 1894, the value of the Brutto product per bouw amounted £227—, the while, according to: FOADEN the value of the product of the present day is estimated atl f 288.80. The cotton seed brings in f19.70 per douw, while the woody part of the cotton shrub is used as fuel which represents — another sum of f10.90 per bouw. The total cost of production is | estimated at £201.20 per bouw, while the fibres, seeds etc., realise f 288.80 per bouw giving the farmer a profit of £87.60 per bouw. More attention is paid to the packing in Egypt than in America, | There is still, even if not much, some Egyptian cotton, exported to America. | In the expenses, rent and irrigation stand foremost. Alone for rent and taxes one pays in Egypt f118— per bouw, while irrigation costs /30.60 per bouw. The remaining expenses are small as may be seen from the table below. Rent, inclusive of taxes ss a ff 118.— Irrigation 1° SONG Preparation of the land, sowing, 0 manuring Sey > Fae Seeds | oe yf ee Upkeep, shovelling, thinning ae it et aa | Plucking wages hs ae J) Qe Total, ) ° /'26T4toae As an average produce, FOADEN gives 600 ibs. perv vouw, but good soils yield well over 1,225 Ibs. per bouw. a The cost of production then amounts to, after deducting the 7 seeds and fuel, £28.3 per lb. an amount considerably higher than that for American cotton. But this is largely compen» Cleaning - - : - - + 4. ae z Manuring - - - - - . CRS, Bee 7 Rent - 35 - - é - ie at ree ee Fe —— —— - ——— Total per bouw, f 31.67° If the average product of clean cotton is put at 150 lbs per bouw then the cost of production amounts to+2I cents per pound. During the big cotton scarcity of the years 1861 and 1865, which caused the English spinning industry immense loss, the English did their utmost to spread the cotton culture in India in order to _ make the mother-country less dependent on America. _ This was successful to a certain extent; but not long had the War in America been ended, when America actually took her old | position again, and her cotton production increased, while that of India remained stationary or decreased. The spinning industry, was however imported with more success. The first spianery was erected at Bombay in 1854. Five and twenty years after there were 56, with 1,500,000 spools, and in 1889 this number went up to 124 with 2,763.000 spools. » _ After these, somewhat lengthy statements, regarding the cotton culture elsewhere, which may be considered as necessary for the proper judging of the possibilities of the existence of this culture in cur archipelago we shall follow what has been done here towards this industry by Government as well as by private individuals. In the days of the East India Company endeavours were made to xtend and better the cotton crops in the Netherlands Indies. Yet | these proved only of little profit. In 1833 a bale of Javanese cotton, coming from the residency Kediri, was sent by the Netherlands Trading Society, to Holland, but there it was found to be inferior fineness and length of fibre to the American sorts, so that the _ Importation was discontinued, __ At about the same time however, after the abolition of the East | India Company, experiments were made for the first time with sam- 4 — { ERR FS TI TOI STEN ek Se Sn ; as aa +7rerys. ee eet a te Pe gs ie Eng Bee ea SMT Ee hare tel a fam y oe 2s > ae pee bale re ge rte eS ES ee Sst 9 Se ree —_— os. CUO eee a a3: ~~ eae ees ise a Lr a ne ows 218 ples of the crops of a better kind of cotton. They seem to have been chiefly grown in Bandjermassin, where good results were expectec in the beginning, but which were, however, not realised. FE: In Java also trials were made, chiefly w ith Gossypium vitifolium. It was found that the seeds came up, but that a certain caterpillar belonging to the ‘“Leaf-rollers’”’ nestled itself in the fruit and des- troyed the largest portion-of the crop. This induced Government, in 1839, to cease further trials. The thing was, however, again taken up, when 3 or 4 years later, a certain Mr. VAN TOLL, who had managed a cotton plantation in ~ Surinam, came to Java in order to start an undertaking in Cheri- — bon. It was expected that his wide experience would bring about — better results, and that induced Government to make a contract — with this gentleman for conducting new trials, for which, seeds from Surinam, South Carolina and later from New Orleans were sent to him. One bale sent to Holland in 1845, as a result of these — trials, seems to have been of a very satisfactory quality; but Mr. VAN TOLL found the crop out of all proportions to the cost and trouble connected therewith, so that in 1847 he asked for and ob-— tained the revocation of the ‘agreement. * 4 At about the same time Government took up again, at the request of the mother countries and individual persons, trials with foreign varieties of cotton in the envirous, and chose therefore Valen . the land of the cotton, where the production of the cotton is esti-_ | mated at 30,000 pikuls annually. If the new kinds could be grown anywhere, then it would be certain in this case as the inhabitanGl were acquainted with cotton-growing. The native cotton was some- — what short and badly gathered and prepared. It was hoped to. bring about a change in this by the importation of new and better kinds of cotton. . The Netherlands Trading Society being of opinion, that by the > | * Mr. L. J. van ToL came to Java in 1840, witha recommendation from the Mi. nister of Colonies, as specially experienced in the culture and preparation of cotton — in the West Indian manner. Mr. vAN TOLL made an investigation-tour over Java, at Government costs, which 4 resulted in his becoming acquainted with the kinds of soil and the climate, as well as with the disappointments, which were met with in the growing of foreign kinds of © cctton, wherefore he hesitated to start an undertaking on his own account and risk. He therefore wished preferably to open a sugar plantation. He was however very willing, on a salary and travelling allowances, provided he was allowed a sugar con ract, to make small trials in the parts of Java, which were most suitable for cotton culture. A contract was made with Mr. van Tout. for the cultivating of sugar an¢ cotton in Kadipatten in the residency Cheribon, and that, with an advance of £80,00 without interests. Not much came of this affair, for on the 14th March, 1843, th Government declared the agreement null and void. The sugar industry was given over to Baron Leysstus, and the cultivation of cotton was contracted for with Mr. van Tott. The contract for cotton was nullified in the year 1847, on the request of the co tractor after he had spent from 4 to 5 thougane guilders on ine affair, without havin | had the slightest advantage. — The Director of Cultivation remarks on that, “that the appearance of this expt in Java has not brought the cultivation of cotton for the foreign markets, one ia Ke ward but has only served to verify that which undertakings of former years ha already clearly shewn namely that the nature cf the soil and the climate of island are not suitable for the cultivation of foreign cotton on a large scale.” cs The Director of Cultivation wrote to the Government in 1856 to that effect. oo. 219 cultivation of better kinds of cotton and the erection of cleaning _ i factories at Palembang the cotton industry would quickly go ahead, put itself at head of affairs. It requested from Government permis- sion to take charge of the management of the trials, and the buying of the produce and further asked for a concession to put up a factory for the cleaning and pressing of the cotton. i ere _ The Government gave this Society its greatest possible support, in order to further the success of the thing. At Palembang the Government itself assisted in the erection of the factory, and in the “meantime, it had distributed among the inhabitants of the different disiricts, seeds from New Orleans, for planting. This was on the if advice Bf the Trading Society. The Resident personally saw to the matter, as he knew that the Minister of Colonies, was strongly ‘interested in the cotton industry. The Resident had again to report, that the seeds had nowhere come up, and he thought that the fault lay with the seeds. The sceds were dead. In his notes the Resident says, that the cotton jis the favourite plant of the natives of Palembang but that the ehangeability of the weather is disadvantageous to this cultivation. _ The cultivation is mostly done on srounds which serve for rice fe growing. =P pee ort hee ke amare 6 *: ~ Fee tag oe we ie ot .¢ - nal pn, Ete as es a eee a mente. be thar ep os ole: 4-6 hey eS Rp MN me age pt. Maat Se = bay ae; La 2 pe _ Previous to this, under the direction of Resident Pretorius, trials were made with the planting of foreign varieties of cotton. The a New Orleans seeds then imported sprang up well, but the inhabitants - wanted to have nothing more to do with the matter after the ex- fat periences they had had with the new kinds of cotton. al _In 1847 the Director of Agricultures wrote to the Government, eat that the various trials of planting foreign varieties of cotton in java a had entirely failed. a _It is only lately that the last cotton undertaking, that of Mr. vAN i TOLL in Cheribon has been given up, and it may be taken on the grounds of these experiments that Java is not suited for this industry. oe ene ee — eee on In the Palembang Residency, also the ground and conditions seem to be less suitable for the kinds of cotton, wanted in the gy st Ss pik, Oe ~ al tn cay tet A Nae om — ag sae en markets, than for the native kinds. It only remains for A e inhabitants there to choose the latter kind. I see little or no bs id) yantage in inducing them to grow foreign cotton. . hei it would be of more advantage to the inhabitants of Palembang 4 > show them, before all, a way of better preparing and cleaning if eir own products, The Gevernor-General wrote tothe Minister fer Colonies in 1848 vw e following :— let © Truly all experiments of this kind in Java have prov ed unsuc- esful and they have shewn, that disregarding the iajurious in-_ lence which the moist air and the changeability of the weather ve on the cctton fruit, a certain worm which burrows into the it and spoils it before they have reachea full maturity, proves to F obstacle, scarcely removable, against the growing, in Java, ton suitable for the European markets, in sufficient quantities to pay the cost and leave a profit,” * EIS TS TS - SS_E ———n we 7 ~ i _— —- = - -_ 220 This last was added as a precaution as the economical side ¢ the question was its weak point. 4 In 1850 experiments were again made with another kind, namely Dacca-cotton, received from Bengal through the Trading Society. At the special request of the Government, to take good care and neglect nothing in the interest of the trials, the seeds of this kind of cotton were sent to t. The Lampong Districts. 2, Palembang. we: 3. Makassay, to be specially planted in Toratea and other ™) known cotton places. ; 4. Bandjermassin. : 5. The residency Bezooki, where according to Dr. ZOLLINGER, | excellent lands for the cotton culture, are said to be on the slopes of the volcanic mountains in the districts Panalll roekan and Bondowosso. rE 6. Buitenzorg and Tjinanas. } The reporis received on the experiments with Dacca cotton are nufavourable with regard to Buitenzorg, favourable for Bezoekii + and less favoarable for the resideacies South and East districts of Borneo. The Director of Agriculture, at that time, brought outa report regarding the trials to the following respect ‘ that the trials with cotton crops in Java by no means answered the expectations. The chief cause of this failure must be attributed to the insects, by which the fruit of this cotton plant (Dacca-cotton) were spoilt”. — On the proposal of the Director of Agriculture the Government had the trials with Dacca-cotton continued in a a. The Residency Bantam (on the West coast along the Straits: of Sunda). 6. The Residency Bantam (on the North Coast). c. The Residency Banjoemas, on the South coast in the vicinity — of Tyjilatjap, on the Kinder-sea in the division Pattie on the lower parts of its coasts. f 2. si he Residency. Soerabaja, on the low lands forme by the P| drainage of ‘the Solo and Kediri rivers. é. The Residency Bezoeki. The Government ordered the Director of Agriculture to write to the concerned authorities concerned in this matter of the trials with Dacca-cotton to pay due regard to the places where the conditions | of soil were somewhat similar that of the district Dacca in Bengal, which lies in the Basin of two great rivers (Ganges and Megné and is crossed by the Bramapootra which rivers form a delta ; their mouths, which is flooded alternately by the sea and th rivers, by which the saltish muddy soils are formed, on which t fine Dacca- cotton Is grown. In the Residency Bagelen, on the intervention of the Tradi Society trials were again made with Pernambuco and New Orlea seeds, which went fairly well in the beginning, but later proved a disappointment as the cultivation at a cost of Jaa d pickul would not pay. 221 _ The Government did not confine itself to one or the most a couple of varieties only, but, not to speak of other kinds, trials were made with Sea-island. New Orleans, Pernambuco and Dacci-cotton, and even seeds of the crops from Siam and Cochin China were brought over here, yet always without any good results. The Director of Agriculture in :857, was urgently requested by the Government to report what had been done in the interests of the cotton-culture and answered that the foreign culture under the Direction of the Commissary General Du Bus de Gisignies was not only undertakes in Java bet also in the Environs; he was so much _ concerned for the Government that a special commission of Agri- culture, which had sub-commissions in al! parts of Java, was kept busy with a minute investigation of the results, The results were unsatisfactorye Nevertheless trials were continued under the direction of Com- _missary General J. VAN DEN BoscH and the Governors-General _ Band and de Eerens yet without success, _ The chief obstacles against the importation and spreading of this culture were. a. the nature of the soil aad 6. the climate, both of which do not seem to be suitable for the cultivation of foreign varieties of cotton on a large scale. ‘the Director of Agriculture reported also on what had becone * ie trialesof New Orléans cotton seeds, ordered in 1856 and : made in the residencies Soerabaya, Pekalongan, Cheribon, Bagelen and Banjoemas’ = The Resident of Baitiata reported that nothing came up from: the seeds sent to the different departments, and put the cause to _ the old age of the seeds used. __ The director doubted this last argument, as seeds of the same lot, were planted by him in his own “garden, all of which came up a vell. Scarcely had the fruit however, reached ripeness, than, as _ it seems the natural enemy of these plants of all the foreign cotton ad kinds, shewed itself in the shape of a small worm w hich gnawed '" through the seed but spared the fibre. After this result the Director of Agriculture sent another small bag of New Orleans cotton seeds to the Residency, Soerabaia. _ The Resident of Pekalongan mentioned in his report that the good seeds had come up nearly everywhere but owing to the heavy ainfalls, the blossoms fell off, and the harvest was sinall: A report from the Residency, Cheribon, that in the department Ploembon, 10 katties of cleaned cotton could be reaped in 100 days fom 5 square roods of ground. From a similar area, however, in ~ mn = Sed <0 Ares POOF RER, SeT -- —— ~ a Sie rn ery io, 9S PTI EEO Sed = aan id 3 Ss. 222 ue on their estates and came up, they o tained there a small quantity of cotton. The seeds distributed among the native Chiefs yielded no pro- duct whatever. The Resident blamed either the continued rainfalls in 1856, owing to which the blossoms fell before the fruit had s set or careless treatment. : From the Resident of the West Coast of Borneo came a repas ; that the seeds had not come up. | The Resident of Palembang reported that the experiments with the New Orleans cotton had totally failed, not owing to the inferior ~ quality of the seeds but through ‘the unfavourable. changes of the — weather. The demand by the inhabitants for seeds of the native kinds of cotton is there, however, great and sometimes 20 pickuls Ogan- — kapas seeds are bought at the expense of the land and distributed — among the people. % Also in the Preanger regencies trials with New Orleans cotton ~ had been made as well as in the environs of Tjiandjoer; but wit negative results. On account of the notification of Government to the encouragelll ment of the cotton culture, the Resident of the Preanger-Regencies — reported that in the Southern part of the regency Tjiandjoer chiefly | in the Djampangs two kinds of cotton are grown, firstly the there — native cotton, namely the Kapas Temen or K. Nja, and secondly — the Kapas Pal eabins g, a cotton variety which comes, as the name ~ indicates, from Palembang. . The so-called Kapas Moeri is occasionally grown here and thera 4 on the estates but does not appear in the market. " It was with some difficulty that, to satisfy a request of the Goy- ernment for some 50 k.g. of cleaned native cotton, to be sent toa Dutch cotton factory for testing and valuation, that the required amount was obtained. ‘ From this it can be seen that the native cotton planter cannot deliver the cotton at the price which the Dutch manufacturer 1 accustomed to pay in Europe for that kind. - In his notes the Resident said—‘“ that the native can prepare from 2 piculs uncleaned cotton at most 4, picul or 62.2 Ibs. of cleaned cotton. ‘The uncleaned cotton was sold in the Djampangs, on the spot, even at the time the best prices for 10 duits a kattie or 8 duits é pound, but now the lb. always costs 13} duits. To prepare one pound of cleaned cotton at least 4 lbs. of uncleaned cotton ar required, so that the original stuff for 1 lb. of cotton saleable u Europe, at the place even at the time of the best prices costs 32-3: duits, without taking into consideration any expense for cleaning As now according to Trade Reports of Amsterdam one pound « colton of the kind described is worth in Holland not more than 4 ents it follows out of this that the cotton is here, at the place : eats even dearer than in Holland and that under the pres e conditions it cannot become an export article for the trade.” 4 In 1858 the Director of Agriculture reported to Government t th Sra nee nt SN BE ECA NERA > a Dt Nc Ni { | } | 225 the experiments made in the Residencies Bantam, Krawang, Rom- bang, Bezoeki, Banjoewangi, Madioen, Bagelden and Kediri, with & e four kinds of foreign cotton had entirely failed. ‘This failure is generally said to be due to the bad quality of the seeds, the late time of planting, the unsuitability of the soils used ie the un- favourable weather. As may be seen there has been here no lack of causes. In the ‘departments Poerworedjo and Koetoardjo the results obtained were ore favourable. In the first, the Egyptian, Sea-island, Pernam- b uco and British India cottons had been planted, yet the experi- ‘ments must have been made on a very limited scale, as it is stated that from the first 27; from the second 24; from the third II; and rom the fourth kind 50 plants had sprung up. The tests made with the varieties off foreign cotton on the West cost of Sumatra in Minahassa and in Gorontalo may also be looked upon as failures. The Resident of the Southern and Eastern divisions of Borneo r Be ere in 1858 that the last trials of planting cotton in his terri- tory were crowned with the best of results. _ The Director of Agriculture intimated that from his side he would leave nothing untried for the furtherance of cotton agriculture and uggested to the Government eventually, to get the Government sotanist Mr. TEYSMANN to make investigations regarding the otton industry in the residency of Palembang and the Lampong listricts. This was resorted to. Mr. TEYSMANN having returned from his journey, reported on it. . In his report, TEYSMANN agrees with the resident, that in several! parts of the Lampong districts cotton growing could be done on a arge scale with good results. The Resident, however, took into onsideration that the climate might be an impediment as there *was no regular change of monsoon, as in other parts of the (Archipelago, which might cause bad crops’’. Furthermore the = eas ey ee gr wd og FEE ele eee te ra jae a ; oe Ans ~~ ——— ~ el a 34 action of the residency Palembang and the Lampong Districts, w followed by a similar one in the Preanger Regencies, Cheribon ane Banjoemas and in 1859 it was extended over all Java, Madoera and Bawean. Besides that, Teysmann put himself at the head of the cotton industry in our archipelago and from his own investiga tions, he in 1859 brought out a written report, addressed to the Resident. What has been done, with respect to the native as well as foreign - kinds of cotton and with what results the undertakings have been crowned may be seen from the several reports from the Residents. With these reports, and after considering the cotton culture in = America and Egypt it is possible for us to throw a critical glance ~ on the chances of success, in lands, such as our own is. i The following are the chief points extracted from these reports, PREANGER REGENCIES. 7 The cotton is here grown, as a secondary plant together with the _ paddy gaga or tipar, but not as such on the sawahs, and that es 4 pecially on the low lands on the South Coast of the regencies Tyiandjoer and Soekapoera. : The kind that is grown is one of the most fruitful, of the whe | of Java, and is known under the name of Kapas Koemas, one of the many varieties of Gossypium indicum, tound in Java. { 2 7 It is planted at all times of the year, yet seldom at the most suit- able time z.¢. Apriland May. It is planted at 14-2 feet by 3-4 feet; but as the paddy is sown at the same time, the sowing is done very irregularly, and the paddy seeds are mixed up with those of the cotton. As the sowing is generally done at the unfavourable time of the year, that is in the rainy season, the continued rains become the cause of failures. Pe The average harvest is 4 piculs per bouw, and a very satisfactory crop brings in about 10 piculs per bouw. 4 The price is very variable, it is with the planters 8-10 duits and on the bazaars 16-20 duits per kattie with the seed, or fo. 38-70.48 per Ib. of cleaned cotton. Teysmann is of opinion, that the cotton culture over the whol@ residency could be considerably extended, if the Guvernment would push the matter on, by which too the price would consid { decline, so that the prices would come more in relation to th actual price which is considered by Teysmann to be #5 per picul a yet according to Teysmann this should give good results; the cot ton having then to be grown asa secondary product, after th paddy harvest, on the sawahs, for which before all, the New Orlean variety must be noted, which is found in small quantities, here an there, but does not yield the expected results, owing to the i — fe per time of sowing. According to Teysmann, there are thousands of bouws of say or wet rice-fields on which no secondary plants are grown. * A valuation of Teysmann’s which can be said to be exaggeratedly low. the market value of 16-20 guilders should fall to #5 may be doubted, | | | a 225 CHERIBON. In this residency there is still a lot of Java cotton planted. Teys- nann estimates that from the 182,000 bouws of sawahs, that this Tresidency has, 75.000 could be planted with cotton as a secondary plant. On some places, however, cotton is planted between the paddy ‘gaga, while on the estates of the natives, here and there is to be found some Pernambuco cotton (Gossypium vitifolium). In 1858 there were about 5,000 bouws of sawahs planted with cotton as a secondary plant, chiefly in the departments Cheribon, ~ Madjalengtha and Koeningan __ The harvest is estimated by Tesymann at 10-16 piculs per bouw. The planter receives on the average from /8-/15 per picul. The bazaar price may be put at / 20-f 30 per picul with the seeds. A pound of cleaned cotton then comes to about fo 48-fo. 72. The chief kinds that are grown are Kappas Moeri, Kappas betoel and Kappas tembaga, all ‘of which are varieties of Gossypium indi- cum, In 1858 there «vere abide 6,000 piculs ef cotton exported while 10,000 picku's were imported. _ The export was chiefly to Tegal and Pekaloengan, while the im- port was from Palembang and Samarang. _ The Palembang cotton still realised in 185g /16 per picul with the seeds, being equivalent to f0.38 per pound of cleaned cotton. Experiments made in these residéncies with foreign kinds, such as New Orleans, Sea-island, and Pernambuco, proved unsuccessful, TEGAL. *. There is grown, scarcely any cotton at all, in this residency. : _ Experiments with foreign kinds proved equally unsuccessful. The inhabitants declare the heavy clay soils to be unsuitable for _ cotton growing, but Teysmann does not share this view, as the cotton is grown with success in Démak, where the soil is even stiffer. PEKALOENGAN. In this residency as well, little is done in the way of cotton grow- ing. The inhabitants seem to obtain more profit with other s second- plants. _ Experiments with foreign kinds of cotton yielded unsatisfactory results. ' SEMARANG. _ In the year 1858 there were 7,900 bouws of sawahs planted with sotton, which yielded a produce of 60,000 piculs of which 1,000 yiculs were New Orleans cotton. | 7 The New Orleans cotton is the most valuable but owing to the regularity of the plant and the greater tendency to be destroy ed y insects it is not esteemed by the Javanese. * 1858 the price paid for Kappas panjang (New Orleans cotton) Ss f15-f25 per picul or f0.36-f0.60 per pound cleaned cotton, shile the Java cotton fetched not more than 8-12 guilders per cul or f0,192-f0.288 per pound of cleaned cotton, ae eee See ae ae - SARS Ss RAE oe Sa TRAD 1S 7BROE ROS - . ¢ eos a To, om © o ~ piaiced {2 ener i= ae eT EASES a ce on 7 ese “Ts Re * ‘ - ~ ears ets rt. ne 22 = ' , ee! 7 226 tek Teysmann cherished the hope that the cotton culture would | considerably more developed in this residency, for which bestil the example of Démak there was also the possibility of increasing the cultivation by thousands of bouws. In Démak itself, where according to statements, the ian amount of cotton is grown in our archipelago, it could easily be doubted. The New Orleans cotton has for many years been grown in Démak ; it grows there very satisfactorily, and gives the planter good profits, as the yield there is 12 piculs per bouw. Of the 9,800 bouws planted with cotton, only 187 are planted with New Orleans cotton. TEYSMANN, however, found as a fact that the cultivation of this variety increased but slowly, yet it has nowhere in Java attained such an extent as in Demak. This culture has hére been furthered entirely by its own quality, yet it will not attain the extension of Java, that is wished for unless assistance steps in and pushes the cultivation on with energy. It has no advantage over Java cotton, asin order to grow well it requires a rich soil, which is indeed found in most saw ahs, but which has to undergo a proper preparation, while this is of littie impor- tance with the Java cotton. In the cultivation of the latter kind, only the surface of the sawahs is loosened, against the growing of the weeds, and to fill in the cracks which are made by the dry sea- son on the sawahs. The New Orleans cotton 1s less able to withstand long continued rains than the Java cotton. It grows best when sown in Apt or May. The New Orleans cotton realised in 1858 in the harvest time 15 cents and later in the year 30 cts. while for the Java cotton only 6-12 cents per kattie of raw cotton were obtained. | Pe ey eee slide Se ail an eee wvisliekeninllide senate semen . * JAPARA. lw In this residency the cotton cultivation steadily declined as prices | fell, whereby the risk, which is connected with the growing ¢ cotton, owing to the changeableness of the weather and the insee plagues, is not covered sufficiently. The Javanese cannot plant the cotton for less than 5-6 guilder the pickul and eventhen find difficulties with the cheating Chinese. The Javanese is more and more inclined to take to other secont ary plants, such as tobacco, which gives him more profitable result The trials with foreign varieties of cotton, such as New Orlean Sea-island and Egyptian cotton have proved, with a few exce tions, on the whole unsuccessful. SOERABAIA. a | In the year 1858 there were about 800 bouws planted with cot of which most was on sandy soils. 4 The best plantations are found in Kapasan where the sand requires little working. The plantations, always consisting . cotton, cover an area of x 300 bouws with an average produc 1c “NI 4 pickuls per bouw. The preparing and up-keep of the plantations is nearly all done with draught animals. _ The prices he between f8 and f/12 per picul gays 1g2-f0,.288 per pound of cleaned cotton.) Experiments with foreign kinds have always failed. The heavy ‘and in the dry seasons, strongly cracking clay soils, are not considered suitable for the cotton cultivation, to which TEYSMANN, | however, does not assent. MADOERA. On this island also, some Java cotton and some of New Orleans is grown. Through the low prices of European linen this cultiva- tion has declined. PASOEROEAN. The cotton cultivation has made little advance in this residency. Rice, coffee and sugar industries require in this residency so Bech labour that there is little left for the cotton indust: ry. _ Furthermore, the usual secondary plants yield more profitable harvests. PROBOLINGGO. _ Inthis residency there exist practically the same agricultural ‘conditions as in the last mentioued one yet in cotton cultivation something more is cone. In 1858 there were about 1,900 bouws planted with cotton. On the sawahs no cotton is planted. The harvest is very small, being only about T picul per bouw., Cotton cultivation is not liked by the inhabitants, as katchang, kedele and djagong, as secondary plants yield them without doubt, more profit. The cotton only realises about £4 per picul, (/0.096 per lb. of cleaned cotton.)* _ The experiments with foreign cotton yielded unsatisfactory results. BEZOEKI. The greatest amount of cotton is grown in the Department 4 arockan and that chiefly in Tegal fields, yet not more than from 25° bouws. The cotton obtained is exported to Soemenep. The product is ol for not less than /12.50 per picul (/0.30 per pound of cleaned tton. “The native howev er prefers djagong (maize) to the cotton cul- vation. The controller of Bezoeki is of opinion, that by the increase of e cotton cultivation, the production cannot be increased to such 1 extent, that the market would be over stocked and the fall in ce so much that for the Java cotton it would be impossible to get per picul. n Biling experiments were made, through the controller, with 3 kinds of cotton sent by Bre ‘honorary inspector of agricultures, * The cotton must have been, dee of a very inferior quality. 228 i.e. Petit gulf, Georges-oort and Sea-island, whereby the instruc- tions of Mr. TEySMANN were strictly followed, Of the 2,146; 5,280; and 2,310 seeds sown, only 70; 180; and 2 plants came up respectively ; of all the seeds sown of Orleans, Sea-island, Egyptian | and other foreign kinds, wherewith experiments were made in the Department Banjoewangi, the shrubs’ yielded no produce. Also in the department Bondowosso similar experiments were made but — with negative results. . KEDIRI. In his answer to the enquiry of the honorary Inspector of Agri- cultures regarding the cotton cultivation, the Controller of Bletir states that the reason why no cotton cultivation existed in his Department, ts, that more profit is obtained from other plants. It would not be possible to buy a picul of cotton for /5. With the cultivation of the new kinds, such as New Orleans, Sea-Island and Egyptian cotton, experiments were made in the Department. The plants grew well but bore few fruit. In Kediri also, trials with foreign cotton kinds were made but without any important results. The other Departments reported similar failures. ‘lhe opinion a “here is, that however much the cultivation is extended, it will be impossible for the native to supply even native cotton at /5 per pickul in the uncleaned state. In the Departments Kediri and Kertosono, where most of the cotton is planted, the cultivation declined strongly. In 1859 scarely half of the area was planted with cotton, which before was — about 1,000 bouws. Other cultures such as tobacco yield more profit. MADIOEN, The Controller of Madioen reported that still 1,206 bouws tegal ground were planted with cotton in 1858 in his Department, but — in the following year only about 50 bouws. In his answer he says, | that the reason why this cultivation decreased, in spite of the ~ continued urging, must, according to the verdict of the Regent — and the District Authorities, be looked in the following circum- — stances 2 >= : ,. Firstly that the former planters of cotton now prefer to plant ~ - 4 —" . ae Meter MS e-sdgs, oy « arf sugar and tobacco. | Secondly that the profits got by preparing and selling cotton, are» now less than before as the natives use this material less and less — for clothing. . Thirdly that the ploughing and working of the soil, having to be done with the utmost care gives much trouble and yields insuffi- ciently. 1g Much extension is not likely possible as the native looks upor the many difficulties connected with the industry, and let it even be at a higher price than /5 per picul, the cultivation will not be extended much more by the free will of the people. 4 According to the report sent in by the Assistant Resident of Po norogo there were in 1859 still in his Department annually 1,40¢ ae «ey 229 bouws of sawahs and tegal fields planted with cotton. The harvest was more or less 3 piculs clean or+about g piculs unclean cotton per bouw. The clean cotton is grown at /f15-per picul, so that at a price of /5-per pickul uncleaned cotton, it would be possible to extend the cultivation if the Assistant Resident urged it on. _ Satisfactory results with foreign kinds of cotton had not yet _ been obtained. SOERAKARTA. ‘The cotton cultivation is here practically of no importance at all. Seeds of foreign kinds of cotton have been distribute:! to severay land owners. DJOCDJAKARTA. Owing to the extension which the indigo industry has obtained _here and in consequence of the many vegetable farms for the numerous inhabitants, only a little Java cotton is grown in some places, and the growing of better foreign kinds has not yet become - popular. _ The Resident at the time, took muchtrouble, in setting some ex- -ample in order to induce the Europeans as well as the native plan- ters, to go in for the cotton industry. Mr. TEYSMANN saw in the Resident's garden some well grown plants of Sea-island cotton. KEDOE, _ In this Residency there is scarcely any cotton grown at all as the cultivation of vegetables, yields undoubtedly more profit. It is not possible to grow cotton for less than /12.50 per picul= fo.30 per pound of cleaned cotton. That is the price paid for cotton in the residency Kedoe. Experiments were made with foreign kinds, which gave partly ‘satisfactory and partly unsatisfactory Tesults, which is attributed to the amount of rain. BAGELEN, _ In this Residency there are many test-gardens, those in Koeto- ardje yield good results. The New Orleans cotton flourishes here as well as in Demak. According to Mr. TEYSMANN this Residency i suitable for the cotton industry. Inthe Department Keboeman 1,000-1,500 bouws are planted with Indian cotton. The harvest gives 3-6 piculs per bouw. The price varies from /3-/6 for the uncleaned, while for the clean cotton it is from f6-/12 per picul.* The experiments with the foreign cotton failed for the most part. In the Department Poerworedje some cotton is also grown, but the inhabitants prefer to grow other plants, as the cotton industry is so uncertain. From /17-/24 the picul (=/0.408-0.576 per Ib. of clean cot- on) are here paid for the cotton. Sg the foreign kinds which were experimented with in the spartment Poerworedjo only the New Orleans variety came up. ~ * Generally 3 piculs of uncleaned cotton give I picul cleaned dotton, sed re £ “Alt righ > arte nmin eetesrare-rtemeaphe ar te ie bel a a oe i a 4 1 4 ‘| - } } 7 oe BANJOEMAS. The answers that were sent in concerning this Residency a very unsatisfactory. These results are attributed to ths rains, which even fall, off anc on, in the East monsoon. 4 i. The inhabitants shew little interest in this industry. a al : KLAWANG. There is practically no cotton grown in this Residency. Experiments with foreign cotton varieties failed. : keviewing the results which were obtained with the cotton imdustry in “Tava, ‘|EYSMANN comes to the conclusion, that in all Residencies of Java and Madoera, the cultivation of cotton can be- extended more or less with advantage. In the Western Residencies, Bantam, Preanger regencies Banjoemas, Krawang and Cheribon { this industry is, owing to the irregularities of the ‘climate and the great quantities of rain in the Hast monsoon, subject to more , failure than in the Northern and Eastern Residencies. Because of the many bouws of sawah fields, the greater extension should be possible in the Residencies Tegal, Pekalongan, Semarang, Djepara, Rembang, Soerabaia, Kediri, Madioen, the Forest-lands and Bage- len. In the Eastern Residencies Pasoeroean, Probolingo, Bezoeki, © Banjoewangi and Kedoe, although the climate and soils are spe- — cially suited for the cotton industry, there can be no extension as the already extensive sugar and coffee industries take up the most suitable ground, further more the long droughts there compel the — natives to grow fodder and lastly the other industries have already ~ taken up most of the land. TRYSMANN also considers that the cotton, in an uncleaned state can be supplied at f5 the picul (=fo.12 per lb. clean cotton) with an average crop of 5 piculs (=625 lbs. raw cotton or 208 Ibs. clean cotton) per bouw. The Government ought to warrant the - native this price. His views are based on the results of the De-~ partment Demak in Semarang. The expectations which TEYSMANN cherished, about the cotton - industry, especially of the better foreign kinds, were not in reality realised. = The Colonial accounts of 1859 give proofs thereof. In the report of 1859, when still 40,000 bouws were planted with cotton, Gov= ernment notified that large quantities of seeds of the different varieties had been ordered from America, to be distributed among : the inhabitants of the different Residencies of Java and the | environs. Inthe very first year the experiments failed to a ered _ extent which was attributed to the less favourable conditions ar damage by insects. Experiments were not only made with imported seeds, but als with seeds obtained in the Department Demak and Grobogaiial the Residency Semarang, which has yet the best name as a cotto! countiy, and from w hich the best results were expected. In the Departments too, large quantities of seeds were bought by Govert ment for distribution in other Residencies, oy | . | : : | | | | 1 ; “a | pie | Similar results were obtained with these experiments, as the following year the report had to state, that the experiments A by Gov ernment had as yet proved little successful. The experiments w ith New Orleans Sea-island and Eeyptian cotton seeds, as well as with those of the native cotton from Demak, yielded on the whole again unsatisfactory results, which was chiefly : due to the weather. | The Director of Agricultures says in his report, that the inhabi- ‘tants are averse to. the cotton industry because of its great un- | certainty, and the prices of the native as well as foreign cotton kinds are not equal to the profits, which they can make with other secondary plants. - Not only did the Government, make experiments, in order to induce the native to extend the cotton cultivation, but some private ‘individuals tried them also. — [In 1861 the anonymous firm ‘“ The Netherlands India Cotton ‘Society ’ ’ was founded with a capital of £300,000. The intention of the society was to further and better the cotton industry in ee Netherlands Indies and the settling of cotton markets in olland. To this end, the aiad society, erected a cleaning and packing establishment at Soerabaia. In Demak and Grobogan and the other parts, where the cotton cultivation had still some importance, “arrangements were made in order to ensure for itself the required quantities of the first subsequent harvest. It also made many agree- ments with farmers and planters outside of Java. The colonial report of 1864 had to state that the results of the a Rtherlands Indies Cotton Society were very small. 4 To characterise what has been done since years by Government E fo make the cotton cultivation a national industry the editor of the colonial report of the year 1870 says the following ; F _“A proof of the small expectations conceraing the hoped for results as reported from the residency Tegal is that the failure of not less than 290 bouws of a plantation of 882 bouws, is looked ‘upon by the inhabitants as a very favourable result.’ On the environs the results are not much better. in the colonial Teport of 1886 it was stated also ‘In the interior of Palembang the cotton cultivation, as a secondary plant, on the ladangs is a favoured idustry. The market-rates have however been too low in the last tw ‘0 years to induce an extension. In 1885, there came on the top ‘it many failures of the crops by untimely rains or lengthy Oughts. The total export, chiefly to Java, Singapore and China, owever still amounted to 25,738 piculs against 40,524 piculs in 84.’ According to the colonial report of 1888 there were in 37, from Palembang still about 13,322 piculs exported. From s fact that in 1898, 68,000 piculs were exported from Palembang tinst about 15,000 and 14,000 piculs in 1826 and 1897 respec- sly, it can be seen how uncertain the cotton cultivation is in that dency. bout the Southern and Eastern departments of Borneo is re- ed that the cotton is grown in the department Amoentair and matte pane continns eT eae as ER a a me N Re ee ee ee SF 3x. pany ele as Od oe. ho hie kien CES yard —~ 232 y that as a secondary plant. In 1835 an average harvest was obtaine Experiments with Palembang seeds failed. a In the residency Semarang experiments were once more mad with American cotton varieties, in 1888, but again without success The cotton industry is only again specially mentioned in the colonial reports of 1900, but after that this ceases, and it is only mentioned under the heading of secondary or other plants, besides rice. It had to be reported every year that the cotton industry was going backwards, instead of as before, in spite of the fact that the officers concerned tried their utmost to push it forward. Zz The great risk that the impecunious native runs in-the growing of the better kinds of cotton, and even with the less sensitive Indian — kind, makes it difficult for the Javanese to compete with the great — land of cetton,—America. | It is only necessary to compate the average productions from here with those of America in order to see how unequal the com petition is. In America an average of 340 lbs, is made and here 1 the most favourable case only 200 lbs. of clean cotton per bouw and — furthermore the latter is of less value. : ql ; ¢ | COTTON NOTE. Mr. T. H. HILL writes: that in his correspondence on Cotton in the States Bulletin IIT, 3, p. 95, the following passage was omitted —When the bolls open if as is rain, and they are neglected, the cotton gets black and mouldy and spotty and the seeds germinate F: here but, it has often occurred to me that when the bolls were matured; (astage of growth it should not be impossible with practice 7 to detect) they might be gathered, either singly or on the stem, and if then subject to the action of dry air, in a building, might com- plete the process of maturing and be af the very best quality, not even having had the dew on the exposed lint, and absolutely free from dust—a most important point in the value of cotton. He adds that the italicised passage is the most important poin as he sees daily.—£dztor. AGRI-HORTICULTURAL SHOW. This show to be held at Kuala Lumpur August 5th, 6th and 7 promises well. | The exhibition, which is under the distinguished patrondial His Excellency the Governor and High Commissioner, the Sult of the Malay States, the Resident-General, and others, wil F opened:by His Excellency at If a.m, on 4th August. | 233 _ 2. With a view to making the show as complete and as repre: eee as possible, the exhibits will be classified in several divi- sions as follows, a special committee having beea appointed for each division :— Division A. ‘Agricultural Produce” (Hon. Sec., Mr. L. C. Brown). Division B. ‘“ Flowers, Fruits and Vegetables ’’ (Hon. Sec., Mr. H. E. Bryne). Division C. ‘Stock and Dairy Produce ’ (Hon. Sec., Mr. T. W. Clayton). Division D. ‘‘ Horses and Dogs” (Hon. Sec., Mr. Sydney R. Smith). Division E. “ Native Industries and Manufactures: Im- plements and Miscellaneous ”’ (Hon. Sec., Mr. Herbert C. Robinson). 3. The prize lists can now be obtained on application to the llowing Standing Committee :— STANDING COMMITTEE: SINGAPORE. (a GAG Pe. ie OPS as J ax%0.! Assistant Superintendent, Botanic Gardens, Singapore. The Director of Botanic Gardens, S.S. (fon. Secretary). PENANG AND PROVINCE WELLESLEY. _ The Senior District Officer, P. W. _ The Collector of Land Revenue. The Superintendent, Botanic Gardens and Forests (Hon. Secre- | tary). a iat ott ero MALACCA. ~The Collector of Land Revenue. gi he Hon. the Resident Councillor (Hon. Secretary). - PERAK. The Director of Museums, F.M.S. The Superintendent, Government Plantations. The District Officer, Kuala Kangsar (Hon. Secretary. j ' | SELANGOR. : The Collector of Land Revenue, Kuala Lumpur. ~The Chairman, United Planters’ Association. The Superintendent, Experimental Plantations (//on. Secretary)). NEGRI SEMBILAN. The District Officer, Tampin. T e Collector of Land Revenue, Seremban. The Chairman, Negri Sembilan Planters’ Association. V.H. Mackray, Hon. Secretary. — ~~ Tea pene or er se* as el ee or OA tee oA me Ny ea SS ea Se ——s <2 Mowe see ee Ee ee re _ 4 Sette Teper ee ete tes ao Sr rete a 2 eyes 2 aan 1S — er eo ~ -- . ~ ee ze - _ =. \ eeerny ee Sett ae Hr) a ee 2 Say te eae ee Sea wae Mf th a EE ee a SS ee ae eS ee ee SS usual freight and passages will be granted by the Straits Steamshi p = ee oo. a 234 PAHANG. The Senior Magistrate. P The District Officer, Raub. 7, The District Officer, Pekan. "4 4. The Committee will pay the cost of transport of approve exhibits and native exhibitors (except in division D, and exhibit Europeans) from all parts of the Colony and Federated Malay States. All exhibits and exhibitors will be carried free over th Federated Malay States Railways, and a reduction of 25% on th Company. 5. Any further information may be obtained from the Ho nf Secretaries above-mentioned, the Hon. Secretary, General Purpose Committee (Mr. J. P. Swettenham), or the undersigned. STANLEY ARDEN, | General Secretary > a = ~ ee = = MISCELLANEOUS. Notices to Subscribers. 3 Fe eee eee ey er = éé ote Gaga Dearne Tee aS EH ARS erty et I. For the information of subscribers and others who have bee unable to complete their series of the Agricultural Bulletin of the’ Straits and Federated Malay States notice is here given that Nos, 1,7, :8,-9,°0t the pe Series (1891-1900) and Nos. 1, 8, 9, 10, of th New Series Vol. 1 (1901-1902), the first issues of which have long been exhausted, are now being reprinted, with plates, and 1 shortly be ready. II. Subscribers whose subscriptions are still unpaid are request to send in their subscriptions for the present year as soon as p¢ sible. Members of the United Pinhiers Association are request to send in their subscriptions in future directly to the Editor a not to the Secretary of the Association. 4 II. Subscribers outside the Peninsula will in future be charg $3.50 per annum instead of $3 in order to cover postage. Meteorological Observers are asked to send in their retun a the Editor, to arrive before the roth day of the follownaes possible, so as to be in time for going to press, 5. . 235 ; Rainfall in the Duff Development Concession during 1908. Re-istered at Kuala Lebir in Kelantan. . , : Month. Total Rail te ec Fanta : uring 24 hours, 1903. | Inches. | Inches. May i as | 2.35 | 76 une aS en 8.94 | 170 July “ he 5.43 | 1,28 August... Tae 4.30 | rey, September. ... ee 11.41 | 1.16 Jctober = Se 12.36 | 2.30 November.* ao 3tey | 5.07 Jecember ... = | 17.76 4.69 i | Vote.—In the abstracts of Meteorological Readings which are at- ached the Temperatures given are the mean shade temperatures. [he means have been arrived at by adding the daily maxima, mi- ima and ranges together and dividing by the number of days in ach month. ‘The instrument used is a variety of Six’s Thermometer, It is ept on the wall of an open verandah. ‘The rain gauge is placed on the ground in an open space. It is Symonds’ gauge. 4 ia | J. D. GIMLETTE. A RE rainfall of 24. 10 pched occa baikeen 22.11.03 and 29.11.03 usive. A ne R ainfall for May, 1904 :-— Government Hill oes. 6-89 The Fort PPS 50 5-81 The Prison Be a 7-72 Balik, Pulau Sas 4-06 Pulau Jerejak 2 wee 7-39 Pangkor Scr ey 3-70 Lumut Fy poss eee 4-18 Bruas » 4-36 M. E. SCRIVEN, = , Assistant Surgeon, ang, irth Fune, 1904. Prison Observatory. es, ee oS eas i — one ana NS = . o Tie Soa a eh nia Bawa Fe Weyl hee eT an a ap Ria Dike ae oleate ae eS ee = aa “Ve a oe et nt ee ae 2 le + rete ee bn ee gad «a awe - £4,4%ers" Se ee Seiiameatiiies ape 234 PAHANG. The Senior Magistrate. The District Officer, Raub. The District Officer, Pekan. 4. The Committee will pay the cost of transport of approved exhibits and native exhibitors (except in division D, and exhibits Europeans) from all parts of the Colony and Federated Malay States. All exhibits and exhibitors will be. carried free over the - 7 Federated Malay States Railways, and a reduction of 25% on the usual freight and passages will be granted by the Straits A omen Company. 5. Any further information may be obtained from the Hon. Secretaries above-mentioned, the Hon. Secretary, General Purposes Committee: (Mr. f° P. Swettenham), or the undersigned. STANLEY ARDEN, General Secretary. ——e—-. -—_ MISCELLANEOUS. Notices to Subscribers. I. For the information of subscribers and others who have been unable to complete their series of the Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and Federated Malay States notice is here given that Nos, 1, 7, 8, 9, of the Old Series (1891-1900) and Nos. 1, 8, 9, 10, of the New Series Vol. 1 (Ig01~1902), the first issues of which have long been exhausted, are now being reprinted, with plates, and will shortly be ready. II. Subscribers whose subscriptions are still unpaid are requested to send in their subscriptions for the present year as soon as pos- sible. Members of the United Planters Association are requested to send in their subscriptions: in future directly to the Editor and not to the Secretary of the Association. II. Subscribers outside the Peninsula will in future be charged $3.50 per annum instead of $3 in order to cover postage. Meteorological Observers are asked to send in their returns to the Editor, £0 arrive before the roth day of the following month if — E possible, so as to be in time for going to press, Salt Tae GOR PS % ty '* ¥ 235 Rainfall in the Duff Development Concession during 1908. Revistered at Kuala Lebtr in Kelantan. Month. 21 Otal Rama. | a ibe | during 24 hours. ee =a Ee a ————— 1903. | Inches. | Inches. _ May te es 2.35 | 76 June st eee | 8.94 1.70 July | 5.43 1.28 August ifs 4.30 | .Q7 September. ... aap 11.41 | 1.16 October ee) 12.36 | 2.30 November.* ea ZR | 5.07 December... ce 17.76 | 4.69 1 Vote——I\n the abstracts of Meteorological Readings which are at- tached the Temperatures given are the mean shade temperatures. The means have been arrived at by adding the daily maxima, mi- nima and ranges together and dividing by the number of days in each month. The instrument used is a variety of Six’s Thermometer, It is kept on the wall of an open verandah. ; The rain gauge is placed on the ground in an open space. It is a Symonds’ gauge. J. D. GIMLETTE. * A phenomenal rainfall of 24.10 inches occurred between 22.11.03 and 29.11.03 inclusive. Rainfall for May, 1904 :— Government Hill aos. 8-89 The Fort Pie ot 5-81 The Prison pe 7-72 Balik, Pulau tae ” 4-06 Pulau Jerejak eee iss 7-39 Pangkor ae, 3-70 Lumut ie aS, 4-18 Bruas Y) 4-36 M. E. SCRIVEN, Assistant Surgeon, — Penang, t1th Fune, 1904. | Prison Observatory. Articles. ns ts es Coffee—Palembang Bali Liberian Copra - Gambier - Cube Gambier, Nos. 1 & 2. Gutta Percha, 1st quality - Medium Lower Borneo Rubber Gutta Jelutong Nutmegs, No, 110’s No. 80’s Mace, Banda Amboyna Pepper, Black - White - Pearl Sago, Small Medium Large Sago Flour, No. 1 No. 2 Flake Tapioca, Small Medium Pearl Tapioca, Small Medium Bullet Tin 236 SINGAPORE MARKET REPORT. —__ Fune, 1904. ee Quantity | Highest Lowest | sold. price. prices Tons $ $ gees 26.00 26.00 | ay 22.50 21.00 - 144 20.25 19.00 -| 2,383 | 8.60 | 7.60 =| -2,781 | 8.874 | 7.75 -| 317 | 14.95 or -| ae .200.00 | 150,00 = 190.00 | 90.00 120.00 12.00 = 140.00 89.00 | 8.87) 8.35 - - | 42.00. |) 42.08 _| | 65.00 63.50 = | 110.00 | 110.00 J" ll. 41° $8oq 3) aaa +’ 927 | 28.60°%)- ga0gm -| 520 41.50 | 34.00 2 75 4.50 3-90 Se thas -o|. Sige Be. OOO 4.20 | 4.00 - 50 sis «ct - 596 4.20 4.05 ~ 824 4.20 4.05 = Piers 4.75 4:75 vy 2,565 74.75 69.50 Exports from Singapore and Penang to Europe and America. For fortnight ending 15th May, 1904° Wired at 2.15 p.m. on 16th May, 1go4. To England Tin Gambier 3) ’ Cube Gambier White Pepper Black % White Pepper Black . Pearl Sago Sago Flour Da ) Tapioca Flake » Pearl & Bullets oo Flour Gutta Percha Buff hides Pineapples To America. Tin Gambier Cube Gambier Black Pepper White Pepper Nutmegs Tapioca, Flake & Pearl Pineapples Sago Flour To the Continent. Gambier Black Pepper Black Pepper White Pepper ” from Singapore to London - Tons | Tons Steamer, | Sailing, from Singapore & Penang to England - 1I,gor | and U. K. optional any ports. = / ” ” ,, Liverpool- 560 | r ,, to U.K. & / or Con- | tinent so BG ; to Glasgow Z Y . ,, England Bea ” ; yy ” = 30 ” ” By) oe) = 30 7, Penang A ¥ ” ’ ” yy - 160 , Singapore _,. a . 90 y ' ;, », London- 250 y re * ,, Liverpool- 1700 ‘) s» ' ,, Glasgow- 170 ,, Singapore & Penangto England- = 230 ”) ; ”) 1” ’” v 410 ene chal ¢ Br rote ¥ ,, Liverpool- ; ; 5 toU. K.&/ or Con- - tinent — ge e x Ry to Glasgow Z Cube Gambier a 3 4, England a : White Pepper 2 P ” > a 30 Black ”) ” ” es ” = White Pepper >» -Penatioa i 2 Black ”? B ” ” ” o Pearl Sago , oo» Singapotem a pe = Sago Flour 3 bank sf London - ” ” ” ” ” Liverpool- ” ” ”) ” F ” Glasgow eI Tapioca, Flake 1, Singapore & Penang to England , jrearl & Ballets .,, Fe » Flour , Penang ” d) ” ” i at Z a | f 230 i Tons | Tons Hi Steamer. Sailing. y, Gutta Percha from’ Singapore to England- 30 } Buff hides 7% i rf i 40, iH Pineapples .; . | Grae yy CASES 7.600 \ To America. HH Tin ,, Singapore & Penang S- 6s Hi Gambier ,, Singapore - - 1,050 100 Cube gambier eA A a ek - — go 10 if Black Pepper | * ‘3 - = - 80 i °- 5) ¢ Change - Shar. r White Pepper ,», Singapore - Ae; - 40 . il ¥ ,, Penang = - ee i Nutmegs ,», singapore & Penang - - 6 it Tapioca, Flake & Pearl.,, t m - e. 4290) g50 Pineapples i < - - cases 500 Ni Sago Flour e b ra ee ae SRO it To the Continent. : if Gambier from Singapore to South Continental Ports- ... | it ys ” yy . North * E 20 t Black Pepper vi “ ,, South 2? ‘ 10 Hit ’) yy ) ) North ) . tee Mf Black Pepper », Penang _ ,, South ms SecPate Hl a i i », North ui Pe Me 1d Hf White Pepper from Singapore to South Continental Ports ... it ” ” ” “a North ”) r ° | ht 2 ,, Penang to South Continental Ports - 10. ith 3 9 B) ” North 3 nt Ae < | HH Copra », Singapore & Penang to Marseilles - ... ith ” ) ” ” Odessa °y ‘es hi ¥ - rf », South Conti- iit nental Ports- 200) \ . other than Marseilles and Odessa 2 : », North Conti - nental Ports - 100 Tin 3 a: mcontinent<. =. 335 Tapioca Flake __,, .» > -s - 20 PTapwca Pearl~ -,,°.>- 2 i. as és Cube gambier ,, Singapore # 2 at cal Pineapples 7. e ¥ cases 500 N.B.—By ‘‘South Continental Ports’’ are to be understood all inside and by “ North Continental Ports” all outside Gibraltar. goo tons Gambier l 400 ,, Black Pepper (2m Singapore) contracted for during fortnight ending as above. Telegraphed to A. A. Nistetr, Ingram House, 165, Fenchurch Street, London, EC . 7 + c 7 s ,..* . it ne \ fees c s aA eS = . ne Ss sao pwarpayy 12019 NG1Iuieg “4a%4aS6 OQ 102158010409} 0] a ‘TIA MOQGW “M °G ‘'UMALSAOIAI “A 'V ‘to61 ‘aung, yi€s ‘asodvsurs : wie | ‘ ‘Kroyearasqg yeydsoy ‘MH A e : eS Se eee | | | f ‘aSS | | | | | ; x ) | | ; 06.1 | O1.¥ “as '| gl |Zol |106. 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Miscellaneous, Notices to Subscribers = iy @E3 i 9g. Singapore Market Report ads ie, iver Dare i 10, Export Telegram to Europe and America ... ith ZO5 i II, Rainfall for June, 1904 it hes A Rf oM | i 13. Meteorological Returns AS vai ie Bae : 12. Meteorological Observations, General Hospital, Serem- ban, for the month of May, 1904 ie. eee Me ae Annual Subscription—Three Dollars. Single Copy—Fifty Cents. (Annual Subscription—Outside the Peninsula—Three Dollars and fifty cents.) zy ie Waar — = die ae a2 To be purchased at the Botanic Gardens, Singapore, or from MEssrs. KELLY & WALSH, Limited, No. 32, Raffles Place and at Orchard Road, Singapore. SINGAPORE: PRINTED AT THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. NOTICE. sd THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL DEPARTMENTS OF THF IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. His Excellency the Governor has received a despatch from the Right Hon’ble the Secretary of State for the Colonies calling attention to the advantages offered by the Imperial Institute to Merchants, Planters and others, who may wish to have samples submitted to scientific experts for opinion as to their commercial value, &c. The following extracts from a Memorandum published by the Authorities of the Imperial Institute will give an idea of the work undertaken and carried on there. “The Scientific and Technical Department of the Institute has “been established to acquire information by special enquiries and ‘“by experimental research, technical trials and commercial valua- “tion regarding new or little known natural or manufactured pro- “ducts of the various Colonies and Dependencies of the British “Empire and of Foreign Countries, and also regarding known “products procurable from new sources, and local products of “manufacture which it is desired to export. This work is carried ‘‘out with a view to the creation of new openings in trade, or the “ promotion of industrial developments.” 2. In an extensive and well equipped series of Research Labor- atories, a numerous staff of skilled chemists under the direction of Professor WYNDHAM R. DUNSTAN, M.A., F.R.S., carry out the investigation of the chemical constitution and properties of new dye-stuffs, tanning materials, seeds and food-stuffs, oils, gums and resins, fibres, timbers, medicinal plants and products, with a view to their commercial utilization. Whenever necessary these mate- rials are submitted to special scientific experts, by whom they are made the subject of particular investigation or practical tests. Re- ports are also obtained from technical or trade experts in regard to the probable commercial or industrial value of any such products, while full information is collected from official or other trustworthy sources regarding the probable extent and cost of available supplies. Reports on the results of enquiries or experimental investigations are supplied as a rule, without charge, but should special expenses be incurred in connection with any such reports, or with the com- mercial value of particular materials or manufactured products, which the Council do not consider themselves warranted in meet- ing, a statement of such outlays will be furnished, for repayment, when the Reports are supplied. Should an investigation or report of exceptional character be asked for by a Government Depart- ment, an estimate of the attendant expenses will be submitted, with a view to ascertain whether authority for such expenditure will be given. s - 3. The Federated Malay States Government has grant a sum of £100 a year for 5 years to the Dey view to the careful investigation and commercial develc _ the mineral resources of the States. The Government Geologist is collecting specimens fone chemi 3 examination and after analysis the Imperial Institute which i: very complete touch with the principal manufacturing and_ othe: industries of the United Kingdom, will bring the specimens before _ manufacturers and others for trial with a view to their commerce al is development. oi Bas: It is expected that this action will do much to help in findiighe a market for new products and developing the markets for those * already exploited. Boke ULrURARS BULLETIN OF THE STR Ai AND FEDERATED MALAY STATES. No. 7.] 3 JULY, 1904. (Vor. III. ———— THE PALM COLLECTION OF THE BOTANIC GARDENS, SINGAPORE. Palms whether considered for their economic value or decorative appearance are among the most interesting and beautiful plants for the Tropics and are everywhere popular so that a few brief notes on the Singapore collection may be of general interest. A list of this collection is attached which includes 90 genera and 236 species and shows what kinds can be procured at the Botanic ‘Gardens, Singapore. : Distribution.—Of the distribution of palms throughout the world the largest number are found in the New World, from the southern United States to Chili, the head quarters of this region being the West Indies, Guiana and Brazil. This region contains a good num- ber of the Arecemex, many of the Coryphex, and nearly all the Cocoinex. The Malayan region comes next, and the Polynesian Islands con- taina good many. Africa is very poor in palms containing only the dates, Phenix, Raphias and Hyphenes, the well known oil- palm Elais Guineenszs, and a few little known genera, but there are more in the Mascarene Islands, and the small groups of Borassinex is almost confined to Africa and its Islands. India, Ceylon, and Australia are poor in palms. Malay Palms.—Of the Malay region the Peninsula is particularly rich in palms of great variety both in size and form, from the small Licuala triphylla, sometimes hardly more than a foot high, to the tall Oranias, Oncospermas, Livistonas and Caryotas, often 60 feet high, and the long climbing rattans (Calamus, Plectocomia, and Kor- thalsta) often 150 feet and more in length; the unique red stemmed palm, Cyrtostachys Lakka, the noble Daun Payong, Zeysmannia altifrons, the superb-leaved Teruno, /ewanura spectabil’s, and the handsome, although shy, Kerintin, Ptychoraphis Singaporensis. The Collection—As will be seen from the list, the Singapore garden collection of palms is an extensive one and specimens from most countries are represented. The most conspicuous are the — avenue of Avrenga saccharifera, (kabong or sugar palm Malayan), Red Stem-Palm avenue (Cyrtostachys Lakka Malayan), avenue of — Rhopaloblaste hexandra Java, avenue of Sabal Palmetto West Indies, and the rows of Archontophentx Alexandre Queensland palm, Ptychosperma McArthuri, Trop Australia, and Caryota ures (East Indian Wine Palm). Of solitary specimens the clumps of Sago Palm (Sagus levis), Chinese Palm (Rhapis flabelliformis), from Madagascar Rafia Ruffia, the local Nibong Oncosperma tigil- laria, local Palas /2cuala spinosa, and from Mexico Bactris major are also conspicuous, Of single specimens, Areca pumila, Pinanga Kuhli, Actinorhytis calapparia, Dictyosperma album, Euterpe ole- vacea, Ptychoraphis angusta, Oreodoxa regia, Calyptrocalyx spicatus, Stevensonta grandifolia Verschaffeltia splendida, Wallichia disticha, Pypsts pinnatifrons, Corypha umbraculifera, Livistona australts, Livistona chinensis, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens, Calamus Lindeni, Calamus ciliaris, Calamus leptospadix, Plectocomia elongata, Elzts guineensts, Cocos flexuosa, Cocos plumosa, Attalea cohune, Latania Commersoni, Korthalsia Funghuhnii, Phenix rupicola, Phenix farinifera, Korthalsia polystachya, Demonorops calicarpus and As- trocaryum tucumoides are especially fine, Culttvation.— Although far the greater number of palms are na- tives of tropical regions a small number inhabit cooler, sub-tropical, or almost temperate regions. Such are Chamerops humilis of Southern Europe, annorhops Ritchieana of Afghanistan, Trachy- carpus excelsus of Japan, Raphis humilis of Japan, Kentia sapida of New Zealand, and Pseudophenmx Sargentz7 of Florida. These cooler climate palms are much less easy to cultivate here and seldom thrive when planted out, although they may be kept as pot or tub plants for a long time. There are a few desert palms which are also very difficult to grow on account of our heavy rainfall, such are the Hpyhenes, the common date, (Phenzx Dactylifera), which, however, can be made to grow but has never flowered with us. The Sorassus, known as the Palmyra palm and by natives the Lontar, introduced to India from Africa and thence to the. Peninsula, thrives near the sea in sandy places, but seems difficult to grow far inland, and even in the dryer parts of Singapore is not at all easy to grow satisfacto- rily. The Nipa palm so abundant in our tidal swamps does not grow well away from salt mud. Exclusive of these almost all the palms from different parts of the world which have 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 propagation by means of division or root cuttings is the method adopted. The principal genera from which root cuttings may be obtained are:—Pzxanga, Cyrtostachys, Oncosperma, [rtar- tea, Oenocarpus, Chamedorea, Chrysalidocarpus, Wallichia, Arenga, Caryota, Nipa, Licuala, Rhapis, Calamus, Zatlacca, Korthal/sia, Raphia, Bactris, Desmoncus, Astrocaryum and Sagus. With these /- 251 an underground creeping r/zzome produces a new growth and it is best to cut or ring this rhizome behind the growth and when a tuft of roots has been formed the cutting may be removed. Root cuttings, however, seldom make nice shapely plants, the process is usually a slow one and the percentage of loss generally heavy, for these reasons when procurable seeds are always preferred, In collecting palm seeds it is essential that the seed should be perfectly ripe. This is generally easily determined by the hardness of the seed, that is to say of the albumen, 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 /gwanura 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. Seed taken as it often has to be when travelling in the woods just before it is ripe will sometimes continue its ripening in sawdust damped and eventually be fit to plant. It appears from the number of dry seed received even from Botanic Gardens that persons think that because a palm seed is very hard, it can safely be sent to a long distance quite dry with- out any packing material at all, this is a great mistake. The small embryo placed in a hollow of the hard albumen at one end or on the side of a seed is very sensitive to drying, and very readily perishes. Palm seed should always be packed for travelling in damp powdered charcoal if possible, or damp sawdust or earth. In the forests damp earth may be used, either put into a tin box, or if more convenient a mud ball may be made in which the seeds are pushed and covered up, thus they will keep for a long time. The fruits of palms may be fleshy, fibrous or even woody, and a few have a spiny spathe which has to be guarded against. _Fleshy fruits soon ferment and the pulp is easily removed. Fibrous fruits may be macerated for a day or two when the outer covering can be split or peeled off. The Malayan palm ‘‘ Kabong” or “Gula Malacca” is one of the worst to handle, the juice from the fruits being a skin poison. The A?tool, (Caryota urens) is also a power- ful irritant on the skin. Many palms germinate freely when left to themselves, under cultivation however it is best to remove the outer covering of the seed because of the decay of the pulp 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. Ex- cepting, those palm requiring much space, Coco-nuts, Sago, it is best to plant seeds in pots or boxes, whichever is used the drain- age should be deep and well covered with half decayed leaves to prevent the compost 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 sieve of a fine mesh. After planting the pots or boxes should be thoroughly ! : : ; i watered (saturated) placed in a moderately damp situation and afterwards sufficiently sprink!ed so as never to be over wet or too dry. Palm seeds when planted must be guarded from rats and mice, and white ants, the surface soil inspected, and excessive damp and fungus removed. The growth is often at first very slow (this is especially noticeable in rattans) but 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 strong plants, most failures occur through excessive damp or watering, and the moisture remaining in the axils of the leaves or the surface soil is too damp in which case the seedling perishes. A few species of palms have been introduced to cultiva- tion by seedlings collected in the jungle of which seeds have not been procurable. Owing to the different conditions under which such seedlings have germinated care must be taken to wrap the roots in mud immediately on lifting thera and the seedlings dug up with a good ball of earth attached to them. The little plants must be kept very moist till they can be planted, and not allowed to get dry by exposure to the sun or they speedily perish. Some jungle palms stand transport fairly well, especially rattans and with some species it is the only way to get them. Fe-potting.—As soon as seedling palms have filled their pots with roots, the young plants should be transplanted or re-potted into single pots and a strong compost used. Someloamy 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 be sufficient and placed carefully. All loose 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 sparingly until the plants are established. Palms succeed best when potted or planted deeply, unlike flowering plants the lower roots of palms'‘in thickening raise the plant, and the surface or adventitious roots grow upwards. In re-potting or tubbing very strong plants of which the roots have become tightly bound together it is not necessary to disturb the ball or place new drainage under- neath it, but a little additional drainage could be placed round the base, and although the plants may appear deeply tubbed at first the surface roots will soon appear on the top. Selection.—Many palms particularly tall erect growing species make only poor pot or tub specimens and are only seen to advan- tage when cultivated in the open, other palms not only make hand- some tub specimens but are quite unsuited for outside culture in Singapore, of such the following may be mentioned :—/guanura, Teysmannia, Pritchardia, Licuala grandis, Licuala ferrugzrea, Rhapis humilis, Thrinax, and Hyphene. For table and house decoration the following are best to culti- vate :-—Ptychosperma McArthuri, Ptychosperma Sanderiana, Rho- paloblaste hexandra, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens, Heterospatha elaia, Stevensonia grandifolia, Verschaffeltia splendida, Hyophorbe amari- 253 caulis, Arenga Englert, Phenix rupicola, Licuala peltata, Livistona australis, Livistona chinensis, Thrinax barbadensis, T. parviflora Calamus ciliaris, Calamus Lindent, Martinezia, caryotzfolia and Cocos plumosa. Excepting those already mentioned nearly all palms can be grown in the open air and indeed only in the open air is their real beauty most apparent, apart from their lofty crowns and slender stems as with the Levzstonas, the sturdy trunk of the Royal Palm (Oreocoxa regia) or the graceful leaves of the Caryotas resembling gigantic ferns, the fruiting period adds another charm. No better instance of the difference and adornment of its fruit to a palm could be cited than that of Seaforthia elegans, when not in fruit it resembles many of its congeners, when in fruit it is surpassingly beautiful. In outside culture the question of shade is of the first importance, although so many palms grow outside so readily few, if any, grow so well as when planted in shaded aspects or under partial shade, and some become quite unsightly when fully exposed. Among the principal genera requiring shade are Pinanga, Ptychoraphis, Hovwea, Chamzdorea, Geonoma, Bentinckia,and Latania. Others are much improved by slight shade which may be obtained by planting in clumps, of these the principal genera are Dectyosperma, Ptyche- occus, Chrysalidocarpus, ffeterospatha, Stevensonia, Verschaffeltia, Dypsis, Hyophorbe, Wallichia, Caryota, Sabal, Licuala, Bactris, Desmoncus, Astrocaryum, and Cocos excepting the Coco-nut. To obtain their best appearance, palms require well manuring and few plants respond more readily to liberal treatment in this respect than do palms. As palms are surface feeders manure may be ap- plied by mulching, old farm and stable manure is excellent, and well decayed leaf soil or burnt ear.h is also beneficial. In stiff and poor sandy soils, it is an advantage to open a trench round the palm and fill in with manure. Where farm manure is abundant chemical manures are not necessary and are only seldom used. Liquid manures are always efficacious. Fruiting—Some palms fruit very soon, as soon as they have reached a fair growth, others take many years. The unisexual palms Phenix, Phytelephas, Calamus and some Dezemonorops can- not of course produce fruit unless there are both sexes within easy reach of each other, and are thus more difficult to propagate. Rhopaloblaste often flowers for several years before producing its beautiful fruit. The plant is not unisexual but as the male and female flowers on the inflorescence do not open at the same time, the females do not get fertilised, unless there is also an inflores- cence with male flowers fully expanded at the same time in the neighbourhood. A few palms which are constantly in flower here, have never produced fertile fruits for what reason is not clear such are Oncosperma fasciculata, and Loxococcus rupiccla, both from Ceylon. Fertilization of the flowers of palms is effected almost exclu- sively by bees including the genera Agés, and especially the little Trigonas (Kelulut). Corypha is a truly monocarpic palm. It takes many years to gain its full growth, when it produces at the summit of the stem a great mass of inflorescence, after which the palm completely dies. The Avengas and Caryotas also die after flowering. The single stemmed ones Arenga saccharifera, Caryota Cumingi, etc., completely, while in the tufted species Avenga Westerhouti, Caryo- ta mitis, the stem that is fruiting alone dies. The flowering in these palms when full grown commences near the top, every joint producing an inflorescence, alternately male and female till the flowers get near the base of the tree when it dies. In Sagus the stems rising from a creeping rhizome on attaining their full deve- lopment produce a great terminal mass of inflorescence after which the leaves fall off and the stem dies to the base. Pests and Diseases—Palms both in pots or tubs and also when planted out are liable to the attacks of some insects. The cater- pillar of the butterfly Arzonota Thrax attacks the leaves especially of Rattans, Lzvestona, and some other palms. ‘The caterpillar is about two inches long, pale sea green but entirely covered with a white mealy powder, It rolls up the leaves and gradually devours them. The same insect eats the leaves of Bananas (see Bulletin old series, p. 259). It should be sought for and destroyed by hand. The caterpiliar of the large coconut butterfly (Amathusia phidippus) attacks other palms than coconuts, biting away all the leaflet ex- cept the midrib and giving the plant a ragged appearance. It seldom gives trouble with pot or tub palms but attacks full grown palms. I have however found one larva in a box of seedlings of Phenzx which it was steadily eating up. It is a smooth bright green caterpillar with a broad head and two long projecting spikes on its tail. It should be removed by hand, in the case of small plants. With fully grown trees it is much more difficult to deal with, but it is a comparatively harmless insect except to small plants. The Red Palm Beetle Rhyncophorus ferrugmens, and the Rhinoceros beetle Ovyctes Rhinoceros, both attack many other palms than the Coco-nut, It is not common for the former to attack plants in pots or tubs, but Ihave met with larvae in comparatively small plants in pots. The beetle is well known. A large black weevil with bright red markings. The eggs are laid in the bud of the palm and the large fleshy grub burrows in the soft parts of the bud, and often its presence is first observed by the falling of the young cen- tral leaf. In the case of single stemmed palms, the injury is usually fatal, but in the case of Dates, (Pheuzx) the plant usually recovers. Asa rule the beetle lays its eggs in number in proportion to the size of the palm, ¢.g., in small palms one grub only may be found, while 12 or more may be taken from a badly infested tree. In the case of a large palm attacked it may be saved by a free operation. The leaves are carefully cut away, and the grubs extracted. So Jong as the actual growing point is not destroyed the sheaths of the young leaves may be cut down almost on to it. After all grubs 255 have been removed, a mat bag should be put over the top to keep off rain till the new shoot appears. This was done successfully in the Gardens to a fine Oreodoxa regia, which was badly infested and which very soon recovered and is now a fine tree. Another much larger species of Rhynchophorus, entirely bright red above and black beneath is not rare attacking adult palms es- pecially Oncospermas. It should bed estroyed in the same manner. The trees usually attacked by these beetles are Ovcospermas, Verschaffeltia, Stevensonta, Archontophenix, Cocos, Attalea, Oreo- doxa, Livistona, Sagus, Phentx. {have never seen Arecas, Licualas, Pinangas, or the smaller palms attacked. The Rhinoceros beetle damages palms in the same way, but in this case it is only the adult which burrows into the shoot, and so destroys the palm. The larve usually live in cowdung or decaying leaves or wood, and piles of this in a garden may produce a crop of these pestilential insects. These beetles should be looked fer when a palm either exudes a gummy material from the bud, or there are signs of the mass of fibre torn up by the beetles among the leafsheaths. The insect can then be speared with a bamboo spear, and a little salt thrown into the hole will keep away others. It is a good plan to leave the dead beetle in the hole it has made, as the corpse attracts ants and these keep off the next comer. Dm, asi 7 a Ep hes 7 aac c Cem