PLANTATION RUBBER INDUSTRY OF THE EAST. 447 



production of seed." In the report for 1882 it is stated that 

 " an early crop of seed is looked forward to," but there is no 

 record that the trees had flowered. The report for 1 883 merely 

 states that the plants of introduced rubbers mentioned ui last 

 year's report continue to grow well. There is no mention of 

 Hevea in the report for 1884, but in 1885 it is recorded that 

 seedling Heveas were growing in the nurseries of the Forest 

 Department, planted in 1884 and 1885. Some of these would 

 be the product of the 400 seeds which were sent from Ceylon in 

 a Wardian case in the latter year. 



The date of the first production of seed at Singapore is there- 

 fore doubtful. It has been stated that seed was first produced 

 in 1882, and, on the same page, in 1881.^ But these statements 

 would appear to be negatived by the evidence already quoted. 

 From the annual reports it may be deduced that the trees did 

 not fruit before 1883, possibly not before 1884. Any seed 

 distributed from Singapore in 1882 (there is no contemporary 

 record of any such) could only have been obtained from 

 Kuala Kangsar.2 



III. — The Reports of Collins, Wickham, and Cross. 



As has already been stated, CoUins prepared a " Report ou 

 the Caoutchouc of Commerce, being information on the plants 

 yielding it, their geographical distribution, cHmatic conditions, 

 and the possibiUty of their cultivation and acchmatization in 

 India," before the introduction of Hevea, &c., had been decided 

 upon. Subsequently both Wickham and Cross pubhshed 

 accounts of their operations, with information likely to be of 

 service to planters. It may be of interest to quote these 

 reports, wholly or in part, to show what information was at 

 the disposal of the pioneer planters, and how many of the ideas 

 once current arose. 



Collins's Report. 



Collins's report is a compilation, extending to 54 pages, of 

 all the available information concerning rubber plants. As far' 

 as South America is concerned, he drew on the writings of 



1 Ridley, Bulletin, Straits and F. M. S., IX., p. 213. 

 * Ridley, Straits Bulletin, IV., p. 365 ; II., p. 3. 



