September i, 1883.] 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST, 



^59 



the Queen has been pleased to knight this veteran civil 

 servant of the Straits. Our Eesideut is now Sir Hugh Low, 

 K, C. M. G. 



One more extract on Gutta Suntlek and I will 

 never trouble you with such a sticky subject again 

 as long as we both live : — " A^ith regard to Gutta Sun- 

 dek or Patch SuudeU, Ur. Deunys's report merely con- 

 tains the following remarks :— It is stated by Captain 

 Murray to be identical with Gutta Tabau. Mr. Murton, 

 however, describes it as the product of a tree differing 

 from Dichopsis Gutta in having leaves ' much shorter and 

 broader ' more ovate in general outline, and the pilose 

 hairs on the under surfice not so fuh'ous as in that 

 species. Captain Miu-ray's remark, however, [joints to the 

 that : commercially Gutta Suuduk and Gutta Tabau are 

 deemed much the same, the former being only au inferior 

 variety." It is evident from the facts stated above, that 

 the running out of existing natural sources of gutta percha 

 is an event within measurable distance. Tlie preservation 

 of the supply is peculiarly a case for Government and 

 not for individual enterprise. I reproduce here the con- 

 cluding passages of the convincing report of Dr. Dennys, 

 in the hope that before it may bo too late the policy 

 suggested may seriously engage the attention of the CJov- 

 eruments of some of our Kasteru j'ossessions : — " Com- 

 paratively scanty as are the details as yet to hand re- 

 garding both gutta percha and caoutchouc, two facts may 

 lie considered ascertained: (I) That the demand is in- 

 creasing and is likely to increase tor some time to come 

 and (2) that the supply threatens to become exhausted 

 within a very short period. 



•' As regards Singapore, there i.s ample evidence that 

 both Ficus elastica and Dichopsis gutta at one time 

 abounded on the islard, and that their disappearance is 

 entirely owing to tlie want of foresight of those who 

 reaped the first harvest of their yield. In view therefore 

 of the very large amount of suitable unoccupied ground as 

 Government disposal, and which is not likely to be wanted 

 for building or other planting puposes, I would respect- 

 fully suggest that measures be taken to ascertain whether 

 an appreciable increase to the future revenue of the 

 colony might not be ensured by selecting and planting 

 suitable localities. 



"It may be difficult for the Colonial Goveniment 

 to exercise, a dirsct influence in favour of care and 

 prudence on the part of the native administrations, 

 but nmch might be done to encourage enterprise 

 in the formation of new Ciutta piantations. It 

 may also be worth while to ascertain whether the 

 appointment of European Conservators under the control 

 of the i-esidents, would not achieve the end of preserving 

 a most valuable monojioly to the dtiterent Governments, 

 as it may be assimied that the expenses thu.s iucurred 

 would be amply justiliedby the Commercial results both 

 to Singapore and I'enang as depots, as well as to the 

 original collectors and vendors of such hnportaut articles 

 of ti-ade. It is not impossible also that fresh discoveries 

 miglit be made if not of new trees yielding similar pro- 

 ducts, of sub-varieties which might furnish a commercially 

 valuable substitute while it is more than probable that vast 

 areas of virgin growth might be discovered in the interior 

 portions of the reninsula by an explorer under Government 

 auspices." The jirincipal obstacles in the way of individual 

 enterprise lie in the time necessary to mature the tree, said to 

 be about 15 or perhaps 20 years at least, and the dif- 

 ficulty of obtaining seeds, saplings, or cuttings where- 

 with to commence plantations. These can only be met 

 by the Cordial Co-operation of the residents and native 

 authorities, the hitter especially needing to be convinced 

 that by aiding the movement they will not be depriving 

 themselves of a valuable monopoly. As regards the for- 

 mer it is probable that but very" few Europeans would 

 embark capital which would not yield au out-turn for 

 lo or 20 years, which I am infonnod on botanical au- 

 thority is the average time required before a tree is ready 

 for tapping ; many trees indeed arc reputed to he SI) 

 years old when tapped, and it would therefore seem that 

 the Goveniment alone could afford to" undertake the es- 

 tablishment of plantations. 



" At present we are not without data as to probable ex- 

 pense but, as the trees are essentially jungle trees, and 

 equire no care when once fairly started, this niny be 

 akeu as very luw. Assuming each picul of liiLl^ lbs of 



the best qualities to represent the yield of 10 ti'ccs, and 

 to be worth IS4.5, — 10,000 trees would give a gross return 

 of §4.3,000. The available Crown lands in Singapore could 

 probably grow 100,000 trees at the lowest estimate \'iving 

 §450,000 m the gross out-turn, though this estimnt" must 

 be mere guesswork uutU a proper survey be madr. But 

 assuming that tlie annual income of the colony could be 

 increased bj $200,000, or less than hall the sum named, 

 the matter seems worth attention ; while there is reason 

 to beUeve that even it the jield from the native states 

 continued at its present figure the additional supply -.vould 

 soon find a market without materially loweriug the price." 

 Hear, hear, let the Straits Government have foresters the 

 same as Ceylon though yours- were only appointei 1 when 

 nearly all the Ebony and Satiuwood had been murdered 

 and shipped to Europe. With the Straits Settlemrnts it 

 is not too late to save the gutta percha and rubbers until 

 then." 



The Calcutta International Exhibition Committee having 

 invited the Perak Government to contribute samples at the 

 coming fan' at the City of Palaces, the Kesident has 

 called upon his officials in various departments to prepare 

 samples in time for shipment to Calcutta. Aniougs' other 

 local industries such as paddy and rice, sugar, t,)baccii. 

 rattan, mats and agricultural instruments, our lu-iueiiial 

 Show from Perak will be specimens of tin in its various 

 stages of prepar.ation for export, these Mr. ■William Scott 

 the inspector of tin mines in Larut will no doubt do justice 

 to, tor I know he has stored already an interesting col- 

 lection. Next comes gutta-parcha and rubbers. With 

 samples of parchment coffee, clean coffee and perhaps a 

 sample of Liberian coffee to be contributed by tlu super- 

 intendents otthe Government experimental gardens at Gapis 

 and Larut, also samples of tea (two samples from each 

 garden). Captain Schutze has been asked to contribute, 

 and no doubt he will do so with samples of machine-cured 

 coffee. H. 0. 



LONDON CHARGES ON TEA: HOW HOW 

 "THE GILT IS TAKEN OFF THE 

 GINGERBREAD. " 

 We have before us Account Sales of 3,?74 lb. Cej Ion 

 tea ranging from Is 4jd per lb. for pekoe down to Gil 

 for dust. The gross procced.s amounted to £276 .Sa 

 an average of over one shilling per lb. This is nob 

 bad as times go, but what do our readers think os 

 • 'charges" aggregating £49 l-ls 4d, or within a few 

 shillings of £50, on £276, not very far short of 20 per 

 cent on the amount realized at public sale ! T he net 

 proceeds are thus reduced to £22C) 8s 8d, or about 

 lOd per lb. and from this will have to be deducted 

 cost ot cultivation and manufacture, of packing into 

 leaded chests, of cart and railway freight to Colombo 

 (much heavier than in the case of coffee, iu con- 

 se.;iuence of the greater bulk), shipping, export duty 

 and port dues, and local agency charges. When 

 all such deductions are made, it is evident that the 

 net profits to the owner of the tea estote will be 

 reduced to microscopic dimensions. The duty of ex- 

 ercising all possible economy iu regard to i^uch local 

 charges as are under the control of ihe owuera 

 or superintendents of tea estates is obvious, and pro- 

 bably cart and railway charges may be ultim 

 alely lowered. But, whatever else is done, it la 

 (luite clear that a combined and strenuous effort must 

 be made to got London charges reduced, efpeeially the 

 exorbii ant item termed "London Dock Cbarges. ' In 

 the case under review, that itt'.n constitutes consider- 

 ably more than one-third of the whole amount ot 

 charges, and appreciably exceeds the cost of freight of 

 the tea from Colombo to London. The steamer freght 

 of 123 half-chests of tea was £1(1; the London Dock 

 charges are put at £IS39 5d or £2 ."s ,">d in rxccss of 

 freight. And what adds insult to injury in this matter 



