113 



large number of fungi, many known to be of great economic im- 

 portance. In view of all of these facts I believe that the plainest 

 common sense will dictate the necessity of the most rigid sanitation 

 in and near rubber ])lantations. 



This is all a look forward. The few plant pathologists who 

 have been privileged to work in the Peninsula have accomplished 

 results of value which should be in no wise discounted. But the 

 " field is so great and the hands so few " that there is no present 

 promise of our being able to compete with nature in this matter. 

 The natural state of the forest is not only one of superabundant 

 life but also one of wholesale and all-pervading death. The 

 successful upsetting of the normal plan of nature, and maintainance 

 of health and vigor in every individual of an extensive plantation, 

 can only come out of comprehensive, intensive, and adequately 

 supported scientific investigation. 



C. F. Baker. 



THE GARDENS' HEVEA TREE 

 No. 1844, -H CONFUSA. HEMSL. 



Planted in the exact centre of a small rectangular bit of 

 ground close to the office in the Economic Garden stood a rather 

 small rubber tree which bore the number 1844. Its dark grey 

 bark attracted attention to it; and when it was more closely ex- 

 amined the foliage was seen to differ from that of the neighbouring 

 trees of Ilcrea hrasiliensis. Its history was unrecorded : but by the 

 way in which it stood, it suggested that it came by no accident, 

 but was set in its position as something apart from the other rubber 

 trees. 



When it flowered in 1917 it was seen that the flowers removed 

 it far from H. hrasiliensis. The seeds also were found small, 

 though not outside the extraordinarily wide limits in which H. 

 hrasiliensis varies : when it was tappecl the latex was found to be 

 yellow, meagre in amount and to remain tacky, with little elasticity. 

 It appeared to be an undesirable type : but it was determined not 

 to destroy it without enquiry. Flowering specimens were therefore 

 dried and sent to the Eoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where Sir David 

 Prain has been so good as to have it determined as Hevea confusa, 

 Ilemsl. The tree has now been destroyed on account of its prox- 

 imity to the seed bearing trees, lest it should bring about cross- 

 pollination ; but seedlings have been raised in order that if any 

 purpose is found for it, the species may be available. 



Hevea confum originates from British Guiana. It differs 

 in so little from //. pauciflora, Mu'cll. Arg., of the same region that 

 to unite the two on botanical eye characters is quite justified; and 

 if united, it takes the second name. Seeds of the tree 1844 had 

 been sent to Dr. P. S. Cramer before flowers could be sent to Kew ; 

 and with no more material than this he had suggested //. paucifiora 



