146 



so, a surface of about one third of an acre in two parts "was re- 

 sen'etT for analysis, the limits l^eing marked by stretched wires: 

 over the rest an attem])t was made to determine all the species 

 established, but not to ascertain their relative abundance. The 

 larger secondary trees, as they were felled, were all measured that; 

 the depth of the vegetation might be determined. The work was 

 done under the supervision of a Foreman-Gardener who preserved 

 twigs of every plant for determination. When his men came to 

 the area reserved for special study, they proceeded first to the 

 removal of the smaller undergrowth, sorting tlie plants into s]3ecies, 

 and counting the number of each ; then of the larger undergrowth 

 in the same way; and lastly of the trees, which in their turn were 

 measured. The seedlings and small plants upon the ground coukl 

 not be counted as they suffered a good deal from trampling; their 

 numbers consequently were estimated. As will l)e seen later the 

 result showed nearly 100,000 plants to the acre. 



As far as can be ascertained the history of the jungle had 

 been as follows. Xot less than fifty years ago forest covered the 

 ground; it was felled with the exce])tion of one tree of Shoren 

 macroptera, Dyer, one tree of Alsfonia anf/ii,<<tilo'ba, Miq., perhaps 

 a couple of trees of Campnosperma auricidata, Hook, f., and pos- 

 sibly other trees. Tlien there followed a planting of Alhizzia moluc- 

 caud, Miq., Avith various fruit trees, such as the Durian (Diino 

 zihetliinus, DC.) the Mangosteen (Garcinia Mangostana, Linn.), 

 probably the Eukam (Flaconrtui Rul-am, Zoll.), and one if not 

 more exotic trees. This may have been fifty years ago. Xext 

 thirty five years ago, beds of Gardenias, Ixoras, Hippeastrums, 

 Eucharis, etc., were made over a part of flie ground ; and kei^t u]> 

 for a few years. But secondary jungle was allowed to come in 

 which therefore was about thirty 3'ears old, at the clearing in 191S. 



The hill slope faces north west, and is well drained. 



i^aturally the jungle bore some impress of the former culti- 

 vation. Most noticeable of all were the big trees of Alhizzia 

 moluccana, towrrijig above all the others, except the Sltorea and the 

 Alstonia. These Albizzias were in the hal)it f)f fruiting freely and 

 dropping innumerable seeds into the bottom of the jungle; ))ut the 

 seedlings of the seeds which germinated could not grow under the 

 shade, so that the Alhizzia showed no regeneration. The Sliorea, 

 too, fruited freely and its seed germinated; but no seedlings were 

 found of any size, pliowiug that tlie conditions were equally unfavour- 

 able to it. It is tliought that the Alhizzia and Shorea failed from 

 quite different causes, the Alhizzia seedlings from want of light, the 

 Shorea seedlings from want of deep forest soil and moisture. 



An old Mangosteen tree stood dead in the jungle, its foliage 

 space having l)een closeii up. Elsewliere a little circle thirty-six 

 feet across showed where another tree had been until re- 

 cently. The ground of this circle was occupied l)y tlie grass and 

 sedges, Ischaemum midicum, Linn., Sclcria .'^innairoisis, Eetz., 

 and Sderia liehecarpa, Xees, into which .Jledi/otis congesta. K. "Br., 

 had intruded, and where there were many quite young seedlings of 

 Anisopliyllfn dif<>ir.ha. Hook., and Mararavrpi friloha, Muell. At 



