227 



Gaaibier is disappearing from the island. Under Malacca the 

 diminution of its price has been given ; and from that cause arises its 

 decrease in Singapore island. Pepper cultivation seems slightly to be 

 increased. Sugar-cane cultivation, for eating only, is unchanged. Rice 

 has not existed in the island for a very long time. The few nutmegs 

 in the island produce a little fruit. A small experimental area has 

 been planted with Cacao. 



Durians yielded very well in December, 1913, and so did Ram- 

 butans ; but the crop of Mangosteens was not good. 



The amount of fruit which Singapore imports is now very con- 

 siderable. The Muar river enjoys a large share of this trade, Sarawak 

 and Siam a not inconsiderable portion in special lines. 



The demand for vegetables is so great that their prices are very 

 high. In the island there is a slight increase of vegetable grov^ing — 

 katiang, ladies fingers, brinjals, etc., and a little planting of 

 bananas. 



The planting of " Pisang Batu " for leaf plates, leaf wrappers and 

 a substitute for string is extending. 



Sweet potatoes are the chief root crop of Singapore ; and they are 

 less extensively grown than might be expected. The big alocasia 

 comes next in importance. 



With the intention of attempting the introduction into Singapore 

 of a new root-crop the lesser yam {Dioscorea aculeata, Lamk. or 

 D.fasciculata, Roxb.) was brought in 1913, into the Economic garden : 

 it is a tuber, which constitutes a large part of the food of the labourers 

 in some parts of India, and is, moreover, when suitably cooked 

 good eating : but thereafter it was found that a Chinese cultivator 

 on Holland Road had already commenced the growing of it. It is 

 curious that this plant has not hitherto found a lodgement here, yti 

 has been for a very long time an important food plant in the Eastern 

 Archipelago, and in India. Rumphius, who lived in the Dutch 

 Indies from 1653 to 1702, and became Governor of Amboyna, 

 said, that in his time it was being grown about Batavia by immi- 

 grants, who had come from the East ; yet Ridley was able to write 

 two centuries later, in 1908, that he had never seen the species nor 

 could find evidence of its occurence in the Malay Peninsula. 



Lemon oil grass is still in cultivation and distilling is done on 

 a small scale; but the interest in it has diminished considerably. 

 The Java citronella oil, along with which the Singapore product 

 should sell, is absorbed very readily on the market in Europe, though 

 at a narrow margin of profit. 



