453 



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about by travellers visiting the important port of Malacca, and 

 the first records of what was cultivated date from the close of the 

 sixteenth century, when the Portuguese were established in 

 Malacca. During the last century valuable introductions have 

 been made through the Botanic Gardens of Singapore and 

 Penang. In 1908 special attention was being given to the cul- 

 tivation of fruits at the Kuala Lumpur Experimental Plantation, 

 and in 1915 a Fruit Nursery was opened at the Batu Tiga 

 Plantation, Selangor. It is unfortunate that the production of 

 fruit for sale in the local markets has steadily declined with the 

 rise of other industries, notably Hevea planting, since many ot 

 the large plantations of fruit trees in existence towards the close 

 of the past century in Singapore, Malacca and elsewhere, have 

 been abandoned. This is a matter for regret, as about 30 years 

 ago (see Kew Bulletin* 1888, " Principal Fruits grown in the 

 Straits Settlements,' ' pp. 250-252) there was a good foundation 

 for development. It was then recorded that " the supply of 

 fruit is now sufficient for local wants. All the important fruits 

 would be produced in much larger quantities if there were a 

 market for them." At the time of the Kew Bulletin paper, the 

 fruits exported in a fresh state to neighbouring countries were 

 mainly " Mangosteens " (Garcinia Mangostana), " Pine-apples 

 (Ananas sativa)," Duvians" (Durio zibethimis), "Rambutans" 

 (Nephelium lap-paceum). Fruits exported in a preserved state 

 were Pine-apples in considerable quantities to Europe, China. 

 India, etc. (340,000 tins in 1887), Mangosteens (20,000 tins), 

 chiefly to Europeans homeward bound, and 15,000 tins of Guava 

 jelly, Pine-apple jam, and Bread-fruit, chiefly to Europeans 

 homeward bound. In reference to the Pine-apple industry it 

 may be of interest to note what was said of the Singapore produce 

 at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition in London, 1886 (see 

 Morris, cc Reports on the Colonial Sections of the Exhibition," 

 1887, p. 140), " The chief place is taken by the Pine-apples of 

 Singapore, which, preserved whole in syrup, have entered into 

 commerce and are now regularly supplied by London Stores. 

 The Pine-apple is canned and shipped in a similar manner from 

 the Bahamas, Fiji and Natal; but the Singapore Pine-apple has 

 established itself as one of the best in the market. " In the 

 Bulletin under consideration it is stated that " no fruit appears 

 to have been grown on a large commercial scale with the single 

 exception of the Pine-apple, of which the cultivation for canning 

 did not assume any importance until about 1890, when the 

 Chinese commenced the business. Large areas of land in Singa- 

 pore, formerly under Pepper, Indigo and Gambier cultivation 

 were utilised for the production. 



The author does well by encouraging a similar standard all 

 round, and especially so by keeping in view the improvement o 

 the local supply. There are seven chapters dealing with the uast 

 and present position of Fruit Cultivation in the Malay Peninsula, 

 Propagation, Cultivation, Soil, Pests and Diseases, Native and 

 Exotic Fruits, included, with a good index, in 108 pages, and 

 illustrated with 23 plates. 



*> 



J. H. H. 



