197 
all sent in biscuit tins. Those sent to Jamaica were packed in 
slightly damped incinerator earth, but it was necessary to replace 
the upper part of the packing with sawdust to reduce ilie weight, 
as incinerator earth is very heavy, and the box, a two-pound tin 
which contained 150 seeds, would have been over parcel post 
weight. 
" The other tins were filled with damp charcoal finely powdered. 
In packing a certain amount of care is required in .lair. ping tin- 
charcoal so as to get it equally moistened all through, and not 
either over wet or over dry. This is best done by damping the 
charcoal thoroughly, and then drying it in the sun, eonstantly 
stirring and turning it overfill it is uniformly slightly damp 1. 
The incinerator earth, which had been exposed to the elements, 
was damped when received, and only wanted partial drying to tit 
it for packing. Its weight is against its use, but both it and the 
powdered charcoal have the great advantage of preventing any 
attacks of mould or bacteria likely to cause decomposition. Other 
experiments with powdered coir fibre and coir dust, sawdust, and 
variously prepared soils have been tried, but the results do not 
seem to have ever been as successful. One experiment was made 
in putting the seeds in water for a month, and, though that might 
be effective for a fortnight or so, they had all perished by the end 
of the month." 
XXXII.-EAST INDIAN DRAGON'S BLOOD. 
(Daemoiwrops, Spp.). 
East Indian Dragon's Blood, a well known commercial article, 
is a hard resin obtained from the shells oi the iruits of a number 
of species of climbing palms (Rattans'; belonging to the genus 
Darmoiiorops. This genus includes about mi species, but of 
these only a few, referred to the section Piptos 
Dragon's Blood. Mr. E. M. Holmes, in the Pharmaceutical 
Journal for December, 1905, p. 833, has largely increased our 
knowledge of the botanical origin of this substance. More 
recently in the Agricultural Jow 
Hates for February, 1906, Mr. H. N. Ridley has still 
further added to the information available on the subject, which 
is summarised below. 
The resiniferous species, from the various localities in which 
the substance is obtained, are as follows :— 
Malay Peninsula. 
D. didymophyllu*, Becc. Common in forests in Singapore, 
B k, Penang. This species has a stem about 1 S 
and is known as Rotang Hudang and R. Butong, and is very 
abundant. The fruits are very rich in Dragon s Blood. 
D. micranthus, Becc. Common in the Peninsula, <™™ n » *" 
_- , pore, Malacca, Johor, Negri Sembilan The 
The greater pari of the resin 
from the Malay Peninsula appears to be afforded by * h /\ 8 *P ecie8 ' 
The young rattans aie known in Johor as Rotan lahi Avam. 
