117 



tree of Singapore with a heavy timber used in house-building, 

 flexible and durable, but difficult to saw. 



P. microphyllum* King & Gamble, is a small-leaved species of 

 Singapore, and P. hexandrum* (Griff.) King & Gamble, a tree of 



Dichopsis hexandra, and said to extend to Burma. P. J5i 



as 



Wray 



Jungak 



i» 



worthless gutta. Ridley says that it has an inferior light wood and 

 that it does not seem to be common. P. stellatum, King & Gamble, 

 is a Bassia-like species only once collected, viz., in Perak by 

 Scortechini, who reported it to yield good gutta but in small 

 quantities. 



8. MlMUSOPS. In this genus come the two well-known and 

 important trees M. Kfengi\ L., and M. Kauki, L., neither of which 

 is, however, known to yield gutta percha. 



The result of this enumeration of the Sapotaceous trees of the 

 Malay Peninsula seems to be that the only really important gutta 

 percha tree is Palaquimn Gutta, the " Taban Merah," with its 

 variety oblongifolium, "Taban Sutra"; that three other species 

 afford a second class product, viz. : P. Oxlcyanum, usually called 

 "Taban Pntih" or "Taban Chaia," P. ohovatum, also called "Taban 

 Putih," and Payena Leerii "Sundek" ; that a few others give 

 small quantities of poor quality and little value, and that the rest 

 yield none at all. It would seem, therefore, advisable that so far 

 as possible artificial cultivation should be restricted to the four 

 species mentioned, and this is practically what is being done. A 

 brief account of what is being done in the forests of the Peninsula 

 to increase the out-turn of gutta percha, and to utilize in the best 



interest. 



may 



In 1900, Mr. H. C. Hill, who had been acting as Inspector- 

 General of Forests in India but was then on furlough, was asked 

 by the Colonial Office to visit the Straits Settlements and the 

 Federated States and advise on forest questions. His concise but 

 very interesting and valuable Reports were printed by the Straits 

 Government. His recommendations, as regards the Straits Settle- 

 ments, were \ 



"(1) The reservation of all areas where the trees (there are 



several species of PaJaquium yielding good gutta 

 percha) are found growing naturally, or can be planted 

 with good prospect of success. 



" (2) The discontinuance of the experimental planting of all 



sorts of indigenous and exotic trees, and the concen- 

 tration of efforts on the formation of one or two 

 large plantations of the most valuable indigenous 

 tree, the Gutta Percha." He further recommends the 

 appointment of an experienced Indian Forest Officer, 

 preferably from Burma, to supervise forest work. 



As regards the Federated 



(1) To declare all "Taban" (Palaquhim) trees to be " re- 

 served," and, to prohibit their being felled. 



