52 



Clearings at Edge of Forest and Secondary Jungle. 



This form o tropical upgrowth was not so rampant as is usually the case, 

 on account of the poor " korang " subsoil, but it proved more than usually 

 interesting in character in showing such a large proportion of endemic 

 Papuan and Moluccan species. 



In clearings Gigantochloa novo-guineensis, apparently cultivated, was in 

 flower, the fine Pandanus Tabbersianus bearing fruits almost 1 m. long, 

 *Mallotus tilicefolia, *MellocTiia arborea, *Kleinhofia hospita, *Tamarindus 

 indica, *Rubus moluccanus, * Callicarpa erioclona, white, Premna nitida, also 

 white-flowered with black fruit, and the ubiquitous * Wedelia biflora, with the 

 scandent * Allopliyllus Cobbe, *Flagellaria indica, *Rhyssopteris timorensis, 

 the bright yellow Sccevola novo-guineensis, *Merremia nymphceifolia, with the 

 epiphytic -Loranthus Versteegii, of which the flowering, vertically hanging 

 shoots bear dense red racemes, standing out at right angles to the stems for 

 half their length, were all general. There has been some question lately 

 about the fertilization of LorantJius sp. by butterflies. I can only say that, on 

 vigorously pulling one of the long shoots in the first excitement at seeing 

 such a peculiar Loranthus form, I was covered by showers of very large red 

 ants. The denseness and position of the racemes would certainly favour 

 fertilization by these insects. 



Just below the drainage-level of the forest-clad range, a damp area of 

 some extent, shaded by a secondary unidentified upgrowth, proved a very 

 good collecting-ground for fungi. In fact, almost the whole total of the 

 species collected were found on this area, the " korang " forest itself being 

 too dry in character to encourage this form of growth. 



Cultivation. 



In the grounds of the Residency, bread-fruit, Avocado pears, pumiloes, 

 custard-apples, mangoes, Canarium nuts, jambu, limes and lemons, pine- 

 apples, with small water-melons and hill-rice, have been successfully grown. 

 Roses were always in flower in the garden, of which the chief interest was a 

 well-grown young Araucaria Beccarii about 5 m. high, brought down from 

 the Angi lakes by Mr. van Oosterzee, who had laid out and planted these 

 gardens. The old convict gardener who looked after them lo.st no oppor- 

 tunity of denouncing the " korang," which certainly outcrops in most 

 inopportune places, and the shallow soil. Surrounding the " Pasangrahan " 

 and the quarters of the " Pradjoerit," all the usual " sayur " were grown by 

 the " Orang rante " in the well-kept gardens, and also by the Chinese, who all 

 have their own plots of cultivated ground. 



