THE MALAY PENINSULA. 



281 



5. Important Forest Produce. 



More than one-half of the commercial timber of the country is 

 produced by the Dipterocarps. Other woods of special value are 

 species of Calophyllum, Eugenia, Artocarpus, Afzelia, Mesuaferrea 

 and various others. For firewood the most highly prized woods 

 are the Mangroves. 



The principal items of minor produce are Canes, Gutta-percha 

 and Dammar. The most important commercial canes are 

 Calamus ccesius, the Rotan sega, and the Malacca cane {Calamus 

 Scipionum). In 1919 the revenue on canes was about 20,000 

 dollars, while the value of the canes was at least 10 times that 

 amount. Canes to the value of 2| million dollars were imported 

 into Malaya in 1918, cleaned and otherwise prepared in Singapore, 

 and re-exported. 



Of Gutta-percha large quantities were formerly produced in 

 the country, but the destruction of the trees has been so great 

 that the present annual output is probably less than 20 tons. 

 Plantations are being formed, and it is hoped that the former 

 supply will gradually be re-estabUshed. 



Dammar is obtained from the Dipterocarps, especially from 

 Balanocarpus spp. About 250 tons were collected in 1919. 



6. Relationship of the State to the Forests. 

 Straits Settlements. — An Ordinance, No. 22, was passed in 1908, 

 drawn up on the lines of the Burma Forest Act. It deals with : — 



(1) The appointment and powers of forest officers. 



(2) The constitution and protection of Reserved Forests. 



(3) The levy of royalties on forest produce and its protection in 



transit. 



(4) The procedure in deaUng with forest offences. 



Under the Ordinance, rules were passed for the administration of 

 the forests. 



The Federated Stales. — Until 1914 each State had its own forest 

 enactment. In that year the enactments of the four States were 

 combined into a federal enactment, and in 1918 a revised enact- 

 ment (No. 349 of 1918), which is still in force, was passed by the 

 Rulers of the Federated States in Council. It follows the Burma 

 Act even more closely than the Settlements Ordinance ; under it 

 Joules were made. 



