18 BULLETIN 1057, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



lance of the seed collectors or were from fruits which had ripened 

 later, were found on the ground. 



It was very evident from observations as well as from the state- 

 ments of the natives that Taraktogenos kurzii produces fruits irregu- 

 larly. A heavy crop is followed by two years of poor fruiting, while 

 the next year following a large crop can again be expected. The na- 

 tives stated that they go into these forests to collect the seeds only 

 about once in three years, and then only in the months of October 

 and November. The fruits, like those of other species of Tarakto- 

 genos and Hydnocarpus, mature during the rainy season, which is 

 from May to September ; they then drop to the ground, being assisted 

 by numerous monkeys. Bears are also very fond of the fruit flesh, 

 and large numbers of them roam the forests in search of kalaw fruits. 

 Therefore, at that particular time, the natives refrain from going to 

 collect these, as they have no firearms and their spears are inade- 

 quate weapons with which to meet a horde of bears. The heavy rains 

 wash the large and often buoyant seeds into the creek and thence into 

 the Khodan stream, the fish of which feed on them. The natives 

 stated that they dare not eat any fish from the Khodan stream, as it 

 would produce the same effect as the eating of a number of fresh 

 kalaw seeds. Wild pigs are also fond of the seeds, and the natives 

 refrain from eating pork at the kalaw fruiting seasons, as the flesh 

 of pigs which have fed on kalaw seeds is poisonous, producing nausea 

 and vomiting. After the rains have ceased, when the animals have 

 had their share of kalaw fruits and seeds and the heavy rains have 

 washed large numbers of them into the stream, the natives proceed, 

 in parties of 20 to 30, to collect the remaining seeds. Needless to say, 

 they lose about 50 per cent or more of each crop through the causes 

 just enumerated. 



The writer found many seeds germinating on the edges of the 

 creek bed and in the pure sand of these dark and somber hill forests 

 where the sun can hardly penetrate. A number of these seedlings 

 get established sufficiently to withstand the heavy downpours which 

 must swell these creeks to a considerable extent; for only short 

 periods, however, as the sandy soil takes up a great volume of these 

 rushing torrents. Large kalaw trees have been found by the writer 

 growing in the middle of these beds. Taraktogenos kurzii develops 

 a strong and vigorous taproot, which enables the tree to withstand 

 strong currents. That the currents are swift was made evident by 

 the exposure of the whole root system of an enormous tree of Dipter- 

 ocarpus alatus which grew on the steep banks of the creek. 



The collection of seed, even in the winter, is exceedingly danger- 

 ous, owing to wild animals, especially tigers and elephants. The 

 cold season being the mating season, these animals roam through 



