308 TEAK PLANTATIONS. 



of the teak seed rotting, as Mr Graham supposed, when the spongy 

 coating became full of water, the contrary would be the result ; 

 and for that purpose not only must the sponge be filled with 

 water, but it must be kept constantly moist until vegetation begins, 

 which is indicated by the bursting of the shell, and the protrusion 

 of the young plant. This process, owing to the thickness and 

 density of the shell, as compared with the size of the seed, takes 

 some time to accomplish. Dr Wight, assuming then, that, as in 

 the case of the cinnamon seed, heat would more speedily excite 

 vegetative action, advised Mr Conolly to try to promote it in two 

 ways : first, by making a heap of the seeds (which must be pre- 

 viously soaked for an hour in water), and leaving them to ferment 

 in the same manner as the cinnamon seed. They might then be 

 sown in shaded beds of very light, sandy, well-moistened soil, 

 and covered over with a quantity of fallen leaves, which could 

 be kept in their places by sprinkling a little earth over them. 

 These arrangements should be completed before the rains, till 

 which time the beds are to be kept moist by occasionally water- 

 ing them. The second plan was, to throw the seeds into nearly 

 boiling water, 180° to 200° Fahr., and leaving them there until 

 the water cooled ; to proceed then as in the former case. These 

 plans, however, Dr "Wight said, were merely theoretical, and 

 might prove as unsuccessful as the others which had been tried ; 

 but, he added, " Of one thing I am quite sure, that much moisture 

 is required, and, I strongly suspect, the heat of fermentation, 

 which is naturally produced at the beginning of the rains, where 

 heaps of decaying vegetation happen to be accumulated, and that 

 it is in such situations the seeds sprout." 



MR GRAHAM S REMARKS. 



Mr Conolly referred the reports of M. Perrottet and Dr Wight 

 to Mr Graham, the sub-conservator, who made his remarks 

 thereon, and gave some further details regarding the germina- 

 tion of the teak seed, which may be noticed, as being the fruits 

 of experience and observation. The first point which Mr Graham 

 takes up in his remarks, is the stratifying or heating of the 



