259 
wood, moss leaves, &c.; as also is the habit, whether solitary, 
gregariou crowded, &c. 
asa a rule gather mature specimens only, but for the purpose 
of ascertaining the structure and affinities, young specimens are also 
D able, and should, it pesiibde, be preserved in spirit ; dry mature 
und an excellent medium for the preservation of delicate liverworts, 
tá uds, &c.,as it causes no contraction or hardening of the tissues, 
and does not affect the colour. 
G. MAssEE, 
CXX.—O0IL PALM IN LABUAN.—A SUCCESS AND A 
| —  -- FAILURE 
(Eleis guineensis.) 
One of the duties which is cheerfully undertaken by the Royal 
Gardens is to assist any vecti of the Empire in introducing and 
establishing any new plant which promises to serve as the foundation of 
a new indust Every attempt of the kind, as far as the Colonies are 
concerned, is generally undertaken on the initiative of the Colonial 
Mcr While Kew assists in the technical de ils. of the experiment 
d performs the duty of emn d receiving, cultivating, and trans- 
mitting or Ar "Wis to the nage sbi it is only a matter 
f j code ta no pain 
oxtail way in bringi 
experience and "local know aded ol of one part of the wm to the aid of 
another, It would be difficult indeed to withhold co-operation from a 
dy © carry out every oe which holds out 
it is considered ; a p or bei e it out has to be matured ; all the 
necessary incidental Vuforitskión las to be collected ; and then the plan 
is carried into execution. Sometimes it fails the first ut then a 
second attempt has to be made, and so on till success is sec 
that then wot is to wait for the result; and gm in any iibi 
prai cases not be reached for yea 
the interval Governors and officials change. It may be, 
dilagh | it is not alter so, that the ardour with which the experiment 
was launched evaporates with the individual whom it inspired. A new 
Colonial Government seme - regard with apathy and even hostility 
the work of its aud the whole enterprise may fall into 
oblivion till some chance bf. o n the same subject s to the 
digging out of the file of papers naag its record from the Kew 
