415 
ripened. The life of the plant lasts for about 15 to 20 years, at the end 
of which period the terminal inflorescence is formed. In spite of the 
d of flowers very few fruits are produced ; these occupy two or 
three years in ripening. The propagation of these palms is usually 
affected by means of suckers or stolons formed round the base of old 
trees. 
An interesting account of sago cultivation in Province Dent in 
b 
British North Borneo is incl or Cr ,in the report on 
the Blue Book of Labuan for 1893. [Colonial Reports, No. 122 
Annual 1894.] As the subject has not with in 
on 
the spot by Mr. J. G. G. Wheatley is reproduced for general 
information ;— 
A Report ON SAGO CULTIVATION IN Province DENT. 
The sago palm, from which is manufactured the well-known sago 
flour of commerce, resembles in appearance the cocoa-nut tree. The 
former is valued for its trunk alone, € nuts are useless, and the tree 
dies if allowed to fruit. 
Varieties of Sago Palm. 
. There are only two kinds of sage palm which are cultivated, the 
* rumbia benar ” P^ rea sago), and the “rumbia berduri " (the thorny 
sago), also known as “rumbia salak." In appearance, both are the 
same, but on ciatis inspection ge stems of the latter, to which the leaves 
are attached, known as “ pallapa,” will be found to be ora with 
bunches of thorns about 1} to 3 inches long. 
Mode of Planting. 
2. Sago grows chiefly on damp ground subject to floods at certain 
times of the year. If grown in swamps, less sago is produced and the 
trunks do not attain as great a height as when planted on clayey damp 
soil subject to floods periodically. Once planted, the tree withstands 
floods and brackish water, but in the latter it does not grow as fast and 
the trunks are small. Sago is planted chiefly by suckers "e : Er 
earth is placed about the roots, but the plants are supported in an 
upright position by two sticks fixed on either side. The earth gradually 
fills the holes re pi rains and floods. One man with an assistant can 
Rumbia berduri is preferred to the rumbia benar, chiefly because the 
wild pigs do not attempt to destroy young plants, on ns of the 
thorns. In planting rum nar, fences have to be made to keep out 
the pigs, which are very destruct Rumbia Béidani is dn reported 
to pu more raw sago, but the ndis of flour is the same in both 
species. Each tree produces from four to five pikuls of raw sago 
