£98 NOTES ON ECONOMIC PLANTS. 



RUSA Oil GRASS (Andropogon schcenanthes) does not seem 

 to be known in the Straits, and so far I have not been able 

 to procure plants, but that it will succeed here there is but 

 little doubt. 



CROTON Oil (Croton tigliumj. — Among recent introduc- 

 tions, this is by far the most promising. It seems to have 

 found a climate and soil entirely to its liking in the Straits. 

 The plant bears heavy crops of fruit, its cultivation will no 

 doubt prove a profitable investment. 



lLLUPl Oil (Bassia latifolia). — Plants of this valuable oil 

 tree do not appear to succeed well in Singapore. They are 

 much preyed upon by insects, and although the tree is found 

 in a wild state at no great distance, it has refused so far to 

 grow satisfactorilv in this island. 



CASTOR Oil (Ricinus communis) . — Castor oil is now large- 

 ly used in the manufacture of soap, for machinery and other 

 purposes. In the Straits the plant grows with great vigour, 

 and under proper treatment its cultivation should pay. Some 

 Chinese made an attempt to cultivate the plant in Malacca 

 some years ago. The attempt was a failure in point of profit- 

 able return, and no one else seems to have tried it since then, 

 I have strong reason to think, however, that the plant used 

 was an inferior variety, i. e. ; the variety common in the Straits, 

 the cultivation of which could hardly have been expected 

 to be profitable. The failure has had the effect of discourag- 

 ing others, but there would seem no good reason to be dis- 

 couraged so long as the plant has not had a proper trial. 



COCOA-NUT Oil (Cocos nuciferct)^— -Little need be said of 

 this well-known oil, but it is found that the plant does not 

 yield sufficient crops to pay, when grown more than about 

 half-a-mile from the sea ; when grown in the interior of 

 Singapore the crops obtained are said to be only sufficient to 

 cover cost of labour. 



Olive Oil {Olea europea). — The olive plants introduced 

 in 1885 and planted on Penang Hill are making very satisfac- 

 tory growth, and I am in hope of its proving well adapted for 



cultivation on mountains and high lands generally. 



