3.00 NOTES ON ECONOMIC PLANTS. 



Apple (Pyrus malus). — Very good apples have been pro- 

 duce! by the plants introduced from Sydney. 1 did not attach 

 much importance to the first crop, as plants with fruiting 

 branches (buds) ripened before their arrival will generally 

 produce a first crop, but that the plants are now producing 

 good fruits from Colonial ripened wood shews that they have 

 adapted themselves to the altered circumstances of climate. 



Coco v Plum [CJirysohalanus icaco). — The cocoa plum of 

 the West Indies came into bearing during the year for the 

 first time In the Straits. The plants were received originally 

 from Kew. On being removed from their pots and planted 

 in the open ground they grew with great rapidity, and when 

 about six feet in height came into fruit which thev have 

 ripened in fair quantity. 



Pine-Apple (Ananassa sat ha). — The following pine-apple 

 plants have been collected from various sources and are now 

 growing in the Experimental Nursery, viz. : — Black Jamaica, 

 Cayenne, Queen, Mauritius and New Providence. It is un- 

 fortunate that of all those just named the Mauritius, a very 

 inferior kind, is the only one extensively cultivated here; time 

 only will work a change. I would here mention that the pro- 

 fitable introduction of a new product (fruit or vegetable) into 

 a Chinese bazaar is a more difficult thing than most people 

 imagine, the Oriental taste once educated to a certain thing, 

 even though an inferior article, is clung to with a persistence 

 truly remarkable. I would observe further that the pine- 

 apple everywhere known here under the name " Mauritius " 

 is not known in that colony, and that the sugar-cane known 

 in Mauritius under the name of " Penang'' is not found here. 



Lime Berries (Trlphasia trifoliata). — The fruit of this 

 plant is preserved in Manila and sent to the London market. 

 The plant produces fruit here in great plenty, and will no 

 doubt be found topay here as well as in Manila. 



Bread Nut (Brosimum alicastrnm) , and Brazil-Nut 

 [Ber thole tin excelsa).— These plants continue to grow with 

 unabated vigour, the first planted are now about twelve feet 

 in height, and I have hopes of their producing useful fruit 

 in the Colony. 



