NOTES ON ECONOMIC PLANTS. 309 



successfully cultivate the plant, owing to the time which is 

 required to elapse between first outlay and first income. 



Jalap (Ipomsea purgd) ") The climate of the Straits 



GENSENG {Panax genseng) j is not found suitable for the 

 cultivation of either of these valuable drugs. The former sell 

 at is. 2d. a pound, the latter at (occasionally) $400 the ounce. 

 Siamese Benzoin {Styrax sp.). — The cultivation of Siam- 

 ese Benzoin might pay, as it seems greatly in demand. I 

 frequently receive letters offering long prices for plants or 

 produce. The plant is supposed to be a variety of the 

 common Benzoin {Styrax benzoin) but until proper specimens 

 are obtained, this cannot be settled. 



CuBEBS {Piper citbeba). — Experiments with Cubebs on a 

 small scale seem to shew that the plant prefers a shady moist 

 situation. Plants exposed to the full sun grew much more 

 slowly. The cultivation of Cubeb plants does not receive 

 the amount of attention in the Straits it deserves. The crop 

 pays well, but for the present the monopoly of its cultivation 

 remains in the hands of the Dutch, through apparently no 

 other reason than a want of enterprise on the part of planters 

 on this side of the water. In Johor the plant grows remark- 

 ably well, bearing heavy crops of fruit, but details of its 

 cultivation as practised in Java is still a desideratum. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



SAGO {Sagus Rumphiana and S. Items). — The cultivation 

 of native Sago is deservedly receiving increased attention in 

 the Straits. The trees prefer rich swampy ground and be- 

 come productive in about six years after planting from seed. 

 When grown on other than swampy land the seed seldom 

 matures. The tree can be increased from seed or from suckers 

 or off-shoots, but when the latter process is adopted a large 

 percentage generally fail to grow. 



PATCHOULI {Pogostemon patchouli). — Plants of Patchouli 

 have been in demand for experimental planting, and a good 

 number have been supplied. Picked leaves are now selling 

 at $17 per picul. The plants grow freely with but little 



