420 



Malacca, but has failed to grow at all in Singapore. Aegle marm- 

 elos fruits there constantly but fails here. The Cola-nut (Cola vera) 

 has flowered in the Botanic Gardens, but has grown poorly and 

 never fruited. Trees in Johore Bahru and Batu Pahat, have flowered 

 and fruited heavily. Though the soil appears similar and there 

 does not seem to be any climatic difference, I have never heard of 

 its being successful in any other part of the Peninsula. 



{To be continued) 



HANDY METHOD OF MEASURING 

 GIRTH OP TREES. 



Those who have to spend time in taking measurements of the 

 girth of rubber and other trees will find the following method con- 

 siderably shorten their labours. 



I have found the prepared tracing paper or cloth used in plan 

 making very good for this purpose. 



Begin the measurement a little way from the end of the tape and 

 through the one inch line put a strong large drawing pin folding the 

 rest of the tape over and if necessary stitching it to keep the fiat 

 head of the drawing pin in place. 



The measuring tape is now ready for use and if the girth of trees 

 are to be measured the procedure is as follows :— 



the drawing p.n into the tape where L 

 a clean round hole in the tape the length of which can either be 

 recorded at the time or else if an average is required the tape can 

 be taken home and the number of holes at different distances 

 recorded. 



The smallness of the diameter of the pin, about i/40th of an inch 

 reduces the possibility of two measurements falling into one hole 

 to a minimum I have found that even when many hundred readings 

 are taken all the holes can be deciphered. 



J. B. CARRUTHERS. 



THE NEW PATENT DUCHEMIN FIBRE 

 MACHINES. 



From time to time attention is directed to the great p^ibilit^ 

 f our fibre yielding plants such as Ramie, Mauritius Hemf^J*** 

 ine-apple, Bananas etc.. the great drawback hitherto experienc 



