24 



THE MOSQUITO PLANT, 



Oct mum viride. 



The mosquito plant has now fully developed in the Botanic 

 Gardens in Singapore and produced its flowers. It attained the 

 height of about live feet but hardly branched, being much taller 

 than the other species of Ocimum cultivated here. The leaves are 

 less aromatic but have a pungent taste, the flowers are small 

 greenish white and inconspicuous. Various experiments were tried 

 with it, three plants in a pot were kept in the verandah and the 

 behaviour of the mosquitoes with respect to it observed. Large 

 sprays of the plants were put in water, also in the verandah. In 

 neither of these circumstances had it any perceptible effect on the 

 insects. They were neither attracted nor repelled, and were just 

 as annoying when the plant was there as when it was not. Mr. 

 KLOSS besides trying all those experiments as well, nibbed a long 

 chair all over with the leaves of the plant to see if that would keep 

 the pest away. It had no more result than the other experiments. 

 The mosquitoes in fact quite ignored the mosquito plant and took 

 no no: ice of it at ail. 



A writer in the Madras Mail (Indian planting and Gardening 

 November 7 p. 304) rubbed his face and hands with the juice of the 

 leaves. This he found effectually kept the mosquitoes off, but he 

 found next day that he had developed a rash which increased to 

 fair sized blisters, and eventually for five days his face and hands 

 were as if badly scalded, and he came to the conclusion that the 

 evil was preferable to the remedy. 



It thus appears that here at least the Ocimum viride must be 

 relegated to the increasing class of plants, like Castor oil (Ricinus) 

 which have obtained a reputation for killing or driving off mosqui- 

 toes, which they do not deserve. 



Editor. 



Rainfall for December 1903 :— 



The Fort ... ... Ins. 3-8 1 



The Government Mill ... ,, 5-63 



Pulo Jerajak ... ... 2-50 



Balek Pulo ... ... 3-99 



The Prison ... ... ,, 4-31 



Lumut ... ... ,, 9-02 



Pangkor ... ... ,, 9-88 



Bruas ... ... ,, 10-02 



M. E. SCRIVEN, 

 Assistant Surgeon\ 



Penang t 15th January, J 904. 



