271 



5. — Good and clean fresh water in sufficient quantity and sun 



over 35 for bleaching purpose. 



6. — No cyclones or typhoons to spoil the leaves in the fields. 



7. — Cheap firewood and good water-power to run the engines. 



8. — Suitable climate for the development of the plants. 



9. — Well-made machines with high precision and suitably 



erected. 



All these points united constitute, what I call, favourable circum- 

 stances and I believe they all exist in the Straits and Federated 

 Malay States in a greater degree than elsewhere. 



A risk, as long the prices on the Sisal standard in London rule 

 higher than £12 per ton, actually £37 and have never been under 

 £16, with an average for the last fifteen years of £24, does not exist 

 as all the fibre plants grow here very rapidly, are free from any 

 disease, never injured by insect (even cattle do not like most of 

 them) and can stand very wet and very dry long seasons without 

 suffering. 



Of course, it would be best to induce the natives to take up the 

 cultivation of fibrous plants and to assist them by advances and 

 seedlings, etc. etc.; but a factory must have its own plantations, in 

 order to remain independent of planters, as regards price for the 

 raw material and the regular supply to run the engines. 



Should %ou like to have any further information regarding this 

 for the Straits very promising industry and produce, I am at your 

 disposal. 



Your very obedient servant, 



C. J. SCHIRMER. 



FUNGUS ON PARA RUBBER LEAVES. 



Specimens of leaves of the Para rubber seedlings attacked by the 

 leaf-fungus mentioned in Bulletin 1903, p. 68, were lately sent to 

 the Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, and Mr. G. MASSEE 

 reports that " the pale blotches on the leaves are caused by some 

 species of Cercospora, but the absence of fruit prevents specific 

 identification. The leaves have been placed under conditions fa- 

 vourable to the growth of the parasite which, however, appears to 

 have been killed outright." 



There are about 200 kinds of Cercospora known, infecting the 

 leaves of various herbs, shrubs and trees. Treatment of the plants 

 with Bordeaux mixture is said, in some cases, to have produced 

 excellent effects, but the infected leaves should be also removed, as 

 well as all dead ones on the ground, and the ground turned over if 

 possible. 



