4 o 



The Sumatran plant is called Balam ; and is described by 

 the collector as a big tree about 90 to 100 feet tall. The fruits 

 very sweet and eatable, seed used for oil. The timber is very strong 

 and used for furniture by Chinese who cut it into planks. Seeds 

 are produced once a year or once in two years and are sold in the 

 markets at 3 dollars or 3.50 a picul. The tree grows very fast 

 in flat ground. 



Fruiting specimens of another closely allied plant was 

 obtained also in Singapore at Kranji many years ago with very 

 coriaceous leaves, almost obovate, when adult fewer nerves, but the 

 same reticulations as in the Betis. The fruit unripe is red woolly, 

 and the seed though much smaller being unripe resembles some- 

 what that of the Betis. 



The timber specimen sent by Mr. Stephens has a sapwood 

 4 inches thick, light fawn colour hard and compact. The heart 

 wood is dark brown, red brown in longitudinal section, rings 

 irregular and not very distinct, rays, very fine and close, transverse 

 bars as fine as the rays, very numerous and close, pores few and 

 small. It is a very heavy and hard wood and undoubtedly a first 

 class timber. 



More information and additional specimens are requir3d to 

 give a full account of this plant, which is evidently well worth 

 the attention of foresters. 



H. N. Ridley. 



ANNUAL REVIEW OF INDIA RUBBER MARKET 



DURING 1905. 



(By Messrs. S. Figgis & Co.) 



Plantation Rubber Grown in Ceylon and Malay States. 



We have reported upon this fine rubber, and urged its 

 cultivation for many years, and are glad to know that the cultiva- 

 tion of the Para " Hevea Braziliensis " has rapidly extended. 

 We estimate to-day about 45,000 acres planted and being planted 

 in Ceylon, and 50,000 acres in Malay, and no doubt further rapid 

 extension will go on as so many new companies are talked of. 

 The preparation of the rubber generally has been excellent, and 

 results most satisfactory. As the quantities increase, and need 

 more labour and increased space " to cure it," new ways of 

 preparing the rubber will be found. As a rule, we have found by 

 our long and wide experience that the manufacturers prefer either 

 large rolled sheet prepared on some Malay estates, or biscuits not 

 too thin and of nice colour, such as frequentlv come from Ceylon, 

 especially " Culloden." Pale clean crape in sheet seems also 

 liked. Do not pack in paper. 



