37 2 



The tree is liable to attacks of the caterpillar of the large Atlas 

 moth, Attacus Atlas and also to those of a species of Pa rasa, one 

 of the nettle grubs, a pale bluish white caterpillar armed with 

 short poisonous stinging thorns. Hand picking is the only method 

 of getting rid of these pests. 



The sour-sop, Anona muricata, Durian Blanda is a rather larger 

 shrub or small tree. The fruit attains a large size about 2 ifes. 

 weight dark green and obversely pear shaped, covered with short 

 soft processes. The pulp is more abundant than in the Sweet-sop 

 fibrous and very juicy, with a pleasant acid taste. It can be eaten 

 fresh, but is probably best know n in the form of sour-sop ice, the 

 juice being squeezed out to form the flavouring of the cream. It 

 also makes an excellent pudding with whipped cream or may be 

 used for flavouring blanc-mange or corn-flour. 



The bullock's heart, Anona reticulata, Bua S'ri Kaya, is perhaps 

 the best of the Anonas grown here. The tree resembles those of 

 the other species, but the fruit is much larger than the sweet-sop 

 though smaller than the sour-sop. Its surface is smoother than 

 either and when ripe is reddish in colour. The flesh is white and 

 rather firmer than that of the sweet-sop, and much more abundant, 

 with a very delicate flavour. The tree does not do well in Singa- 

 pore for some reason, but thrives well in Malacca where very ex- 

 cellent fruit can be obtained. It is not as often cultivated as either 

 of the other two, but is really the best eating fruit of the order. 



The Cherimoyer, Anona cherimolia , is often asked for by gar- 

 deners here. It has the reputation of being far the finest of all 

 Anonas. The tree has been in cultivation here several times, but 

 it thrives but ill and has never been known to fruit. I hear also 

 that in Java it has proved always a failure. 



Uvaria Ridleyi., King. 



A small shrub growing in sandy places in Pahang, and known to 

 the natives as "Ladak, " produces a small fruit with a sweet pulp 

 which is very pleasant. It is too small to be worth cultivating. 



NYMPHEACE/E. 



The seeds of the lotus, Nelumbium Lotus, the well known cul- 

 tivated plant are eaten as nuts by the Chinese and other natives 

 and are well worth eating. When ripe, they are peeled and eaten 

 raw. 



BlXINE^. 



This order contains several trees belonging to the. genus tlacour- 

 tia, which produce abundance of small but pleasant fruit, of these 

 the best is Flacourtia catapliracta, the Rukam. The tree attains 

 a height of about 20 feet with a spreading head. The stem is 

 armed with powerful branched thorns, the leaves small lanceolate 

 acute toothed 3 inches long. The flowers are small and yellowish 

 green. 'I he fruit is globular about half an inch long, with stigmas on 

 the top, of a dull reddish colour, containing a number of rather large 

 flat seeds. The fruit has somewhat of the flavour of a gooseberry 

 but it is peculiar in one respect, that even when quite ripe it is hard 



