AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN 



OF THE 



STRAITS 



AND 



FEDERATED NALAY STATES. 



No. 12.] DECEMBER, 1909. [Vol. IX 



BRAZIL-NUTS. 



The Brazil-nut {Bertholletia excelsa) was introduced 

 into the Singapore Botanic Gardens in the year 1881, 

 September 20th, from the Royal Gardens, Kew. Only 

 two plants were sent, and both are still in the Botanic 

 Gardens, Singapore. They must first have been kept 

 in the Upper Gardens, as the Economic Gardens were 

 not then established, but when Mr. Cantley obtained 

 what was then known as the military reserve in 1884, 

 the plants were transferred there with many other plants 

 of economic interest, including the Para rubber trees. 

 The trees grew steadily on a clay bank near 'what is 

 now the clerks' quarters, and flowered about 1901 for 

 the first time. The first fruits were produced in 1902, 

 and since then the trees have provided a quantity of 

 fruit steadily each year. The crop this year has been 

 much larger than in any previous year, and there were 

 over a hundred of the large woody capsules on the big- 

 gest tree. 



The biggest tree measures 65 feet tall, with a head 

 of foliage 30 feet through ; the girth at 3 feet from the 



