AGRICULTURAL  BULLETIN 
OF  THE 
STRAITS 
AND 
FEDERATED  M A L A STATES. 
No.  2.]  FEBRUARY,  1903.  [Vol.  II. 
BRUCEA  SUMATRANA. 
Plate  II. 
For  this  month  we  give  a figure  from  a photograph  by  Mr. 
Machado,  of  Brucea  Sumatrana  grown  in  the  Botanic  Gardens  at 
Singapore  showing  its  habit.  An  account  of  the  plant  was  pub- 
lished in  Vol.  I,  No.  9,  p.  342.  A large  number  of  plants  raised 
from  seed  were  planted  in  the  Gardens  last  year  and  have  grown 
remarkably  well  and  steadily,  fruiting  in  six  months  from  the  seed. 
It  seems  to  grow  best  in  soil  that  is  not  too  wet,  but  does  not 
otherwise  appear  to  be  particular  so  long  as  the  weeds  are  kept 
from  getting  over  its  head.  No  manure  was  given  to  the  plants 
though  it  is  probable  that  manuring  would  stimulate  its  growth 
and  make  it  fruit  even  faster. 
Ten  pounds  weight  of  seed  were  sent  to  Messrs.  BURROUGHES 
and  Welcome  last  year,  for  experiment  and  investigation.  These 
seeds  were  obtained  from  Pahang  where  the  plant  is  abundant  in 
a wild  state.  No  report  of  the  result  of  their  in vestigations  has 
yet  been  received.  In  the  meantime,  however,  several  letters  from 
persons  in  India  and  elsewhere  have  been  received  speaking  very 
highly  of  the  effects  of  the  drug.  Like  most  or  all  other  plants  it 
has  an  enemy,  and  this  is  4he  caterpillar  of  the  dark  coloured 
DeatlPs  head  Moth,  Acherontia  Lachesis.  The  caterpillar  is  three 
inches  long  when  full  grown  and  very  stout,  of  a bright  apple 
green  colour,  with  six  sloping  yellow  stripes  on  each  side  contin- 
ued up  to  the  back  but  not  meeting,  along  each  yellow  stiipe  is 
a light  blue  one,  the  spiracles  are  yellow,  the  back  dotted  finely 
with  black,  and  on  its  tail  there  is  a yellow  rough  horn  J inch  long. 
I he  caterpillars  are  very  voracious  and  soon  strip  a plant  of  its 
leaves,  but  are  easily  seen  and  can  be  collected.  They  were  full 
grown  in  November,  and  hatched  out  in  December,  but  I found 
caterpillars  also  in  that  month.  The  chrysalis  is  placed  underground. 
The  moth  is  four  inches  across  the  upper  wings  and  thorax  of  a 
dark  grey  colour  marbled  with  black  and  yellow  ocre  lines  with  a 
small  yellow  spot  in  the  centre  of  each  wing;  underwings  yellow 
with  two  curved  blackish  bars  near  the  edge;  body  yellow  with 
transverse  black  rings  and  a blue  central  line.  The  moth  comes 
