245 
all  arranored  on  one  side.  Though  the  flowers  are  the  smallest  of 
any  in  the  genus,  only  j inch  long  their  abundance  makes  this  a 
very  charming  plant.  It  is  easily  grown  and  flowers  often.  The 
plant  itself  however  appears  to  be  comparatively  short  lived. 
Tv.  soccinea,  Lour,  is  a stout  plant,  but  appears  here  at  least  to 
be  a much  shorter  and  more  compact  plant  than  R.  moschifera  or 
7tiainfrayi,  however  it  runs  to  12  feet  or  even  more  in  length.  It  is 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  in  the  genus.  The  panicles  are  large  and 
much  branched  and  bear  innumerable  deep  scarlet  flowers  mottled 
with  darker  colour,  they  are  about  2 inches  across  with  the  lower 
sepals  broader  oblong  spathulate.  It  does  well  in  the  Straits  and 
verv  fine  spravs  may  be  often  seen  at  our  Flower  shows. 
R.  storiei,  Rchb.  f.  is  the  finest  species  in  the  genus.  It  has 
much  the  habit  of  R cocci?iea,  a stout  plant  with  rather  broad  dark 
green  leaves.  'The  panicle  is  often  very  large,  one  plant  about  6 
feet  tall  had  an  inflorescence  of  700  flowers.  It  was  flowered  by 
Mr.  S r.  W B.  Dow.\,  in  Singapore  in  June  1903,  and  was  certainly 
a magnificent  sight.  A [)lant  in  the  Botanic  Gardens  though  only 
about  4 feet  tall  flowered  at  every  one  of  the  upper  joints.  But  I 
have  seen  plants  grow  for  a long  time  before  they  showed  any 
signs  of  flowering,  although  grown  in  full  sun.  It  is  better  cer- 
taitdy  that  the  plant  should  not  be  allowed  to  flower  till  it  is  robust, 
as  the  flower  sprays  are  usually  small  and  it  is  a considerable  strain 
on  the  plant.  It  is  a native  of  the  Philippines  and  is  said  to  be 
abundant  there. 
R.  imschootiana^  Rolfe.  is  a short  plant  with  the  habit  rather  of 
a \'anda,  and  flowers  like  those  of  Storiei,  but  smaller  and  fewer. 
It  is  rather  too  small  to  grow  on  posts  like  the  other  species,  and 
pot  culture  seems  to  suit  it  best.  Imported  plants  were  flowered 
in  the  Botanic  Gardens  last  year  but  this  climate  is  probably  too 
wet  for  it,  as  it  does  not  seem  to  thrive. 
FENCING  OF  MAIN  TRUNK  LINE  FEDERATED 
MALAY  STATES  RAILWAYS. 
I he  f(. flowing  correspondence  is  published  at  the  request  of  the 
Resident  General,  P"ederated  Malay  States. 
Rf.sident  General’s  Office, 
Se/a7igor  Malay  Peninsula, 
nth  June,  rgoj. 
Sir, — I he  question  of  fencing  the  Government  Railway  I.ine 
from  Brai  to  Sereniban,  some  290  miles,  is  engaging  the  attention 
of  the  Government  of  the  Federated  Malay  States  and  is  one  in- 
vajlving  large  expenditure. 
2.  I shall  be  greatly  obliged  for  any  suggestions  you  can  kindly 
offer  in  the  direction  of  utilizing  some"  suitable  plant  or  shrub  for 
