2L)2 
A somewhat  different  type  of  Acanthus^  A.  montanus,  a native 
of  Tropical  Africa  was  received  from  Kew  about  a year  and  a half 
ago,  and  rea^ily  took  to  the  soil  and  climate  of  Singapore.  It  is  a 
large  herb  with  light  green  stems  about  hve  feet  tall  and  runcinate 
leaves  about  8 inches  long  and  2 inches  across,  armed  with  prickles 
at  the  tips  of  the  lobes.  In  colour  they  are  deep  green  mottled 
with  lighter  colour,  with  a pale  greenish  white  midril).  The  flower 
spikes  attain  a length  of  about  18  inches  with  numerous  flowers 
sessile  with  a flat  spiny  green  bract  and  the  sepals  are  four,  two 
opposite  ones  large  flat  green  and  spiny,  and  two  side  ones  quite 
small. 
The  short  corolla  tube  ends  in  a broad  live  lobed  lip  an  inch  and 
a half  long  and  as  wide,  white  tinted  with  rose  colour,  over  which 
lie  the  four  large  stamens.  \ he  flowers  open  a lew  at  a time  on 
the  spike  so  that  the  plant  remains  long  in  bloom. 
As  a foliage  plant  with  its  mottled  thistle-like  leaves  it  is  worth 
cultivating,  and  the  large  pinkish  white  flowers  make  it  still  more 
attractive.  Its  general  habit  is  s ) distinct  from  anything  that  we 
have  in  cultivation  that  it  i^  well  worth  a place  in  shady  borders  of 
the  garden. 
It  is  easily  propagated  by  layers,  ami  is  of  rapid  growth,  when 
planted  in  good  soil  under  partial  shade. 
* Rainfall  for  August,  1903. 
d'he  Government  Hall 
Ins. 
^-51 
'The  Prison 
n 
6.51 
The  Fort 
,, 
4.84 
Balek  Pulau 
} j 
7.88 
Pulau  Jerejak 
• 5 
7.21 
Lumut 
11.30 
Pangkor 
M 
9-77 
Bruas 
,, 
9-34 
Butter  worth  T.  W. 
) J 
4-5^ 
Bukit  Mertajam 
V 
8.1 8 
Sungei  Bakap 
y ) 
8.47 
.M.  h.  SCKIN’EN. 
Prison  Observatory,  Penany. 
* 'The  Rainfall  for  August  as  com[)ared  with  previous  years  is 
unusually  low.  In  fact  the  amount  recorded  for  the  [>ast  8 months, 
hardiv  ('asts  up  to  50  inches  — 
'The  Meteorological  readings  for  remorloh  (Pahang)  were  la'ceived 
U)o  late  for  the  previous  Hulletin.  (Mr.  1'..MI':ric  gives  them; — 
Temperature  maximum  • . . 03 
Minimum  ...  ...  ...  70 
Range  . . ...  ...  23 
Total  Rainfall  ...  ...  2.38 
(jreatest  rainfall  in  24  hours  ...  1.04 
