log 



The total export of plants and seeds this year was : — 



Economic Plants ... ... ... 18,085 



Ornamental Plants ... ... 6,744 =24,829 



Economic Plant Seeds ... ... 525,310 



Ornamental Plant Seeds (sold and exchanged) 558 Packets. 



This export entailed a very large amount of labour and correspon- 

 dence. An extra seed boy to collect seed was employed, and a 

 larger number of men than usual were required to gather the large 

 crop of rubber seeds. When the Gutta Percha trees were fruiting, 

 the fruit bats attacked the fruit in such numbers that it was with 

 difficulty that any of the crop was saved at all. The lower part of 

 the best tree was covered with cloth and nets, lights were put in the 

 tree and a Tamil Batcatcher employed. 



Experimental Rubber Tapping. 



During the absence of the Director, Mr. Fox the Superintendent 

 from Penang Gardens carried on the researches as to growth and 

 returns of the Rubber trees, though for the whole nine months he 

 was required to do the whole work of the two Gardens single- 

 handed. The records were carefully kept, and the report will be 

 shortly completed. The rubber prepared during the experiments 

 was sold locally and fetched $3,194.32. Part of the money obtained 

 by the sale of the rubber was utilized in installing a water supply 

 to the Botanic Gardens, which has long been needed, and which 

 was otherwise unprocurable. This installation cost five thousand 

 dollars. 



Summary. 



Considering that the Staff was this year reduced by the Director's 

 absence for over eight months to Mr. Fox assisted by the Clerk 

 Mr. J. S. ISAAC, the amount of work executed was very great. 

 The Gardens were kept in good order and many improvements 

 made, the export of seeds and plants and correspondence exception- 

 ally large, and a considerable amount of experimental research 

 carried on, and the "Agricultural Bulletin" published monthly, 

 all this work could not have been effected but by great energy and 

 industry on the part of the Assistant and of the Clerk. 



H. N. RIDLEY, 



Director of Gardens, Straits Settlements. 



Penang. 



Staff. 



1. The Gardens were in charge of the Collector of Land Revenue 

 with the assistance of MOHAMED Haniff, Garden Overseer, up to 

 March 26th, when Mr. Fox (Superintendent) returned from leave. 

 Mr. Fox only remained up to April 23rd, when he proceeded to 

 Singapore to act for the Director of Gardens, and was replaced on 



