290 



" work done, never mind the quality. The same thing happened at the 

 " watchmaker's. I did my work too well, I was told, and they could 



not afford to keep me." 



' So I packed up my things and made tracks for a sanatorium up 

 • in the mountains, 15 miles from S. D., lived in a tent, roamed about'in 

 " old rags and bathed in the sun and in the river, feeding on milk, fruit 

 ''and self-baked bread. Had a grand time for a few days, and came 



back with a tanned skin and a determination to do something under 

 " the open sky and not to return to a stuffy workshop. I have taken 

 "up a planting job again, this time on a strawberry and loganberry 

 " ranch. 



" I am feeling very well. The climate here is fine, the cool nights 

 " seem to brace me up, sleeping as I do with my windows opened. I 

 " am working like a nigger and am very tired after the days' work ; yet 

 " I find I have put on 3 lb. in weight. Thus, I have gained something 

 " after all, and am therefore actually getting on. If my purse would 

 " only put on weight also ! " 



1 shall stop here as I am afraid I have already trespassed too 

 much on your good will. As you see, our friend has a pretty fund of 

 philosophy to draw upon ; that hard work and a keen brain should 

 pull him through ; don't you think ? 



I am Dear Sir, Yours Faithfully, 



E. Mathiev. 



FRUITING OF SCIADOPITYS VERTICILLATA. 



Last year among a collection of conifers obtained from Japan for 

 the Botanic Gardens, Singapore was a pot plant of the umbrella pine, 

 Seiadopitys vertieiUata. It was about two feet tall, and of very good 

 shape. Rather to the surprise of all it produced a perfectly fertile cone 

 from which were obtained four seeds which on being planted germinated 

 and are now being cultivated. The plant itself perished soon after. 

 It seems probable that it was a marcot or cutting and not a seedling. 

 It is very unusual for any of these Japanese conifers to fruit here, and 

 still less to produce fertile seed. 



At about the same time a Cryptomeria Japanica produced a cone, 

 but this was barren, and produced no seed, Cupressus funebris, Biota 

 orientalis and other conifers long cultivated and planted out in the 

 gardens have never vet produced flowers. 



H. N. Ridley. 



INTERNATIONAL RUBBER EXHIBITION. 



Exhibition Offices, 22 nd May 1008. 



Kindly allow me to impress upon Exhibitors the necessity of 

 despatching all Exhibits so that they will reach London in good time, 

 as we wish everything to be ready for the Press View on Saturday 

 12th September, 



