AGRICULTURIST, 
Of section (I), teak, as stated elsewhere, is to _ atf 
intents and purposes a failure here. Adinanclra might 
be used as an accessory in keeping out lalang, but 
though exceedingly common, is difficult to propagate 
artificially. Dyera in certain spots is very common 
and is well deserving of encouragement on account 
of the rubber it produces. It gives little shade, being 
a tall straight tree, but not only can it grow through 
the grass, but in one spot I found plants which had 
at some time been under fire, throwing up tide shoots, 
showing that the plant can stand burning. The re- 
maining trees ana bushes in this section call for no 
comment. 
Section (II).— Trees and shrubs which grow through 
lalang aud kill it : — 
Aruotto (Bixa orellana). 
Croton-oil (Croton Tiyliwri), 
Flowering Cassia (Cassia jlorida). 
Tembusu (Fagroza peregrina). 
Tuba (fierris dliptica). 
Mauritius Hemp (Fourcroya gigantea). 
Of these, the Aruotto reproduces itself very rapidly 
and forms a low dense bush, under which nothing- 
can grow. Croton seems likely to do well, but has 
not yet had a fair trial. Cassis Jlorida is very suc- 
cessful, and eventually forms a fairly large tree. 
Tupa (Dems scandens) is stated to destroy lalang if 
planted among it, but I have nad no opportunity of 
veiifying it. Fourcroya gigantea will also grow among 
arid destroy the lalang to a certaiu extent. Fagraa 
peregrina, as mentioned previously, is also a success. 
Besides which, I hope to try the purple Jatropha and 
some species of Eryth-ina. 
Of course, it will be understood that in any case 
the process will be a slow one, and it will be a long 
time before the injury caused by the early destruc- 
tion of the forests throughout the Colony is healed, 
but we may hope that as years go on it may be 
found possible to work more rapidly. 
H. N. Ridley, 
Director of Gardens and Forests, S.S. 
Annual Report on the Forests oe Penang for 
the Year 1888. 
I. — Forest Reserves. 
1. No addition has been made to the reserved forests 
during the year, but the areas demarcated in previous 
years have been surveyed, aad prove to be of greater 
extent than the original estimate by 1,321 acres. 
2. The total area under protection in the Island of 
Penang is 10,226 acres or a little less than 16 squares 
miles ; the total area, of the Island being 107 square 
miles. 
3. The grea'er portion of these forests are on the 
hill ranges at altitudes varying from 800 it. to 2,750 ft. 
and although containing many excellent kinds of 
timber, would not at present pay for working ; con- 
sequently the duties of the Department are for the 
present mainly protective. 
4. During the early part of the year, these duties 
were not satisfactorily performed, but the appointment 
of Mr. I. Abrams to the post of Sergeant of Forest 
Guards in June resulted in a decidel improvement. 
5. Twenty-four persons were prosecuted for forest 
offences during the year, mainly for illicit cutting of 
timber, sixteen of whom were convicted, and eight dis- 
charged. The total amount of fines inflicted amounted 
to $$103, which, with the exception of $5, were all 
paid. 
6. The boundaries have been kept clear at a cost 
of S12S-35. 
7. New quarters for tho Sergeant of Forest Guards 
have been erected, at a cost of S240, and alterations to 
the Assistant Superintendent's bungalow cost $329"32. 
8. A fire occurred in the village reserve at Kubang 
Ulu in January, which destroyed 10,000 young Maho- 
gany trees planted out the previous season. The origin 
of this fiie was not clearly ascertained, but from an 
examination of the spot immediately after, I am of 
opinion that it was owing to carelessness on the part of 
some perfon using the public foot-path at some dis- 
tance from the reserve. It is worthy of note in con- 
nection with this that a olear path, fourteen feet 
broad, was useless in arresting the progress of fire 
travelling through lalang grass, and it is doubtful 
whether double that width would have been of any 
use. 
9. The vacancies caused by this fire have been filled 
up to the extent of the remaining stock of young 
Mahogany plants in the Nursery, but judging from 
the progress made, both here and in Penang, this tree 
is Dot likely to be of great value in this Settlement. 
10. In accordance with instructions received from His 
Excellency the Governor, the Assistaut Superintendent 
visited the Diudings in January and July, with a view 
to obtaining information as to the condition of agri- 
culture, and to assist in settling approximately the tor- 
est areas to be reserved. Copies of the reports sub- 
mitted as the result of these visits are annexed. 
(Appendices B G D.) 
11. As this district supplies a largo proportion of the. 
timber used in Penang, and contaius the only large 
workable forests of the Colony at this end of the Settle- 
ment, no time should be lost in putting them under 
proper management. 
12. The total expenditure in connection with the 
maintenance of Forest Reserves is $1,690'36, as shown 
in statement of expenditure annexed. (Appendix A.) 
II. — Kubang Uhc Nursery. 
13. Little new work has been undertaken in this 
nursery, as it was hoped that a more suitable sita 
would have been acquired and laid out during the year, 
in accordance with the suggestion put forward in Inst 
annual report, but unfortunately the year closed with- 
out this being carried into effect. 
14. I would again point out the necessity of acquir- 
ing suitable land on which to test the value of new and, 
little cultivated vegetable products. 
15. Through the kindness of Thompson Low, 
Esquire, of Caledonia Estates, I am enabled to give the 
result of an analysis of twelve varieties of the sugar- 
canes refe- red to in last year's report as having been 
introduced from the Mauritius, (Appendix E.) 
16. Some of these promise to be in advance of any 
kind at present cultivated in this Settlement, but their 
real value cannot be estimated until they have been 
grown on better land than is at my command. 
17. A large number of Liberiau coffee plaDt? were 
raised from seeds ripened in Perak, some of which bave 
been planted in the Dindings. Plants were offered 
free of cost to the Malays and Achinese in the neigh- 
bourhood, but they did not avail themselves to the 
exteut that is to be desired. 
18. A few pepper plants put out in 1885 were bearing 
a good crop of fruit at the end of the year, but there 
is no necessity for experimenting with this, as its culti- 
vation is thoroughly established at Ara Kuda, from 
whence thousands of cuttings and plants are now sold 
to the Native States. 
19. One thousand eight hundred and twenty (1,820) 
trees for planting the road-sides in Province Wellesley 
have been supplied from this nursery during the 
year. 
ZZY. — Hill Nursery and Bungalow Garden. 
20. The special grant of $1,000 for the improvement 
of the Bungalow Garden admitted of much necessary 
work being done. The working of the nursery and 
garden together, instead of from separate votes as in 
previous years, is also an advantage. 
21. The top of Gun Hill has been cleared, levelled, 
and laid out as tastefully as the site would admit. A 
rustic summer-house, and a temporary plaut shed, have 
been erected, and the latter filled with plants requiring 
a lower temperature than is obtainable in other gardens. 
Most of the Cattleyas, Odontoglossums Rhododendrons 
&c, have been removed to this shed, as being not only 
cooler, but easier of access to persous occupying the 
bungalows. 
22. The " Round," near the entrance to the Convales- 
cent Bungalow, has been cut down six feet, and the 
area of the site enlarged with the soil removed, 
Grevillia rohusta and Juniperus virginiana have been 
planted around the outer edge, and this site is now 
available for tennis, &o. 
