August i, 1881.] 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
i7 
In the remainder of the British Colonies, as shown 
by the official reports that have been sent to the 
different Secretaries of State for the Colonies during 
the»past five years in response to a Colonial Office 
circular, the ii. formation collected, or available to the 
public, is tin agre and unreliable. One or two facts 
are painfully evident— that in the early days of colon- 
ization, the original forests were recklessly destroyed 
Mr. Van Vo 
for June 22 
"When I 
at the enor, 
Chinese emi 
after a peri 
for virgin p 
the majesti< 
use I'ul trees* 
now the same state of 
respect a new regime has 
behind the times in this 
lay here. On this subject 
1 the Gardener's Chronicle. 
ts Settlements 1 wondered 
of ugly und W< rth- 
e lover of Nature, 
man also — a curse 
and to the prosaic matter-of- 
to m ighbouring plantations, as nests of weeds. 
The questions and answers appended to Major 
McNair's report may not be uninteresting, and are 
worth a wider publicity than they are likely to get 
through the Government Gazette, ane they are con- 
sequently reproduced here in full. About the Return 
" A," I have more to say further on : — 
Q.—l. What are the kinds of timber trees produced 
in tliu country, and to what uses are they generally 
applied? (State the botanical name where kuo.n.) 
,1.- Vide Return A. 
Q. — II. Are forests or lands producing the trees 
owned by the Government or by private persons ? 
A. — By the Government chiefly, excepting • a few 
estates 111 Selangor and several thousand acres of forest 
land in Sungei Ujong, which have been given for 
collce, cocoa, and tapioca planting. 
g. — III. What is the approximate extent of timber- 
producing forests or lauds at the present time? 
A. — In Singapore, 22,000 acre? ; in Penang and 
Province Welle.-ley, 130,000 acres; in Malacca, 45,000 
acres; in Perak, about 6,000 square miles; in Selangor, 
1,720 square miles; and in Sungei Ujong 300 to 400 
square miles. 
Q.—IV. Is this area increasing or diminishing? 
A. — diminishing. 
y. — V. If diminishing, from what cause? 
A.— lu the Straits Settlements, from the sale of land 
and extension of cultivation, and too often from 
illicit felling and charcoal burning. In the Native 
States, coffee plautors and other agriculturists are 
making enquiries about the lands, and, as these are 
suitable for various cultivations, it may be expected 
th.u much forest will be destroyed in succeeding 
years. 
VI. Are any steps taken for the prevention 
of waste or for replanting any ana which bus been 
cleared ? 
A . — The Government has one Forest Ranger at 
Singapore and two at Peuang, and frequently meu 
are brought before the Police and punished fur felling 
trcc< on Government land, but no steps are taken to 
replant any area, which has been cleared, with fresh 
tree*. In Perak, no sued steps can possibly be effici- 
ently taken iu the present, state of the country. 
Charcoal burners lor the tin minors destroy large 
quantities of the most valuable timber; an attempt 
has been made to prevent this, but it created much 
dissatisfaction and was very ineffective. Abundance of 
young trees of all kinds spring up where shelter from 
the rays of tho sun is secured, so that felling for 
charcoal or timber does not altogether destroy the for- 
ests as coffee planting and rice cultivation do. There 
are forest reserves declared at Kuala Lumpur, the 
mining and populous centre of Selangor. Persona 
clearing and felling jungle in Sangei Ujong without a 
permit are liable to be severely punished. No steps 
have yet been taken to replant. 
Q. — VII. . What is the quantity of timber wh ; ch 
might fairly be cut every year without permanent 
injury to the forests ? 
A. — The Government can spare no more in either 
of the Settlements. At Singapore a reserve is kept 
rouud the principal hills for climatic purposes, ami at 
Penang, Province Wellesley and Malacca there are also 
belts reserved for the same purpose, but it is feared 
that trees are often felled by Chinese, for wane of 
a large staff for supervision. It is not kuown what 
quantity might be cut iu the protected Native Slates. 
Q. — VIII. What is the quantity actually cut evwey 
year ? 
A. — It is impossible to say. The estimated export 
of Mangrovo from Perak for firewood for the supply 
of the island of Penang, where it is used in huge 
quantities for the sugar manufactories, is ten juntos 
per diem carrying 7,000 billets each, of the va] e of 
$5 per 1,000 Timber for house building iu I'en.oig 
is also supplied chiefly from Perak and the Bindings. 
The Kriiin river sends a large but unknown quantity. 
Planks of Seraya are exported from Lukut in Selangor. 
Q. — IX. What is tho proportion for home consump- 
tion and for export ? 
A. — Iu the Straits Settlements mangrove is used for 
firew od ; there is an abundant supply, and the ha- k 
IS exported to a limited extent. Bat all timbers for 
building purposes are imported into the Settlement 1 *. 
Iu the Native States very little is used for home con- 
sumption, and then only for building purposes, charcoal 
burning for tin smelting and firewood. 
Q. — X. What have been tho annual export? of each 
kind of timber during the last ten years ; stating the 
proportions to each country, and the value of such 
exports ? 
A. — No exports during the last teu years have been 
made from the Straits Settlements, and none from 
Sungei Ujoug. In Perak and Selangor there are no 
statistics from which accurate information couhl l>e 
supplied. 
Q.— XI. What are the reasous for, or causes of, 
the increase or diminution of quantity or value iu 
the exports ? 
A. — The exports from Perak are certainly increas- 
ing on account of the greater demand from Penang, 
and the peaceful state of the country, which permits 
Chinese sawyers and others to reside in security ami 
y. — XII. (If it be so), what are the causes 'file 
small exportation in comparison with the capability 
A. — In Perak, want of capita), and the so recent 
pacification of tho country. A very valuable and re- 
munerative trade might be established, as the numer- 
ous rivers present facilii es for exporting the timber, 
aud the prices at which it could be worked, or con- 
tracted for, aro very moderate indeed. 
In Selangor the population is small and coolie labour 
is dear, in comparison with neighbouring Obuntrles, 
such as .lava, India aud China, 
Q, — XIII. Have any observations beeu made, or 
conclusions arrived at, as to the climatic intlin n r»f 
forests, or the effect of tli ir clearance on the rail ill, 
floods, &c? 
A. — It is found at Singapore that although tho 
Crown lands have Ihicii greatly denudoil of treis, there 
has been no marked dinrinutibu 111 tho rainfall. No 
observations have bc< 11 made as yet in the .Native 
