284 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [Oct. 1, 1898. 
Pi-oteoted by nets, just as were the Strawberries; 
and it was affirmed it is difeoult to preserve the 
Brasaicas from the voracious appetities of the wood- 
pigeon. Mr. Christy has for many years been a 
zealoua Fe'low of the Linnean Society, he is also 
the head of a large firm of vfholesale City druggist, and 
one department of his gardtn indicates th>it his 
greatest interest lies in the cultivation and distribu- 
tion of ecouoniic plants. There is a good collection 
of these iuterestii)g plants, which his special know- 
ledge of the value of drugs has led him to acquire. 
Mr. Chiisty diaposes of the plants commercinlly over 
the whole world. He musl have a wide correspon- 
dence, for as we pass along the house, this ulant 
is described as having besn sent from the West 
Indie'i, that from Cjueen.-land, the o'her from Columbia 
or Japan, others from east and west Africa, and soon. 
TIIOPICAL PLANTS. 
In this way Mr. Christy acquires plants without 
names, bat with wonderful de.scriptions. They fre- 
quently turn out to be unimportant, no doubt, but now 
and !igain quite a rew plant is flowered. Thus we were 
shown a ncv/ ornamental Begonia, several important 
Bubber-p!aats, and other species that may turn out to 
be valuable. But there is no doubt in respect of Euch 
well-known plants as the Coffeas, Vanillas, Cocas 
(Brythroxylon Coca, and Theobroma Coca), which we 
noticed in some quantity, nor as to ihe Ginger (Zingi- 
ber officinale), the Pepper (Piper nigrum), the Arrow- 
root, &c. Piper nigrum produces the Pepper of 
comiierce, though there are many other sorts of Pepper 
that are obtained from other genera. All Pepper-corns 
are black, and the white form is obtained by fermenting 
the Rued:5. Black Pepper has always the best flavour. 
The Nutmeg-tree too, is here. It is Myristica 
moschata, or officinalis, and grows to 25 or 30 feet in 
height, being cultivated extensively in the Bauda Isles, 
Sumatra, Java, and the Mollucca Isles. There is also 
a large Camphor tree 9 feet high. Close to the plants 
which furnish all these tasteful articles was the deadly 
poisonous Strychnos (S nux vomica), a member of the 
Logauiaceous group, almost all of which are more or 
less poisonous. The Strychnos is a native of India, 
grows to a moderate size, and its fruits somewhat 
resemble Oranges. Besides being a deadly poison, Nux 
vomica is also a valuable drug. There were many 
varieties of the Strophanthus that yield the heart tonic. 
Next we notice the Mahogany-tree (Swietenia Maho- 
gaui), but there are many kinds of Mahogany from 
various countries, and obtained from different species 
of trees. Passing a species of Hibiscus in bloom in the 
stove, Mr. Christy observed that by a new process, yet 
in an experimental stage, it may be possible to utilise 
the full length of the fibre contained in this plant. 
We next notice the Cassia in bloom, the origin of 
the schoolboy's medicine — "senna" It is a yellow- 
flowered leguminous plant, of quite ornamental appear- 
ance. One species, C. occidentalis, of the Indies fur- 
nishes a Coffee in use by the negroes. Next is the 
Guaiacum officinale, which yields the Gum 
Guaiaoum of commerce, and a very heavy wood 
also ; Eucalyptus in several species ; and the 
Cinnamon (Citinamomum zeylanicom). This Laura- 
ceous plant furnishes the best Cinnamon, and is culti- 
vated extensively for the purpose in ('eylon. (^ecropia 
peltata, the Trumpet-tree of the West Indies and 
tropical America, said Mr. Christy, will supersede 
the Bamboo for many purposes ; its hollow, light 
wood grows very quickly. A friend sent the plants 
from Columbia, advising that they be planted out- 
of-doors, stating that in that country the tie? grows 
to a height of 60 feet. Passiflora edulis, and many 
other economically interesting plants we saw, but 
must refrain from enumerating them. As we looked 
at a plant of Ilex paraguayensis, Mr. Christy sur- 
prised us by remarking that it is in great demand, 
and that even in England there are thousands of 
people now taking the Paraguay Tea as a beverage. 
We tasted it, a long time ago, but our memory of 
the liquid is still vivid, and we have no intention 
of repeating the experience. On the roof of one of 
the houses were Cissus discolor and C. albonitens, 
the latter with aerial roots 8 feet long. A variety 
of purple-leaved Coleus wtu noteworthy too, the 
leaves being larger in all respects than ia ubuai. 
Near to the southern entrance to the regideuce 
ii a very old plant of Wistaria sinensis. It ha« been 
slung across to a variegated Holly-tree, and now 
covers the top of thi-i. An iron chain from one to 
the other has become embedded at either end, 
through the growth made by the Wistaria and 
the Holly. 
Before tnking leive of Mr. Christy, our attention 
was drawn lo a Wardiau-case, then being fiJhsd with 
young rubber plants (Castilloa elaslica) for exporU- 
lio The plants wore dibbled inio a compost in 
rows, and a flat lath placed over l he (iurface between 
each. Then two laths were placed longitudinally 
along the sides of the case, and over the ends of 
those betwe-n the rows, thus secnriug the soil and 
plants from becoming looieaed—dnrdftu m' Cluouiilt. 
I'LANTING IN THK STHAITS. 
(Extract from Report on the State of Pahang for 
the Months of June and July, 1898.) 
British Residency. Pahang. 81»t July, 1898. 
In company with Mr. Owen, tbe Supcrint«ndent 
of Ulu Pahang, I travelled over the whole length 
of the Trunk Road during July, and made the 
selection of the reserves which I think will be 
needed in the future in the event of applicationa 
being male for large areas for planting. TIrt aapect 
which the district presents ia one of ever increaeiug 
prosperity and activity, in very parked contrast to 
Its condition a very few years ago. Land is beinjj 
eagerly taken np all along the length of the Trunk 
Road, and the coffee and other plantations look ex- 
ceedingly prosperous. The number of foreign Malaya 
now settled nermanenlly In the district is very con- 
siderable, ana tbe price of land u still rising. 
^ 
KuiiBER IN Mi;xico.— A Colombo merchant 
sends us the following extract from a letter be 
lias received : — 
Tepic, Mexico, 2Sth July.—" As to rubber there is 
only one kind known here, and we have not found 
out for sure, the botanical name of the tree. We 
believe it to be ' Siphouia Elastica." The tree begins 
to yield after 5 to 7 years, 6 to 8 years 10 pounds, 
if properly treated, and soil and climate agree. Up 
to now there are only wild growing tiees; we only 
began lo plant some 3 or 4 years ago. The seed 
we sow in nursery beds, covered about 3 to 4 inches 
distance about 4 inches, when about 6 inches high every 
second plant is transplanted to 8 inches distance. 
Later on, when plants begin to develop they are left 
at about 16 inches distance. At the begining deep 
shade is necessary ; we lessen shade gradually till 
plants, at a height of about 2 feet are left in the 
full sun. This is to make them hard. The soil has 
to be worked before about 2 feet deep, bo that the 
roots get not hurt when you take out the plants. If 
the soil is not moist, in the beginning a light daily 
irrigation is necessary, but if kept too moist the seeds 
will rot. We have found out that therefore it is 
more convenient to sow with irrigation, because yon 
have in baud the degree of moisture. Later on, in 
order to harden the plants, and make the roots go 
deep, a weekly irrigation will be sufficient, but of 
course this depends entirely on local circumstances 
and the look of the plants will tell. You plant in 
more or less deep shade, at a distance which will 
depend ou tbe shade trees, and on land with natural 
moistness, (or which is to be irrigated). Tee tree 
also grows on pretty dry land, but you get consider- 
ably less rubber out of them. Some people talk 
here about 15 to 20 pounds of mbber to a tree, but 
we will not assure this. We get out quite a lot of 
rubber every year, but do not know the exact num- 
ber of trees. The time for seed is the June." 
The "Siphonia Elastica" is nothing more nor 
les.s than Para rubber ; but they have much to 
learn in Mexico, as in so many other places, 
about rubber. 
