8o8 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[June i, 1889, 
that there may have been a difference in quality. 
This, of course, we are unable to express an 
opinion upon : — 
LONDON CATALOGUES. COLOMBO CATALOGUES. 
March loth. 
.April 20th. 
Ganapalla 
sold. 
about. 
a. 
cts. 
d. 
18 c B.O.P. 
61 
18 c B O.P. 
33 
= 
6J 
21 c O.P. 
^ ] 
18 c O.P. 
41 
25 c O.P. 
65 j 
6| 
37 c P. 
5i 
50 c P. 
32 
,, 
2Uc B.P. 
42 c B.P. 
6il 
7if 
19^c B.P. 
44 
n 
C| 
18 c O.P. 
7 
30 c O.P. 
46 
9 
14 c P.S. 
5 
36 c P.S. 
33 
>7 
6i 
.32 c O.P. 
CJ 
26 c O.P. 
41 
8J 
22 c B.P.S. 
6 
35 c B.P. 
31 
6§ 
27 c P. 
7 
33 c P. 
38 
n 
14ic P. 
10 
19^c O.P. 
70 
)> 
1-1 
20 c O.P. 
7| 
19 c O.P. 
48 
J> 
9i 
28 c P. 
51 
16 c P. 
36 
n 
n 
! 73icB.P. 
7 
26 c B.P.S. 
38 
74 
'll it cannot be said that 
Lonach 
Kirklees 
Carfax 
Hatdowa 
Kew 
Naseby 
Harrington 
Gingranoya 
Anningkand 
Now thougii lo - - 
table supplies a complete justihcation for our le- 
niarks it is as near as we can get. It must be 
remembered that the London market was decidedly 
higher on March 15lli than it was last week, so 
there is no injustice in comparing prices M tjie 
same marks obtained in London mi March loth 
with those realized by them in Colombo at the 
last sale. It will be seen that there is a ilitter- 
ence in favour of Colombo of from J<1 to 2d 
per lb.— Local'* Times.” 
♦— 
government gardens at the 
STRAITS. 
Extracts fromBeport on Government Gardens for the 
year 1897, by the Superintendent of Government Gai- 
^Taeut Hill SiATioN.-Revenue -The revenue, 
collected for hill produce amounted to ^il,353-20. 
Cattle Heed.— No cattle were sold during the year 
'but I propose selling some of the calves at an early 
date The cows, with their calves, are kept at Max- 
well’s Hill, stronger calves— pending a sale— and pack- 
bulls at the Tea Gardens. At the latter place an 
outbreak of foot and mouth disease of a imld type 
occurred in August, through the bulls visiting laipiug. 
The rhef was at once disinfected, and a dressirg 
-applied by the Veterinary Surgeon cured the infected 
an?mals in three weeks. The herd at Maxwell s Hill 
has kept healthy, but a change of blood is '■"■geut'y 
neededfasthe calves, through being, too closely bred, 
are verV weedy ; and I am making enquiries as to the 
nrobable cost of importing a young Australian bull to 
Lplace th^ present Indian one. All the best cows 
"’^Taiping Gaeden.- This work was taken over by me, 
BBWell as collecting revenue for hill produce formerly 
colRcted by the Public Works Department, some 
Shs after my arrival. A nursery under formation 
was completed early in the year, and is now stocked 
with ornamental shrubs, shade trees and palms, mostly 
nbtnined from the Botanic Gardens at Penang and 
Sincanore Shade trees have been planted round the 
faki rCa; and since the arrival of Mr. Venning as 
Secretary to Government convict labour has been 
secured Tor clearing and remodelling the islands, 
niidcsr his dir6Ction. 
Kuala Kangsab Gaeden.— i?e»cnue The revenue 
earned amounted to $1,066-40, as follows ;— bruit, 
ft836*50 ; Milk and Sale of Cattle, |449*79 ; Coconuts, 
Fruits and Plants, $135-01 ; Fruit Trees and Seeds 
*244-10 Total, $1,665-40. The garden has been well 
maintained, and an extension of nine acres cleared 
and planted with nutmegs, lemons and coconuts. 
^yqellent crops of lemons and pomoloes were ob- 
tained. The latter crop was secured against the 
ravages of the pomoloe moth by covering the fruits 
with thin drill bags, which proved fairly successful. 
Much time has been occupied in nursery work to meet 
the demand for coconut and fruit trees. 
Para Rubbee (Aiei'fa hrasilie'sis). Many tiees have 
been tapped, and a report on the work submitted. The 
rubber obtained is not yet sufficiently smoked for 
sending home, but samples have been valued in Min- 
cing Lane at 2s 8d and 3s per pound, and considered 
equal to Brazilian produced rubber, ai d also worth 
Is per pound more than that usually sent home from 
the Straits. There has been a large demand for seeds, 
and about 35,000 have been supplied. How far this 
industry is deserving attention may be inferred from 
the following moderate estimate: — (Planted 14 feet + 14 
fee- = 225 trees to the acre.) 
m 
u 
of 
0 
e> ® <M 
® i. 05 — : 
.3 
Q. 
> 0^0 
<£ 
OD 
ield 
Tree 
X 
2 0 
^ ^ 9 
g =e S 
2 E ft 
pH 03 
0 ft-I3 
Ounces. 
Pounds. 
£ s. 
f) 
10 
140i 
14 10 
7 
18 
2.50 
25 00 
8 
26 
365 
36 15 
9 
34 
478 
47 13 
10 
42 
590 4 
59 01 
The importance of close planting is not generally 
realised. Planted at 14 feet by 14 feet, against 25 
feet by 25 feet would possibly result in a differ- 
ence of one year in six in favour of close planting. 
I am of opinion that planted 14 feet by 14 feet 
trees could be tapped in the fifth year, if not 
earlier. Para rubber is a remarkably adaptable 
tree, growing in swampy land or dry high ground 
without, so far as I have tested, any difference in 
the yield of rubber. 
Rambong [Ficus dasticn.) — There are three mode- 
rate sized trees of this species in the garden which I 
propose to tap early next year, and also propagate as 
largely as possible. The rubber is not priced so high 
as para, and the tree is somewhat capricious under 
cultiva-ion. 
Central America Rubber (Castilloa elastica .) — 
Only one example of this tree is growing 
in the garden, and this is in very poor con- 
dition. It is not so much . a question of soil, 
site or climate as is usually supposed, but 
the attacks of various borers, followed by ants, 
which proves so detrimental to many imported trees, 
e.p/., mahogany. 
Nutmegs. — In Malay gardens along the Perak river 
nutmegs thrive exceedingly well, but are always too 
shaded, and in consequence only scanty crops are 
obtained. The price is nearly always good, and 
nutmegs might form an important cottage industry if 
Malays could be induced to plant more extensively. 
Chigoe Galah Pepper Garden. — This gar- 
den was taken over by Government about 
eighteen months ago, and I visited it daring my 
monthly visit to Kuala Kangsar. Owing to its 
favourable situation, to keep the garden clean from 
weeds is not a light task, but good progress has been 
made, and much lallang got rid of. Most of the vines 
are long past full grown, and urgently need manure, 
which is being apiplied as fast as possible. The crop 
amounted to 63 bags (dry pepper) 14 black and 49 
white, which I prepared myself, and which sold in 
London for 6 3-8th d per pound, almost a record 
price for this class of pepper. Although situated 
high from the river most of the garden was covered 
by the flood to a depth of five feet, but the damage 
done was trifling. 
Experimental Work and Gardens. — I have men- 
tioned what experimental work has been done, and I 
would call attention to the importance of developing 
and utilizing the Kuala Kangsar garden to a much 
larger extent in the interests of State agriculture. 
This could be made areally interesting one for 
