18 BULLETIN 1057, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
lance of the seed collectors or were from fruits which had ripened 
later, were found on the ground. 
It was very evident from observations as well as from the state- 
ments of the natives that Taraktogenos kurzii produces fruits irregu- 
larly. A heavy crop is followed by two years of poor fruiting, while 
the next year following a large crop can again be expected. The na- 
tives stated that they go into these forests to collect the seeds only 
about once in three years, and then only in the months of October 
and November. The fruits, like those of other species of Tarakto- 
genos and Hydnocarpus, mature during the rainy season, which is 
from May to September ; they then drop to the ground, being assisted 
by numerous monkeys. Bears are also very fond of the fruit flesh, 
and large numbers of them roam the forests in search of kalaw fruits. 
Therefore, at that particular time, the natives refrain from going to 
collect these, as they have no firearms and their spears are inade- 
quate weapons with which to meet a horde of bears. The heavy rains 
wash the large and often buoyant seeds into the creek and thence into 
the Khodan stream, the fish of which feed on them. The natives 
stated that they dare not eat any fish from the Khodan stream, as it 
would produce the same effect as the eating of a number of fresh 
kalaw seeds. Wild pigs are also fond of the seeds, and the natives 
refrain from eating pork at the kalaw fruiting seasons, as the flesh 
of pigs which have fed on kalaw seeds is poisonous, producing nausea 
and vomiting. After the rains have ceased, when the animals have 
had their share of kalaw fruits and seeds and the heavy rains have 
washed large numbers of them into the stream, the natives proceed, 
in parties of 20 to 30, to collect the remaining seeds. Needless to say, 
they lose about 50 per cent or more of each crop through the causes 
just enumerated. 
The writer found many seeds germinating on the edges of the 
creek bed and in the pure sand of these dark and somber hill forests 
where the sun can hardly penetrate. A number of these seedlings 
get established sufficiently to withstand the heavy downpours which 
must swell these creeks to a considerable extent; for only short 
periods, however, as the sandy soil takes up a great volume of these 
rushing torrents. Large kalaw trees have been found by the writer 
growing in the middle of these beds. Taraktogenos kurzii develops 
a strong and vigorous taproot, which enables the tree to withstand 
strong currents. That the currents are swift was made evident by 
the exposure of the whole root system of an enormous tree of Dipter- 
ooarpus alatus which grew on the steep banks of the creek. 
The collection of seed, even in the winter, is exceedingly danger- 
ous, owing to wild animals, especially tigers and elephants. The 
cold season being the mating season, these animals roam through 
