-4 
THE MOSQUITO PLANT, 
Ocimum viride. 
The mosquito plant has now fully developed in the Botanic 
Gardens in Singapore and produced its flowers. It attained the 
height of about five feet but hardly branched, being much taller 
than the other species of Ocimum cultivated here. The leaves arc 
less aromatic but have a pungent taste, the flowers are small 
greenish white and inconspicuous. Various experiments were tried 
with it, three plants in a pot were kept in the verandah and the 
behaviour of the mosquitoes with respect to it observed. Large 
sprays of the plants were put in water, also in the verandah. In 
neithej of these circumstances had it any perceptible effect on the 
insects. They were neither attracted nor repelled, and were just 
as annoying when the plant was there as when it was not. Mr. 
Ki.OSS besides trying all these experiments as well, rubbed a long 
chair all over with the leaves of the plant to see if that would keep 
the pest away. It had no more result than the other experiments. 
The mosquitoes in fact quite ignored the mosquito plant and took 
no notice of it at ail. 
A writer in the Madras Mail (Indian planting and Gardening 
November 7 p. 304) rubbed his face and hands with the juice of the 
leaves. This he found effectually kept the mosquitoes off, but he 
found next day that he had developed a rash which increased to 
fair sized blisters, and eventually for five days his face and hands 
were as if badly scalded, and he came to the conclusion that the 
evil was preferable to the remedy. 
It thus appears that here at least the Ocimum vitide must be 
relegated to the“ increasing class of plants, like Castor oil (Ricinus) 
which have obtained a reputation for killing or driving off mosqui- 
toes, which they do not deserve. 
Editor . 
Rainfall for December 1903 
The Fort 
The Government Hill 
Pulo Jerajak 
Balek Pulo 
The Prison 
Lumut 
Pangkor 
Bruas 
Ins. 3-81 
5-63 
2 -50 
M. E. SC RIVEN, 
Assistant Surgeon, 
Prison Observatory . 
Penang , 15th January , 1904. 
