AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN 
OF THE 
STRAITS 
AND 
FEDERATED MALAY STATES. 
No. 2.] FEBRUARY, 1903. [Vol. II. 
BRUCE A SUMATRANA. 
Plate II. 
For this month we give a figure from a photograph by Mr. 
Machado, of Brucea Sumatrana grown in the Botanic Gardens at 
Singapore showing its habit. An account of the plant was pub- 
lished in Vol. 1 , No. 9, p.342. A large number of plants raised 
from seed were planted in the Gardens last year and have grown 
remarkably well and steadily, fruiting in six months from the seed. 
It seems to grow best in soil that is not too wet, but does not 
otherwise appear to be particular so long as the weeds are kept 
from getting over its head. No manure was given to the plants 
though it is probable that manuring would stimulate its growth 
and make it fruit even faster. 
Ten pounds weight of seed were sent to Messrs. BcRRQUGHES 
and Welcome last year, for experiment and investigation. These 
seeds were obtained from Pahang where the plant is abundant in 
a wild state. No report of the result of their investigations has 
yet been received. In the meantime, however, several letters from 
persons in India and elsewhere have been received speaking very 
highly of the effects of the drug. Like most or all other plants it 
has an enemy, and this is the caterpillar of the dark coloured 
Death’s head Moth, Acherontia Lachesis. The caterpillar is three 
inches long when full grown and very stout, of a bright apple 
green colour, with six sloping yellow stripes on each side contin- 
ued up to the back but not meeting, along each yellow sttipe is 
a light blue one, the spiracles are yellow, the back dotted finely 
with black, and on its tail there is a yellow rough horn £ inch long. 
The caterpillars are very voracious and soon strip a plant of its 
leaves, but are easily seen and can be collected. They were full 
grown in November, and hatched out in December, but I found 
caterpillars also in that month. The chrysalis is placed under ground. 
The moth is four inches across the upper wings and thorax of a 
dark grey colour marbled with black and yellow ocre lines with a 
small yellow spot in the centre of each wing; underwings yellow 
with two curved blackish bars near the edge; body yellow with 
transverse black rings and a blue central line. The moth comes 
