T96 
OIL OF PARA RUBBER SEEDS. 
Notwithstanding the very excellent prices quoted for samples 
of Rubber sent home from time to time from the Straits, it is 
satisfactory to know that the rubber is not the only valuable 
product of this most valuable tree. At the present moment the 
experts of the Scientific and Technical Branch of the Imperial 
Institute are investigating the properties of the Para Rubber seeds, 
and from the preliminary investigation now in progress it appears 
highly probable that the oil derived from these seeds may prove to 
be of commercial value. It will be necessary to wait for a complete 
report before it can be said exactly in what capacity the expressed 
oil will be most valuable, but from the fact that Castor oil is 
expressed from a plant botanically allied we 'may reasonably 
infer that the oil from the seeds of Hevea will be a useful lubricant. 
The number of seeds now available in the Native States and the 
increasingly enormous number in a few years renders this informa- 
tion of considerable interest to Planters. 
W. FOX, 
Ag. Local Agent for Imperial Institute. 
THE MOSQUITO PLANT. 
The Hon. YV. Hood Treacher, C. M. G., sends for publication 
in the Bulletin the following extract from the Times of this year: — 
THE MOSQUITO PLANT. 
To the Editor. 
Sir, — W ith reference to the letter in The Mail of this morning from Captain 
H. D. Larvmore on the so-called “mosquito plant" (Ocimum viride), I may 
mention that allied basils have been known “from time immemorial" to the 
Hindu throughout India as a defence against mosquitos, and a prophylactic in 
malarious districts. They recognize several species, such as ran-tulsi, or “ wild 
Tulsi’’; sufuid-tulsi , or “ white Tulsi” ; kala-tuhi, or “black Tulsi" (sweet basil) : 
Ram-br/iV (O. gralisshiutm); Krishna-bds/ ; and tulsi, par excellence , called also 
parnnsa (O. samtum). One or other of these basils is found growing everywhere 
in India, especially about temples, and most of them are grown in gardens ; in 
Farther India especially they are planted upon and about graves ; and a decoc- 
tion of the stalks and leaves is a universal remedy in cases of malarial fever 
The last-named species is sacred to Vishnu, being called after the beautiful Tulsi, 
who excited the jealousy of his wife Lakshmi, who transformed the fair maiden 
into the plant which Vishnu at once consecrated to the service of his most dis- 
tinguishing rites. The “holy basil" is therefore planted before every Vaishnavn 
house, and every Vaishnava wears necklaces, or armlets, and carries a rosary, 
made up of sections of its stalks or roots ; and Hindus are sworn on the waters 
of the Ganges poured into the palm of the hand, crossed with a sprig of holy 
basil ; and sprigs of the plant are borne by the Brahmans at all funeral ceremo- 
nies. One of the most charming sights in India — the India of the Hindus — is 
that of a fair Brahmini woman, in the villages of the Deccan (“right-hand " 
country), early every morning, after having ground the corn for the daily bread 
of the family, and performed her simple toilet, with the fearless frankness of the 
Athenian ladies at the fair-flowing fountains of Callirrhoe, walking, with stately 
steps and slow, round and round (pra-dakshina, “ turning to the right”— i.e., with 
the sun’s shadow), the Tulsi plant placed on the four-horned altar before the 
house of ' ‘ the father of her children, ” invoking on him and them, with out- 
stretched arms and uplifted eyes of supplication, the blessings of all-indulgent 
