all arranged on one side. Though the flowers are the smallest of 
any in the genus, only i inch long their abundance makes this a 
very charming plant. It is easily grown and flowers often, the 
plant itself however appears to be comparatively short lived. 
R. soccinea, Lour, is a stout plant, but appears here at least to 
be a much shorter and more compact plant than R. moschifera or 
maingayi f however it runs to 12 feet or even more in length, it is 
one of the most beautiful in the genus. The panicles are large and 
much branched and bear innumerable deep scarlet flowers mottled 
with darker colour, they are about 2 inches across with the lower, 
sepals broader oblong spathulate. It does well in the Straits and 
very tine sprays may be often seen at our Flower shows. 
R. storiei , Rchb. f. is the finest species in the genus. It has 
much the habit of R coccinea, a stout plant with rather broad dark 
green leaves. The panicle is often very large, one plant about 6 
feet tall had an inflorescence of 700 flowers. It was flowered by 
Mr. St. V. R. DOWN, in Singapore in June 1903, and was certainly 
a magnificent sight. A plant in the Botanic Gardens though onl)' 
about 4 feet tall flowered at every one of the upper joints. But I 
have seen plants grow for a long time before they showed any 
signs of flowering, although grown in full sun. It is better cer- 
tain lv that the plant should not be allowed to flower till it is robust, 
as the flower sprays are usually small and it is a considerable strain 
on the plant. It is a native of the Philippines and is said to be* 
abundant there. 
R. imschootiana, Rolfe. is a short plant with the habit rather of 
a Vanda, and flowers like those of -Stone 1 , but smaller and fewer. 
Jt is rather too small to grow on posts like the other species, and 
pot culture seems to suit it best. Imported plants were flowered 
in the Botanic Gardens last year but this climate is probably too 
wet for it, as it does not seem to thrive. 
FENCING OF MAIN TRUNK LINE FEDERATED 
MALAY STATES RAILWAYS. 
The following correspondence is published at the request of the 
Resident General, Federated Malay States. 
Resident General’s Office, 
Selangor Malay Peninsula , 
nth June , 1903. 
Sir, — T he question of fencing the Government Railway Line 
from Prai to Seremban, some 290 miles, is engaging the attention 
of the Government of the Federated Malay States and is one in- 
volving large expenditure. 
2. I shall be greatly obliged for any suggestions you can kindly 
offer in the direction of utilizing some suitable plant or shrub for 
