common plant on the banks of streams), and the best of all, Sten- 
ochlaena palustris, “Laftiiding” or “Miding” (a very abun- 
dant climbing fern), and Ceratopteris tkalictroides — the water- 
fern — a finely cut fern growing in ditches and rice-fields. 
Cabbage. 
Cabbage requires deep rich well-trenched soil in a position free 
from the shade and roots of trees. Stable manure is best for this 
crop and should be well dug in. The seeds may be sown in beds 
or in boxes of light soil and covered lightly, and as soon as big 
enough to handle, transplanted in rows about eighteen inches 
apart. For some years we have been in the habit of growing 
cabbages from cuttings, with a better result than from seeds. 
The method adopted is this. After the cabbage has been cut, the 
the stump is allowed to stand, and in a few days commences to 
sprout. As soon as these sprouts are large enough, they are re- 
moved close to the stem with a sharp knife and planted in rows at 
the same ditance and in the same manner as plants from seeds, 
and shaded for a few days. These are grown all the year round, 
but the best season is from the beginning of December to the end 
of March. Savoy cabbages, cauliflowers and Brussels sprouts 
are of no use. 
Beans and Peas. 
Of the three kinds of beans grown in English gardens, i.e., scar- 
let runners, broad beans and dwarf or French beans, only the 
latter is of any practical use here. 
Scarlet runners indeed are stated to be always barren m the 
tropics, owing, it is said, to the absence of a suitable fertilizing 
insect. 
French beans are only to be grown in the dry season, from 
November to February in Penang. The soil should be well dug 
over several times and liberally manured, the seeds planted in 
rows about eighteen inches apart and two or three inches deep. 
As soon as they are two or three inches high, a little fresh soil 
should be drawn lightly round the stems. Under favourable cir- 
cumstances, they are fit for use in about two months. One im- 
portant point is to gather them quite young. Native gardeners 
leave these, and, in fact, most vegetables, until they ar e pwsf 
their best before gathering them. Canadian Wonder and Ful- 
mer’s Forcing are two of the best varieties. 
Of native, that is to say, tropical beans, there are a good many 
kinds, several of which are very good, though without the flavour 
of French beans. The following kinds are best known here : — - 
Lahlab, Egyptian Kidney-bean, Dolichos Lab-lab. — Kach- 
ang Karkaras. One of the commonest beans cultivated here. 
There are several varieties, the most distinct, however, being one 
with violet flowers and black seeds, and one with white flowers 
and white seeds. The plant is often very large, and the leaves 
have three very large and broad leaflets. It is easily raised from 
seed, and is best grown on a trellis or through bushes. The young 
