3 
pruning, without disturbing the root. Of course, transplanting is 
. not always possible, as it depends on several conditions. The soil 
in the nursery must be soft enough to allow the transplanter to be 
pressed in easily, and, on the other hand, must be firm enough to 
retain its shape when removed from the transplanter. Again, it is 
/ obviously not always possible to have plants of the right age in the 
nursery, and the nurseries must not be too far away from the field 
to be planted. Doubtless, in planting up on a large scale, stump- 
ing is the most practicable method. With the exception of white 
ant, and a certain green beetle, found by Mr. ROGER PEARS, and 
already described in the Bulletin, no serious pests have yet made 
their appearance in this district. Some weeks since, I found a 
small dark brown beetle feeding on the leaves, and sent a specimen 
down to the Editor of the Bulletin. Since then 1 have found many 
more of them, but in nearly all instances, it has been a case of 
“the biter bit/’ The insect, in biting into the leaf or stem, has 
caused a drop of latex to exude, which has coagulated, and held 
it fast by the nippers. I have found as many as six of these insects 
on a small shoot about three inches long, some alive and some dead, 
but all stuck fast and quite unable to escape, thus clearly showing 
one of the natural functions of the latex. 
R. W. BURGESS. 
4 
MANGROVE SWAMPS IN THE FEDERATED 
MALAY STATES. 
By H. PtJRNIVALL. 
Many trees in the mangrove swamps are used for firewood, 
fishing stakes and for building houses. The wood of the Tumu 
tree ( Bruguiera Gymnorhizci) and Tengah tree ( Ceriops caudal- 
Icand) make the best firewood. The bark of the Tengah is used 
for tanning, it is greatly to be regretted that so far the manufacture 
^ of tannin extract from the bark Rad never been taken up by any 
I large firm, the only work done on these lines, is done by Chinamen 
in a very small way. Thousands o/ pikuls are thrown away every 
year. 1 he following specimens grow in salt swamps : — 
Bakau Akik, Rhizophora conjugata \ 
Bakau Minyak, a variety of conjugata , not named ; 
Bakau Korap, Rhizophora mucronata ; 
Bakau Buros, Bruguiera c ary ophyll aides , 
Tumu, Bruguiera gyrnnorhiza ; 
Langgadei, Bruguiera parviflora ; 
'fen gah, Ceriops candolleana ; 
Nerei, Carapa vwlitccensis ; 
Api Api, Avicennia officinalis \ 
Berembong ( Sonneratia apetala ) Perapat, Bakuta ( Cerbera 
Odollam') and Kadaku, the last two named- grow to a height of 
twelve feet, the leaves are similar to the Berembong leaf, only a lit- 
