AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN 
* OF THE 
STRAITS 
AND 
FEDERATED MALAY STATES, 
No. 3 *J * MARCH, 1905. [Vol. IV. 
KUMUS (SHOREA CILIA TA). 
The timber of the tree commonly known to the Malays as 
Kumus has been known for many years as a valuable wood, but 
for a long time I was unable to identify it as I could never 
procure specimens of the leaves, flowers, and fruits by which it could 
be settled as to what the tree really was. Mr. MOORHOUSE, how- 
ever, recently sent me specimens of the wood, leaves, and fruit, to- 
gether with notes concerning the tree which proves -to be JDiptero- 
earpous, viz., Skorea ciliata, King, Mr, MOORHOUSE writes of it 
as follows : — 
“A large tree with small buttresses about 6 feet high, bark red- 
dish brown, slightly flaky, quarter of an inch thick, average girth of 
ten selected trees, 22 feet. This is not an uncommon size for mature 
trees. Height to first branch of tree 80 feet, height of whole tree 
150 to 180 feet. The tree exudes a yellowish white damar which is 
argely colleciec^ rnd mixed with Penak damar, but is very inferior. 
at fort y dollars a ton. The tree has no sapwood, the 
timber being hard all through. It has been*largely used this year 
tor railway sleeper^ on the Seremban to Singapore Railway and is 
most probably used as Chengai or Reilak in other States. Malays 
say it is as good as Penak for houses and they only use Penak in 
pre erence, because Penak turns a deep red brown with time and 
exposure; whereas Kumus turns greyish white and is not so hand- 
some. It is an excellent timber and very plentiful in Kwala Pilah 
lstrict, Negri Sembilan, Miarcoal burners have exterminated it 
in Seremban, but this business has now been stopped. It makes a 
first class charcoal, ” 
1 1 he specimen of wood sent by Mr. MOORHOUSE is of a light 
reddish brown colour, fairly heavy, fibres slightly sinuous, the vessets 
in section conspicuous, and silvery inside with the dammar exuda- 
tion; rings very irregular in distance and not very conspicuous; 
medullary rays very fine and close, Vessels in transverse section 
crowded and numerous; pores small in short rows or solitary, irregu- 
larly arranged ; weight of a cubic foot, 68 lbs., wood very hard. 
/fa A section of a young tiee, 6 inches through, sent many years ago 
