tj. — Good and clean fresh wafer in sufficient quantity and sun 
over 35 0 for bleaching purpose, 
6. — No cyclones or typhoons to spoil the leaves in the fields. 
7. — Cheap firewood and good water-power to run the engines. 
8. — Suitable climate for the development of the plants. 
cy — Well-made machines with high precision and suitably 
erected. 
All these points united constitute, what I call, favourable circum- 
stances and I believe they all exist in the Straits and Federated 
Malay States in a greater degree than elsewhere. 
A risk, as long the prices on the Sisal standard in London rule 
higher than £12 per ton, actually £37 and have never been under 
£16, with an average for the last fifteen years of £24, does not exist 
as all the fibre plants grow here very rapidly, are free from any 
disease, never injured by insect (even cattle do not like most of 
them) and can stand very wet and very dry long seasons without 
suffering. 
Of course, it would be best to induce the natives to take up the 
cultivation of fibrous plants and to assist them by advances and 
seedlings, etc. etc.; but a factory must have its own plantations, in 
order to remain independent of planters, as regards price for the 
raw material and the regular supply to run the engines. 
Should you like to have any further information regarding this 
for the Straits very promising industry and produce, 1 am at your 
disposal. 
Your very obedient servant, 
C. J. SCHIRMER. 
FUNGUS ON PARA RUBBER LEAVES. 
Specimens of leaves of the Para rubber seedlings attacked by the 
leaf-fungus mentioned in Bulletin 1903, p. 68, were lately sent to 
the Director of the Royal Gardens, Kew, and Mr. G. M AS SEP: 
reports that <f the pale blotches on the leaves are caused by some 
species of Cercospora , but the absence of fruit prevents specific 
identification. The leaves have been placed under conditions fa- 
vourable to the growth of the parasite which, however, appears to 
have been killed outright.” 
There are about 200 kinds of Cercospora known, infecting the 
leaves of various herbs, shrubs and trees. Treatment of the plants 
with Bordeaux mixture is said, in some cases, to have produced 
excellent effects, but the infected leaves should be also removed, as 
well as all dead ones on the ground, and the ground turned over if 
possible. 
