4° 
The Sumatran plant is called Balam ; and is described by 
the collector as a big tree about 90 to 100 feet tall. The fruits 
very sweet and eatable, seed used for oil. The timber is very strong 
and used for furniture by Chinese who cut it into planks. Seeds 
are produced once a year or once in two years and are sold in the 
markets at 3 dollars or 3.50 a picul. The tree grows very fast 
in flat ground. 
Fruiting specimens of another closely allied plant was 
obtained also in Singapore at Kranji many years ago with very 
coriaceous leaves, almost obovate, when adult fewer nerves, but the 
same reticulations as in the Betis. The fruit unripe is red woolly, 
and the seed though much smaller being unripe resembles some- 
what that of the Betis. 
The timber specimen sent by Mr. Stephens has a sapwood 
4 inches thick, light fawn colour hard and compact. The heart 
wood is dark brown, red brown in longitudinal section, rings 
irregular and not very distinct, rays, very fine and close, transverse 
bars as fine as the rays, very numerous and close, pores few and 
small. It is a very heavy and hard wood and undoubtedly a first 
class timber. 
More information and additional specimens are requirad to 
give a full account of this plant, which is evidently well worth 
the attention of foresters. 
H. N. Ridley. 
ANNUAL REVIEW OF INDIA RUBBER MARKET 
DURING 1905. 
(By Messrs. S. Figgis & Co.) 
Plantation Rubber Grown in Ceylon and Malay States. 
We have reported upon this fine rubber, and urged its 
cultivation for many years, and are glad to know' that the cultiva- 
tion of the Para “ Hevea Braziliensis ” has rapidly extended. 
We estimate to-day about 45,000 acres planted and being planted 
in Ceylon, and 50,000 acres in Malay, and no doubt further rapid 
extension will go on as so many new' companies are talked of. 
The preparation of the rubber generally has been excellent, and 
results most satisfactory. As the quantities increase, and need 
more labour and increased space “to cure it,” new ways of 
preparing the rubber will be found. As a rule, w'e have found by 
our long and wide experience that the manufacturers prefer either 
large rolled sheet prepared on some Malay estates, or biscuits not 
too thin and of nice colour, such as frequently come from Ceylon, 
especially “ Culloden.” Pale clean crape in sheet seems also 
liked. Do not pack in paper. 
yfi7 
