Before closing the present Report, I would beg to bring before this Committee one or 
two matters for their favourable consideration, with reference to the increasing tfolro le 
of and the probable further development of, the commercial capabilities of the straits Sett e- 
°L a , , ‘ . i 'vr-.i Paninsula As is well known to every one .conversant with the 
Ooloniaf Markets at home, there is a constant enquiry as to what'capablhties of production 
of fibres timbers, gums, resins, drugs, Ac. these countries possess, and on the possession and 
development of su!h capabilities depends the opening up such countries to the beneficial 
influences of commerce ^ emhzatiou attention to two commercial 
On the present occasion to my endeavour to follow up for the benefit of 
£e Settlements a work which I have already commenced elsewhere. These two substances 
are India Rubber and Gutta Percha. ^ ^ ^ SecretaPy of state for India in Council 
jxs? a°p n P s «; 
to x^: iTsLipz 
mg in India, - . 5 • v a. inriliHea for this cultivation, especially as the plant 
the Malayan Peninsula were the .best local uies tor c ^ ^ ^ other plant e 
yielding Gutta Snsu (l ) ceola ilmU , ■ 1 Seeds of these can be obtained, and 
balding the best commercial varieties would do well h b d t points cleared up. 
"' ith 1^^“ a & i ^MiXlt^t. pmdnet, although 1 deceived a similar 
rwlbe whole of the work must be done de Horn and on the spot, as it is not known tor 
323*j rsss 
• have ^been ^freely distributed on these and other substances, and promises of instance 
therefore ask this Committee tc > visits to the --mi^^nes, 
our knowledge pass unheeded, j^g COLLINS, f.b.s.e., &c., 
Government Economic Botanist, 
Secretary and Librarian Baffles Library and Museum. 
