4 
they grew very well ancl propagated readily, so much so that 1 wrote to Sir Joseph Hooker 
stating my belief what it would eventually become a weed here, but when the wet weather 
continued for so long they began to show signs of failing — and on examining the roots 
I found them rotten and infested with white ants, and all the cuttings that were taken soon 
rotted away. Mr. Low’s plant seems to have shared a similar fate. 
In accordance with a wish expressed by Sir Joseph Hooker, I forwarded some plants 
of each of the 3 kinds to the Acclimatisation Society, and Botanical Hardens, Brisbane, 
which arrived at their destination in very good condition. 
Dr. Thwaites has very kindly sent me fresh seeds of the Ccara- Scrap from Ceylon, and 
I hope to establish it here again — but to prove a thorough success, it should, I think, be 
planted in light sandy soil 
As regards our indigenous rubber and gutta-producing trees* X have been fortunate in 
being instrumental in helping to glean some additional information about them, and judging 
from present appearances they are likely to afford a subject for investigation for some time 
to come. In the report on my trip to Perak, I stated my disbelief in the report that 
Tlrceola elastica yielded the Gfutta Susu of commerce, Hutta Singgarip (Horn, vul’g. Perak), 
and referred it to the genus TCillughbeia. My supposition turns out to be correct, as from 
specimens and materials that If sent to Kew, Professor T. Tliiselton Dyer has determined it 
to he Willughbeia martabanica. Specimens and materials of two other allied species that have 
been collected in Singapore, have since been sent for identification and of these one sample 
has been submitted by Mr. Tliiselton Dyer to competent judges in London, who report 
that “ it is of very fair quality and worth Is. 8,7. per lb.” 
After careful observation, I have arrived at the conclusion that there are at least five of 
these rubber — producing trees in the jungle belonging to the Botanical Hardens, and further 
searches would doubtless bring additional species to light. - 
Seedlings have been raised in large quantities, and 8,000 plants could be supplied now 
without difficulty. 
As regards the true Hutta-percha, very little has been done beyond proving that the 
Hutta-putih or Hutta-sundek of the Peninsula is the produce of a different tree from that 
which produces the Xgiato-qutih of Borneo. 
One reason that may be assigned for the little that is known of these is, that they are 
lofty trees with very minute inconspicuous flowers, consequently the bloom is seldom detected. 
Under date 17th July, 1878, Sir Joseph Hooker writes to me — “ The importance of 
securing the preservation in the Singapore Botanical Hardens of plants producing the differ- 
ent gutta-perchas becomes more and. more apparent”. 
Of the plants that I. brought from Perak with me in 1877, about 75 per cent, survived, 
but as we had no immediate use for them, and as they must be planted in their permanent 
positions while small I sent them to some of our K". Australian correspondents. 
Eucalyptus . — My anticipations about the Eucalypti, when I wrote my last annual report, 
haw not been verified ; for although they germinate freely enough, the majoritv of the species 
die • soon as they get a few inches high. 
E. Globulus appears to be the worst species for this climate. 
E. citrioclora, E. amygdalinus, E. goniocalyx, E. pilularis and E. calophylla do best. J 
attach very little importance however to this, as the belief in their prophylactic virtues is now 
considerably weakened and they are quite unsuited, owing to their straggling, ragged appearance 
for garden ornaments. 
Ipecacuanha . — The soil of the Gardens is evidently unsuited to the growth of this plant, 
and unless they are constantly attended to they soon become sickly and die. Those in the 
‘'Economic” ground do not make much progress, Dr, King seems to have found out the same 
thing in India. He states that “ the. peculiarly slow growth of this plant tends to prevent 
the cultivation of it from being taken up with spirit by European planters,” 
“The insignificant straggling appearance of the plant is, besides, little calculated to 
excite enthusiasm or even interest, among the planting community.” 
Considering its importance in Indian medical practice, it is a question whether the 
Government would not do well in establishing a small nursery in Perak. 
If it could be got to produce a fair — sized root in fifteen months, it would doubtless be 
taken up by I apioca planters ; as it could then be planted between the rows of Tapioca plants 
after they had begun to grow, where it could get just the requisite amount of shade, &e. 
There is no difficulty about its propagation, as leaves, or pieces of the stem or root, very quickly 
become plants. Some plants here, that are 9 months old, arc only about 3 inches high. 
Jn Perak, on the sides of Huuong Ilijau, I am certain that it would thrive, and the labour 
or cost of planting would’ be very little indeed. 
Captain Murray reports as follows : — - 
“Six plants received, four planted on the bill and two on the lower ground, the latter 
and 1 would suggest the propriety of sending 
This may he considered very satisfactory 
the larger part of our stock to Sungei Ujong. 
Tea . — This has not succeeded so well as f had anticipated, and no amount of attention 
