803 
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, MAT 22, 1885. 
8. — In selecting these reserves, every effort has been made to obtain as much 
forest and forest growth within their boundaries as possible, but, as trees generally 
occur in small patches widely scattered over the island, it has been impossible to 
avoid the inclusion of a large extent of waste land. 
9. — Among the Singapore reserves I have classed the Bakau or Mangrove jun- 
gle, which extends along most of the coast line of the island. The preservation of 
this jungle, which includes wood useful for many purposes, is a very important matter. 
Its great length renders it difficult of protection and, so far, 1 have had to content my- 
self with merely pointing out to the Land Department what extent of it might be 
leased for cultivation. 
A paper on the sanitary disadvantages arising from the destruction of mangrove 
jungle has been already laid before Government, and the subject is worthy of further 
careful enquiry. 
10. — Quarters for the accommodation of the Overseer have been erected at 
Bukit Timah, within the reserve, and near the same position the central station of 
the forest watchmen has been constructed. 
Two houses have been put up at each of the Jurong and Bukit Mandi reserves, 
one for the forest watchmen and one for the coolies employed in the work of de- 
marcation. Two houses have also been erected for the coolies at each of the nurse- 
ries at Bukit Timah and the Military reserve. # 
Demarcation ii- — The demarcation of the Bukit Timah reserve w r as one of the first works 
of reserves, that occupied my attention. The line cleared around this reserve is 6 miles in length 
and 16 feet in width and has been planted along its outer edge with fast-growing trees, 
14 feet apart, over its whole length. The width of this line will prevent a jungle fire, 
under ordinary circumstances, from crossing into the reserve and injuring the young 
plantations and natural growth. 
12. — The Jurong reserve has been demarcated with an eight-foot path over a 
distance of three miles and has also been planted with trees. 
13. — The boundary of the Bukit Mandi reserve has been opened over a dis- 
tance of about seven miles, three miles of which have been planted with trees. 
The cutting of the boundary line of this reserve presented much difficulty, owing 
to the irregularity - of the surface and the heavy covering of jungle. 
Erection of 
quarters. 
Formation of ! 4 - — A nursery for the propagation of trees has been opened at Bukit Timah, and 
nurseries. comprises an area of about 3 acres. There is also one at the Military reserve for propa- 
gation and experimental purposes, about 4 acres in extent. The number of young 
trees propagated in these two nurseries may be roughly set down at abgut 300,000 ; 
this number was supplemented by about 60,000 from the forest nursery opened in the 
Botanic Gardens in 1883, but since closed, owing to its being inconveniently distant 
from the seat of operations. 
About 148,000 plants, of the number given above, were planted out within the 
year. It was not advisable to plant out the rest, as they had not gained sufficient 
strength to enable them to cope with obstructive vegetation in the open. 
Planting of 
waste lands. 
15. — It being desirable to perfect the Bukit Timah reserve as early as possible, 
about 50 acres of the waste land within its boundary have been planted with young 
trees at about 2,000 to the acre. Twenty acres of the Military reserve have also been 
planted in the same way, and about eight acres of the latter have been gone over 
and the plants cleared of weeds and grass. 
Introduced 
trees. 
.'0 
b> 0 
v 
x\ 
16. — The kinds of trees planted on these w'aste lands are chiefly as under: — 
* 
Teak. — Tectona grandis, has grown w r ell only on the low lands in the better 
kinds of soil. 
African Gum Copal. — Hymenia verrucosa , has thriven well. 
American Rain Tree. — Inga saman , makes very rapid growth. 
Mahogany. — Swietenia mahopani, ") ,, . .. , „ 
Brazilian Iron Wood, Ccesalpima ferrea , J nve excee m § T we 
Illipi. — Bassia longifolia , looks promising. 
