266 
But, besides the actual weight of material that can be 
obtained for weighing at any one time, there is continuous 
fall of leaf from the trailing stems, as the lower ones are 
smothered by the new growth. This increases steadily with 
the age of plant, so that after a year’s growth the above 
figures could be at least doubled, and the humus gained 
would amount to 8,000 to 10,000 lb. per acre. 
The plant dies down after flowering and seeding, when 
the land should be cleaned and another crop grown if desir- 
able. Although it is suggested to grow these crops to in- 
crease the humus and water-holding capacity of the sod, 
and at the same time to smother other weeds, and protect 
the soil from sun and rain, they are not invariably applic- 
able, since, unless they are known to grow faster than other 
weeds in the district , they will be useless for the prevention 
of the growth of stronger grasses, and may themselves be 
smothered out. 
M. Kelway B amber. 
February, 1909. 
Note. — We reprint this excellent article from the Sup- 
plement to the Tropical Agriculturist, April 1909, p. 393, as 
it will be of interest to planters. I fear the F. M. S. planters 
cannot claim as original the employment of the Passi flora 
as a Lalang strangler. It was utilized very many years 
ago by the Butch and seeds were sent to German New 
Guinea for this purpose about 1898, from the Botanic 
Gardens, Singapore. Its adoption as a weed killer here 
came much later. The plant is a native of Brazil, but seems 
to have been introduced probably as an ornamental plant 
to England in 1731, and thence to the East Indies. It is 
now common all over the East. 
One of its advantages as a weed killer is that it does 
not climb up the trees as so many other climbing plants 
such as the Ribu-Ribn fern Lygodhun does. Mil an in scan- 
dens, not an uncommon plant here is not, (here at least) 
so strong a grower. It is a stouter plant, and I should say 
does not possess so many advantages as the Passion flower. 
Some of the common Convolvuluses might be used. I 
have seen one in particular growing over Lalang and scrub 
along the line between Klang and Kwala Lumpur, which 
seems to do its work of strangling the grass and weeds well. 
It is Ipomea sepearia . 
