add to this the insufficiency of oxygen in such soils, and the action 
of the humous acids and other chemical substances which injure the 
root and prevent its taking up water in sufficient quantity to replace 
that lost by transpiration, we can easily see that no plant of the 
type of Hevea can thrive or exist even for any time under such 
circumstances, strong and adaptable as the plant appears to be in 
these regions. 
Peat-land, after being felled and exposed for a long time to the 
air, and drained so that much of the humous acids are washed out 
of the soil might ( if not too deep above the underlying clays ) in time 
become a good and suitable soil for growing Para-rubber in, but it 
would not be worth while to go to this expense and long delay.— Ed, 
THE WORK OF THE IMPERIAL INSTITUTE. 
The immense importance to Colonists throughout the Empire of 
the Imperial Institute is very clearly shown by the report of its 
work for the year 190 (Colonial Reports 601. July 1909) and the 
appreciation of its value by the Colonies is illustrated by the amount 
and variety of produce which has during the past year been sent to 
the Institute for examination and report, Almost every colony from 
the largest to the smallest has sent of its productions for investiga- 
tion, and this mass of material includes every conceivable class of 
animal, vegetable and mineral produce. 
The Institute is now with its large staff able to analyse and 
value such different materials as ores, clays, salt, kelp (for potash) 
and cocaine fibres of all kinds, wool, rubbers, timbers, oils and oil 
seeds, food grains, tan stuffs and dye stuffs, resins, gums, drugs, 
tobacco, sponges and ostrich feathers. 
Among the substances sent from this Colony and Native States 
were minerals, the most interesting of which were limestones 
carrying tin, and in one case also enough phosphorus to be valuable 
as a manure after removal of the tin; fibres, hemp, Mauritius hemp 
and Sauseviera from Johore, Para rubber seed oil from the 
Federated Malay States and other vegetable produce. 
The public of the Malay Peninsula does not however it appears 
make as much use of the Institute as many of the other colonies do. 
Probably this is because all are so satisfied with the progress of the 
rubber industry that they have no inclination to turn their attention 
to minor products. 
The large number of samples of fibres submitted to the Institute 
during the year shows that at least in other parts of the Empire, 
there is a considerable amount of interest taken in this form of 
produce, and indeed the increasing demand for fibres of all sorts 
makes it imperative that attention should be paid to them. The 
Mercer's Company having made a grant for aiding in investigations 
into fibres, a Mercer’s Research Fellowship has been established the 
holder of which is to devote himself to investigations of fibrous 
