553 
dated by those who have eaten them. The kernel is 
crisp and firm, and has not the oily taste of the Brazil 
nut of commerce. 
The Brazil-nut tree is not cultivated anywhere for 
profit. The fruits are collected by the natives in the 
forests of the Amazons, where it grows in abundance, 
together forming groves, according to Bates (“ Naturalist 
on the Amazons.”) He says it is one of the biggest trees 
in the Amazons forests, and as the forest trees there 
often attain the height of 150 to 200 feet, it is probable 
that the Brazil-nut grows to at least 200 feet. Thp trees 
of Lecythis, which I saw in the forests of Pernambuco 
were truly gigantic, both in size and in circumference, 
and it is said that Bertholletia is as big. 
The Brazil-nut is not a tree which would bring a 
large profit to a planter, even of fruit trees, as its growth 
is slow and the fruiting not very heavy, considering the 
cheapness of the nuts brought from the Brazilian forests, 
but it is a handsome tree, and when it does fruit it does 
so quite heavily enough to supply the needs of the planter 
and many others. 
H. N. Ridley. 
AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR COAGULATING 
THE LATEX OF DYERA COSTULATA. 
(GETftH JELUTONG). 
In the Singapore Botanic Gardens, we have only 
five trees of this species— excepting two specimen trees 
on the lawns which are left intact — and these all are 
below medium size, so that the available material for 
experiment is very small. In view, however, of improving 
the crude (wet and vile smelling) Jelutong rubber- 
better known as Pontianak— the experimental work so 
far accomplished may be of interest. 
