136 
March so that by pulling up plants at that time of the year reproduc- 
tion by seed is prevented.” “I have been recently informed by Mr. F. 
Ransom that the percentage of alkaloid in Selangor Ipecacuanha is 
now less than when the drug was first imported. This may of course 
be due to impoverishment of the soil or to collection at a different 
period of the year or more probably from plants of different age, but 
Mr. Ransom's conclusion does not appear to be shared by other 
chemists who have examined the root : so that different samples prob- 
ably vary in quality and activity.” (I would suggest that if Mr. 
Ransom’s conclusion is correct another cause may be constant propa- 
gation from cuttings. Plants propagated continuously from cuttings 
for a large number of years are very at apt to deteriorate. H. N. R.) 
COMBRETUM SUNDAICUM. 
In the same number of the Pharmaceutical Journal is an article by 
Mr. E. F. Harrison on the constituents of Combrctmn smidaicum the 
much talked of Chinese anti-opium drug. Mr. Harrison has submitted 
both the raw and roasted drug as prepared by the Chinese to elaborate 
chemical analysis. The treatment showed the existence of no alkaloid. 
A green resin was obtained, and tannin was also found, as has been 
done by other chemists. 
The story of this drug has already been detailed in the Bulletin. 
There seems no reason to suppose it has any special properties, but 
several chemists are still at work investigating it thoroughly. 
H. N. Ridley. 
FUNTUMIA ELASTICA FRUITING IN PEKAK. 
Mr. A. D. Machado sends a parcel of seed of Funtumia elastica 
from trees growing on the Kamuning estate. This is the first occur- 
rence we believe of this tree having fruited here. Has any one 
else fruited it? Mr. Machado's plants were sent as seed from the 
Government of the Congo Free State in March 1905, and lie says 
are flourishing frees and seem full of rubbers Funtumia has Jong been 
introduced here, but seems generally to grow slowly and to be subject 
to the attacks of the caterpillar of Caprinia Conchylalis as has been 
recorded before. One is glad to hear it is doing better in some 
parts of the peninsula. Curiously I find a plant of Funtumia Africana 
in the Gardens just fruiting also for the first time. 
H. N. Ridley. 
A FURTHER NOTE ON CRENOTHRIX. 
It is not uncommon when digging in low-lying soil to come upon 
a blue clay of rather firm texture, and very wet. This clay is permeat- 
ed by rootlets of grasses and other plants, which on decaying leave 
tubes in the clay, which are usually filled with water. These tubes in 
