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‘ work done, never mind the quality. The same thing happened at the 
‘watchmaker’s. I did my work too well, I was told, and they could 
“ not afford to keep me.” 
“ So I packed up my things and made tracks for a sanatorium up 
“ in the mountains, 15 miles from S.D., lived in a tent, roamed about'in 
“ old rags and bathed in the sun and in the river, feeding on milk, fruit 
‘‘and self-baked bread. Had a grand time for a few days, and came 
back with a tanned skin and a determination to do something under 
“ the open sky and not to return to a stuffy workshop. I have taken 
up a planting job again, this time on a strawberry and loganberry 
“ ranch. 
“ I am feeling very well. The climate here is fine, the cool nights 
seem to brace me up, sleeping as I do with my windows opened. I 
“ am working like a nigger and am very tired after the days’ work ; yet 
I find I have put on 3 lb. in weight. Thus, I have gained something 
‘ after all, and am therefore actually getting on. If my purse would 
“ only put on weight also ! ” 
1 shall stop here as T am afraid I have already trespassed too 
much on your good will. As you see, our friend has a pretty fund of 
philosophy to draw 7 upon; that hard w T ork and a keen brain should 
pull him through ; don’t you think ? 
I am Dear Sir, Yours Faithfully, 
E. Mathiev. 
FRUITING OF SCIADOPITYS VERTICILLATA. 
Last year among a collection of conifers obtained from Japan for 
the Botanic Gardens, Singapore was a pot plant of the umbrella pine, 
Bciadopitys verticillata . It was about two feet tall, and of very good 
shape. Rather to the surprise of all it produced a perfectly fertile cone 
from which w T ere obtained four seeds which on being planted germinated 
and are now being cultivated. The plant itself perished soon after. 
It seems probable that it w r as a marcot or cutting and not a seedling. 
It is very unusual for any of these Japanese conifers to fruit here, and 
still less to produce fertile seed. 
At about the same time a Cryptomeria Japanica produced a cone, 
but this was barren, and produced no seed, Cu pressus funebris, Biota 
orientalis and other conifers long cultivated and planted out in the 
gardens have never yet produced flowers. 
H. N. Ridley. 
INTERNATIONAL RUBBER EXHIBITION. 
* Exhibition Offices, 22nd May 1008. 
Kindly allow me to impress upon Exhibitors the necessity of 
despatching all Exhibits so that they will reach London in good time, 
as we wish everything to he ready for the Press View 7 on Saturday 
12th September, 
