5 
Several Myxomycetes were sent to Miss G. LISTER and Mosses to Mr. N. Dixon, 
who were so good as to determine them. Mr. A. ShaRpLES of the Department of 
Agriculture, Federated Malay States, also named some fungi. 
Hand specimens of timbers cut from trees which had grown in the Gardens, were 
sent to Kew, Manila, Dehra Dun and Buitenzorg. A set of similar specimens was 
received back from Manila. 
Six pairs of almyrahs for specimens were made in the Gardens and placed in the 
Herbarium. 
Mr. H, N. Ridley is preparing a Flora of the Malay Peninsula, south of Lat, f 
N. ; and in sending herbarium material to Kew the attempt is made to do all that can 
help him. 
Botanic Gardens. 
(Area 8o Acres, 2 Roods, 3 Perches). 
The dry weather in January and February favoured several plants whose flower- 
ing was exceptional. Among them were the orchid Staurop'sis breviscapa , and some 
Browneas. Shoreas flowered in the Gardens jungle and elsewhere (see the “Journal of 
the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society x 9 1 7 > ’ PP* 4-3 anc ^ f^i). The mangos 
on the Lake margin produced so much blossom that seven million flowers were 
estimated to be on one tree, one per mille of which set fruit. 
The dry weather also favoured pests, so that in March, the caterpillar of 
Catopsilia croc cl le badly deloliated trees ot Cassia fistula and C . siamea , while that , 
of Oxyodes scrobiculata damaged Rambutans and Filodes fulvui or salts damaged 
Thunbergia grand iflora. The first named is a butterfly, the second and third are 
moths. Handpicking was resorted to, and as regards the first it was ascertained that 
fowls devour them greedily, so that their numbers would appear to have been due to 
multiplication in excess of what the bird-s of the Gardens could keep down. 
The Coccid, Orthezia insignis, was troublesome on Barleria crista ta, Thun - 
bergia erecta , Randia Musset enda , and Wuljfa stenoglossa. Another Coccid, Tacit- 
ardia aurantiaca , which is common on Acacias, was noticed to affect Ficus 
irregularis badly. 
Two diseased areas appeared in the Gardens jungle. Rather large trees died and 
then the undergrowth died too. This phenomenon is not new : it was recorded by 
Mr. RlDLEY in tile “Agricultural Bulletin of the Malay Peninsula’ , 1900, p. 257, and 
the fungus causing it was described by Mr. MaSSEE as Roselhnia ec/nnata (“Kew 
Bulletin 5 ” 1901, p. 155). The diseased areas were treated as advised for Rosellinia 
radiciperda namely, by liming after burning the dead wood. 
In the centre of each infected patch the fern Nephrolepis acuta appeared, 
apparently as a response to the admission of light in sufficient quantity, as it is absent 
from the surrounding forest. Foresters in Malaya might do well to observe and make 
notes on such pockets of dying trees. 
Randia Mussaenda has been bedded out on the Bandstand hill : it has a delightful 
fragrance as of orange blossom. Ficus irregularis , one of the most beautiful of the 
Figs has been propagated successfully for the first time in the Gardens, and is being 
planted out in new places. Diospyros Ebenum , the Ceylon Ebony, reported formerly 
as a failure, has also been planted out and appears of promise. 
Areca glandtformis fruited and seedlings have been raised. 
The tree referred to as “ Acer heterophylla ” in the Gardens Report for 1914,011 
further cultivation proves to be Aleurites cor data. Che tree of Custavza speciosa 
mentioned in the Report for 1912 as destroyed is now re-established from root 
suckers. 
The reshaping of the Dell in the Gardens was completed in 1916, but the water 
supply system remained unfinished. The Dell is one of the prettiest spots in the 
Gardens. 
One of the Snake-eating eagles which used to visit the Gardens was shot in the 
neighbourhood. It was mischief merely to shoot the bird : and such acts strike 
directly at the interest of the Gardens. 
Naval or Military bands played in the Gardens on seven occasions. 
4,619 ornamental plants were sent out, and 
201 packets of seed. 
v 
