V - ) 
commend the reservation of all areas where the trees (there are several species 
of Palaquium * yielding good Gutta Percha) are found growing naturally, or they 
can be planted with good prospect of success. Such an area is that in Penang to the 
North of the Government Hill Reserve and below an elevation of 1.000 feet at about 
which altitude the existing reserve boundary has b^en taken. Other tracts may pro- 
bably be found near the P ’ it Laksamana reserv' or between it and the Pantai 
Acheh reserve. Small area; e also available in ? ’acca near Batang Malacca and 
Nyalas in the Jasin District ; in the Tebong Muk of the Alor Gajah District. 
Bukit Langkap in the central District of Provinc .Vellesley may well be reserved. 
In Singapore the mangrove tracts on the North oi the island should be reserved 
so that a working scheme may be drawn up for the entire area of this class of forest. 
An additional reserve can probably be demarcated on the Bajau Hills near the 1 uas 
River and it is for consideration whether Pulau Ubin should not be in great part 
reserved. In the Dindings where I understand the policy of Government is to even- 
tually reserve some 20% of the total area, I am of opinion that a sufficient area has 
been taken up for the present, and that it will be better to wait till more land has 
been alienated and the trade in timber and forest produce has further developed for 
the conservation of any more extensive areas. A reserve may be formed on Bukit 
Undan opposite Lumut and Bukit Senaogir may be maintained permanently under 
forest but there is no urgency in regard to their demarcation. A survey of the exist- 
ing reserves, and indeed of the whole territory, is much needed ; and, when this is 
made, I am satisfied that the reserved area will be found to greatly exceed the esti- 
mates of it. The unreserved mangrove tracts may well be reserved, since as a rule 
they can only be utilized for the production of fuel, and with the Tanjong Burong 
reserve be worked under a systematic plan such as will be described under another 
heading. Every encouragement should be given to traders to come and purchase 
timber and produce from the extensive unreserved Crown Lands and, if there 
is any risk of the more valuable trees being completely workec^out, I would sug- 
gest that certain specific trees should be declared “reserved'’ such as Merbau ( Afze - 
lia palembanica ) Damarlaut { Shorea utilis ) Chengal ( Balanocarpus sp.) etc. 
The cutting of these could then be either entirely prohibited for a time or it could be 
restricted by placing a minimum limit on the size of trees to be felled and by charging 
higher rates. 
4. The reserves should be sub-divided by cleared lines or inspection paths into 
blocks of a manageable size, sa y of goo- 1 ,000 acres each. 
Phis would facilitate the clearing and patrolling of the boundary fines : but 
it would chiefly be advantageous in permitting a more minute inspection and examin- 
ation of the reserves than is at present possible. It is a hopeless task to search for 
gutta percha trees in, or gain any idea of the composition of, the large reserves in 
Malacca as they stand, whereas, if they could be dealt with block by block of reasona- 
ble size, it would be a simple matter. The fines or paths will usefully serve later on 
for the export of produce. 
5. The protection of certain reserves from fire should be undertaken. 
Wherever the reserves have been so demarcated as to enclose blanks over- 
grown only with ferns and lalang grass, or similar blanks within the reserves are 
traversed by roads, fires constantly occur and the blanks are not only made permanent 
but are enlarged by the encroachment of the lires on the forest growth. This state 
of things is chiefly confined to Singapore and Province Wellesley: and I think the 
reserves could be easily protected by means of fire-lines such as are extensively used 
in India. 
Where there is risk of fire a narrow fine 5' or 6' parallel to the boundary or two 
fines parallel to the road ( one on either side ) should be cut and cleared at a distance 
of 50' or even ioo', and the intervening grass be burnt under control once or twice a 
year as may be necessary. The grass cut from the narrow fines should be thrown to 
dry on the side to be burnt and to facilitate the burning and control of the fire, cross- 
lines may be cut across the fire-lines. 
Once the system were started, it would be easy to carry out and Forest Rangers 
could arrange to overlook and pay for the work. 
* I use this name for the g-enus on the authority of Major Prain, cm.s. 
