3 
Fire Protection. 
1 6. An improvement in protection from tire is reported in Province Wellesley 
where lalang fires are apt to be of frequent occurrence, especially to the north- 
east near Tasek Glugor. 
17. There were two cases of lalang fires in the Seletar reserve, and about 15 acres 
was- burnt. Two small areas suffered in the Dindings for which $15 damages were 
recovered. 
18. The Forest Ranger, Malacca, says nothing of lalang fires, which used to be 
very prevailing in Malacca. The new Forest Ordinance gives powers in this respect. 
Fires are confined almost entirely to grass lands, high forest is not subject to fire, 
being evergreen. 
Forest Offences. 
19. The following were the cases taken to Court : — 
Case pending 
from 1908. 
New cases of the year. 
• 
Grand 
total 
cases. 
Disposed of during year. 
Theft of 
timber 
and 
minor 
produce. 
• 68 
Other 
offences. 
Total 
new 
cases. 
Convic- 
tions. 
Acquit- 
tals. 
Pending at 
close of year. 
\ 
7 
75 
77 
59 
,6 
2 
2 
Added to this, 22 cases were compounded in Malacca and two cases dealt with 
departmen tally in Singapore. Of the cases taken into the Courts 59 out of 75 resulted 
in convictions, 78 per cent of convictions, a poor percentage. $551 were realized as 
compensation in Malacca and $28 in Singapore. 
20. There was a large falling off in cases in Malacca. 
Improvement of Forest. 
Natural Reproduction. 
2 1. Natural reproduction of Tampiues ( Slcetia sideroxylon ) is reported as good 
in Pandan and Sungai Buloh reserves. Damar laut ( Shorea utilis ) reproduced itself 
well in the Dindings. 
22. In Malacca it is reported that natural reproduction of the more important 
species was good, especially in the Merlimau, Ayer Panas and Sungai Udang reserves, 
particular^ Resak ( Shorea bar bat a ) . Serayah ( Shorea accuminata ) and Rintangor 
( Caloph yl l u rn inophyllum). 
Artificial Reproduction. 
( Vide Form 8 ). 
23. In Singapore the 97-acre plantation of gutta-percha trees in Bukit Timah was 
upkept at a cost of $609. Useless forest trees overshadowing the young gutta-percha 
trees were thinned out. A nursery was also upkept, and blanks in the plantation 
supplied. A nursery of para rubber was made. The 10-acre block of para rubber in 
Sembawang reserve was handed over to the Municipality during the year. The 
department realized $200 for rubber by lease of the trees. 
24. No new planting was done in Penang, but the Batu Ferringi gutta-percha 
plantation was weeded at a cost of $75.25. The Manicoba rubber and Lagos silk 
rubber planted near Tasek Glugor were not a success, doubtless owing to the poor and 
sandy soil. 
25. In the Dindings nurseries of Chengal and Merbau were made at Lumut, and 
10,000 seeds of the former and 5,000 of the latter obtained from Selangor were sown. 
The Merbau have succeeded, but the Chengal ( Balanocarpus maximus ) has failed. A 
para nursery was also made, from seeds obtained at Lumut, and a few Damar laut and 
Kulhn ( Sorodocarpus borneensis ) . 
26. In Malacca the forest plantations were under the financial control of the 
newly formed Gardens Committee, the area remains the same, vide Form 8. Wherever 
