4 
I: would earnestly- urge on the Government the necessity for action 
matter, with a view to extending the reserve so as to take in "these lands, 
delay may see them entirely destroyed. 
* J J J « 
in this 
Further 
23. — With a view to obtaining a more practicable western boundary for the 
reserve, it • was decided to purchase some abandoned lands which had become 
overgrown with secondary growth and brushwood. A line was consequently run 
by survey outside those portions which were believed to be purchaseable at fair 
prices, but as soon as the Government were seen to be in earnest about securing the 
lands, the native owners raised the prices and it was found impossible to agree to 
the purchase of more than one holding of about 7 acres within the year. Some of the 
proprietors will no doubt come to terms, later on but the delay caused wasp/exatious, 
as nearly £2,000 lapsed to the Treasury. 1 map here be permitted to observe that it 
would btl- advantageous in the future to set aside annually a certain lump sum of 
money to be expended in the purchase of lands required by the Forest Department 
and for compensation to cultivators. 
Herbarium, 
specimens. 
24.— The collecting of Herbarium f pecimens of the plants of Malacca and of 
the adjoining Protected Native States w; s taken in hand, and about a thousand were 
sent to Singapore before the close of t le year. The Overseer has taken advantage 
of his visits to the reserves to collect a , much botanical information as his various 
other duties oermitted. 
i * 
PENANG. 
25. — Next to Singapore, the work accomplished in Penang has been the most 
extensive of the year, notwithstanding the drawback that one-half of the year elapsed 
before the arrival of a qualified assistant from England. Mr. Ct’RTlS reported himself 
towards the end of July, and-has pushed on the work with great energy. 
The work accomplished consisted of the demarcation of the hill forest reserves ; 
the formation of a Forest tree nursery, air experimental nursery, and the clearing and 
laying out of grounds at the Waterfall for planting colonial products. 
Demarcation 
of the hill 
reserves. 
26. — The largest reserve made' covers the highest hill range in the island 
with an altitude varying from 2,550 to 2,713 feet, respectively. This was consi- 
dered the most important and consequently it was the first taken in hand. 
From one-third to one-half of the elevation of this range has been included, due 
regaVd being paid to the nature of the soil, angle of the slope and amount of cultivation. 
The outline of the reserves as demarcated is very irregular, owing to cultivation having 
attained a higher altitude than was consistent with the general welfare. That 
no restriction should have been placed on the ascent of cultivation is to be 
deplored. To avoid including these encroachments it was necessary to raise the 
outline of the reserve higher at certain points than would have been necessary had 
there been no such obstacles, and by wav of compensating to some extent for this loss 
the line was proportionately lowered in places where no cultivation existed and where the 
angle of the hill side was such as to render cultivation impracticable. This has been 
done at the expense ol much cutting and hard climbing, and the few clearings unavoid- 
ably included within the reserve are of no great value. A list of these and their 'ap- 
proximate areas has been drawn up, and they have been valued with a view to 
arrangements being made for taking them over. 
o o o 
27. — The demarcation line has been cut nine feet wide, of which live feet have 
been cleared of tree stumps, etc., and the upper side of the slope dug away to make a 
passable inspection path. The total length of the line thus opened, from the com- 
mencement of operations to the dose of the year, is about 30 miles. The line embraces 
the whole of the main hill range of the island from western Ayer Hitam to Batu 
Feringgi, and this circle is now completed with the exception of a small portion 
between Half-way house, on Government hill and Bukit Timah, the opening of which 
has been deferred pending the settlement, by purchase or otherwise, of the lands over 
the watershed of the Penang river upon which George- town is principally dependent 
for its water supply. 
28. — As the work ol demarcation proceeded, it was found more economical to 
rent houses trom Chinese lor the accommodation of the coolies than to erect new quar- 
ters for them. 
Quarters. 
