10. In November, Mr. Cantley being in Penang on inspection duty , 
I accompanied bim to Ara Kuda, to examine the pepper plantations that 
have been made there, and owing to the heavy rains we had to wade 
through water from three to five feet deep for over half a mile both in 
going and returning, and the rivers were crossed with great difficulty. 
11. At the time of our visit, the crop was looking very promising, 
and the planters spoke cheerfully of their prospects, but only a small 
quantity has yet been exported, as most of the plantations are compara- 
tively new. 
12. Six hundred (600) samples of the Flora of Penang have been 
collected in triplicate, and sets forwarded to the Botanic Gardens, Singa- 
pore, and ‘the lioyal Gardens, Kew ; and an examination of these proves 
that many new and undescribed plants are still to be found in this island. 
IB. A cabinet has been purchased, in which the sj^ecimens kept for 
reference in Penang are arranged in their proper order, and it is hoped 
that the Government will eventually provide a suitable place in which 
these, and other objects of Forest produce and Natural History, may be 
placed and made available for the whole community. 
14. Much labour has been entailed in connection with the collection 
and preparation of articles for the Indo-Colonial Exhibition, including 
samples of timbers in transverse sections and wild and cultivated fruits in 
glass bottles, as detailed in Annexure A . 
15. Two journeys have been undertaken during the year for the pur- 
pose of collecting plants and seeds and obtaining information as to the 
vegetable products of the Native States. 
On the first occasion, I accompanied Mr. Cantley to Perak, where we 
ascended Gunong Bubu, and Gunong Pondok, near Kuala Kangsa and 
Maxwell’s Hill near Thaipeng. Many interesting plants were collected 
during this trip, which are growing well in the Experimental Nursery on 
Penang Hill. 
16. The second trip was made in November, when I proceeded to 
Teluk Anson and up the Sungkei river for the purpose of collecting orchids, 
&c,, which were needed to exchange for foreign plants and seeds. 
I intended during this trip to have visited the Slim range of hills, but 
owing to my leave of absence from Penang being very limited, I found it 
impossible to carry out that intention. 
With the kind assistance of Mr. Denison, Superintendent of Lower 
Perak, I succeeded in obtaining the plants required, and brought back a 
fine collection in good condition. 
II.— GARDENS AND NURSEHIES. 
17. Planting in the Experimental Nurseries would have been com- 
menced in January had the weather been favourable, but, owing to the 
unusually prolonged drought, nothing could be done to this until April. 
18 As soon as the rains commenced, the necessity of covering the 
slopes to prevent the banks washing away was made manifest ; and as 
bringing turf from the foot of the hill is a very expensive undertaking, 
a coarse grass was collected along the edge of the jungle which has grown 
well and answers the purpose admirably. 
