17 
Alligator Pear [Per sea gratissima). — This highly esteemed fruit tree is 
now in bearing in the Nursery. About two years ago when only a small plant it was 
removed from the Botanic Gardens where its growth had stood stationary for some 
years, but since being planted in more congenial soil it has grown with great 
freedom. 
DATE Palm [Phoenix dactylifera).—V>C\x\<g often asked as to the possibility of 
dates being grown in the Straits, I may observe that our climate is altogether 
unsuitable for the cultivation of the plant or any of its varieties, of which there are 
over a hundred. The date grows well only in hot, dry climates, in localities where its 
roots can find a sufficiency of moisture. The plant exists in this Colony. 
COMMON Fig [Ficus carica). — The common fig ripens fruit in the Straits very 
freely, but is much subject to attack from insects. A few drops of kerosine oil applied 
to the parts attacked will keep the ants away for about a week when another application 
becomes necessary. The underground portion of the stem is generally the part attacked 
first. Fruits which have attained full size but are backward in ripening may be brought 
to maturity in a few days by the application of a little olive oil to the extremity of 
the fruit. 
NATIVE Fruits. — It is notorious that the supply of native fruits, such as Durian 
and Mangosteen, is not sufficient to meet the local demand, and still orchards are 
not being extended with any great rapidity. So far as I have been able to discover, 
there seems two causes for this. The first is, that nearly all the land accessible to small 
cultivators on which fruit trees can be grown easily in Singapore and Penang is 
already under cultivation ; and the second appears to be, that the growers in Malacca 
where land is available and who are chiefly Malays, are indifferent to money-making 
further than sufficient for their daily requirements. 
The foreign demand for Mangosteen plants has become somewhat excessive 
since the tree has been found to fruit in East Africa and East and West Indies. 
Oranges. — Every effort has been made to get together as large a collection of 
orange plants as possible in the hope that at least a few may be found to fruit freely. 
So far, orange cultivation in the Straits has not been very successful, the plants grow 
freely enough, but produce but little fruit. Some China oranges planted on the 
Woodneuk Estate in Singapore produced during the first year a perfect crop of yellow 
oranges, next year a crop of a greener nature, and the third crop was entirely green. For 
some years past they have ceased producing edible fruit. How far cultivation may 
be to blame for these results is not known, but the stock now on hand will shew what 
can be done to acclimatize and cultivate this favourite fruit. 
BEVERAGES. 
Liberian Coffee [Coffea liberica ) is becoming an established product of the Straits, 
but its proper cultivation is far from being properly understood. Drainage is too little 
attended to by some ; others by starting the plant in very rich compost change the 
character of the roots to an extent that unsuits them for penetration of the natural 
sod. When these errors and some others get corrected, the adaptability of the plant 
tor cultivation here will then shew itself in its true character. Plants of this Coffee 
are under various treatment in the Experimental Nursery, but it would be pre- 
mature at present to detail these, I may state however that the plant will not bear 
manuring in the ordinary way when in fruit, manure should therefore be applied in 
liquid form, or as top dressing, when given to encourage the wmlling of the berries. 
When the soil is disturbed around the plant when in fruit, a large number of the 
berries wither and die owing to the destruction of rootlets in the manuring process, 
and which renders the act a loss instead of a gain. 
MAROGOGEPIE COFFEE [Coffea spi). — Three plants of the Coffee known as " Maro- 
gogepie ” and very favourably reported on some little time ago by the Brazilian Minister 
of Agriculture, were received from Kew during the year and have grown with less 
vigour than the Liberian kind, but with almost double that of Arabian Coffee [Coffea 
arabica ). The leaves are somewhat larger than the Arabian kind, so that the plant 
seems from its growth to approach an intermediate form between Coffea Uberica and 
Coffea arabica, and is not as yet affected by the disease. Should it prove as well 
adapted to our soil as Coffea liberica does, keep free from disease, and have a distinct 
cropping season, It will no doubt supersede all other kinds in the Straits. 
