20 
INDIA-RUBBER, CAUTCHOUC, AND GUMS. 
Gutta Percha {Dichop sis gutta). From statistics afforded by plants growing in 
the Nursery, this plant, the best variety of Gutta Percha tree, seems a moderate- 
ly fast grower. A plant planted in 1879 is now twenty-five feet in height and twelve 
inches in circumference at six feet above the ground. This gives an average yearly 
growth in height of about three and a half feet, and an annual increase in circumfer- 
ence of about one and one-fourth inch. 
Native Creeping Gutta. — 1 he various Willoughbeias and others from which 
a very large proportion of East Indian Gutta is drawn, grow with great vigour 
when planted on cleared land, and where, in the absence of anything to climb upon, they 
form large bushes in twelve months. Results of growth seem to show that it would be 
more profitable to plant these than the larger trees requiring some fifteen years to 
produce a first return. 
Foreign Creeping Gutta. — The Foreign creeping Guttas on hand are the African 
and Madagascar creepers ; these are planted side by side with the native kinds, and 
although they grow freely are far behind the native kinds in rate of growth and gen- 
eral vigour. 
Other foreign rubber, such as Para, Ceara and Panama rubbers grow well, but so 
far as experiments have gone, the produce of latix is very watery and it is doubtful 
whether they will hold their own against the better native kinds. The other Gums under 
cultivation are, Gum Tolu, Gum Benzoin, and Gum Arabic, all growing satisfactorily. 
DRUGS. 
Kola {Cola acuminata) a native of western Africa and acclimatised in our 
West Indian Colonies, produces a pod which contains several seeds about the size of 
horse chestnuts, which are used for many purposes by the Negroes, but one of its 
newest uses is that of an antidote for the effects of alcohol, or cure for inebriety, a nut 
powdered and taken in a little water is said to at once restore the most intoxicated 
mind to a state of sobriety. It is also used to heal wounds, as a remedy for Indigestion, 
and a substitute for coffee, &c. The plant grows well in the Straits. 
IPECACUANHA {Cephadis ipecacuanha) , a native of Brazil, and a plant which 
has been found generally very difficult to cultivate, seems to grow in the Straits with 
all the luxuriance of its native country when a proper situation is hit upon. It enjoys 
a very moist still atmosphere and somewhat dense shade. In the Straits it forms a 
compact little bush of about eighteen inches in height and is very ornamental when 
well in flower. I lately visited a plantation of the plant in Johor and saw 
thousands of plants in excellent health. They were protected from the sun by palm 
leaves laid side by side on artificial supports about 6 feet in height ; hedges of the same 
material were put down a few yards apart. Soil chocolate colour, rich in vegetable 
matter, wood ashes, &c. 
TOBACCO {Nicotiana tobacum ) — The soil of the Straits is generally not sufficiently 
rich for the successful cultivation of tobacco, except perhaps as a first crop after the remo- 
val of virgin forest, or in specially prepared compost. The plant requires heavy 
manuring to keep it growing satisfactorily on ordinary ground, as it exhausts the soil 
so quickly and thoroughly. Where the soil is not congenial, to start with its cul- 
tivation can hardly prove remunerative. Seed of the best kinds have however been 
distributed amongst the planting community. 
Campi-IOR {Camphora officinarum ), or Formosa Camphor, is not of much interest 
to Straits people so far as its cultivation is concerned, the climate being unsuitable 
for its proper growth. If nevertheless grows fairly well in Singapore. 
Sumatra Camphor {Dryobalanops ar'omatica), also known as Borneo Cam- 
phor, is sparingly found on the Peninsula ; and its importance in the afforestation of 
the Settlements is not overlooked. Private enterprise will hardly ever successfully 
cultivate the plant, owing to the time which is required to elapse between first outlay 
and first income. 
JALAP {Ipomaca purga ) ^ The climate of the Straits is not found suitable 
Genseng {Panax genseng) j for the cultivation of either of these valuable drugs. 
The former sell at is. 2d. a pound, the latter at (occasionally) $400 the ounce. 
