6 
have been since planted out in the Garden, and in the Bukit Timah forest reserve. 
A very large proportion did not grow, and those that did were very irregular in the 
time of growth, some struck almost at once, others delayed for nearly a year 
Enquiries elicited the fact that a considerable proportion had been cut no less than 
seven months previously, and kept dry all that time. Those that had been cut only 
two or three months previously grew readily. Among those that came up it was 
noticed that there were not only Dichopsis oblongifolia, but also D. calophylla known 
as Niatoh Waringin in Borneo, a very handsome plant stated to supply a very 
superior gutta. This species seems to grow better and faster than D. oblongifolia. 
There was also a plant of Getak Sundik, Payena Leerii , the white Gutta percha, 
which grew very rapidly. A number of cuttings of D. oblongifolia were also presented 
to the Gardens by Mr. PEARS of Muar, which seem likely to do well, ft seems prob- 
able that owing to the difficulty of procuring seed, the system of growing from 
cuttings will be the most suitable system for cultivation, ft is noticed that the small 
and thin cuttings either do not strike or if they do throw up shoots they soon wither 
off. The shoots often attain considerable growth before any roots appear on the 
cuttings, and frequently quite a bushy little plant has only one or two very thin root- 
lets. This slow development of roots probably accounts for the damping off of 
apparently strong plants on their being planted out. 
Plant diseases. 
1 6. I visited in the spring the districts in Selangor which were affected by the 
plague'of the Coffee caterpillar Cephonodes Hylas , and remained at Kuala Lumpur 
for a few days examining into the life history and habits of the insect, and trying 
• experiments on it. These investigations with those made by Mr. A. L. BUTLER will be 
described in a Bulletin now in course of printing. A number of injurious insects were 
sent to the British Museum for identification, and were named by Mr. WATERHOUSE, 
they included the Banana Weevils, Sphenophorus sordidus, Rose sawfly H. ylesinus 
Victoria; and others of which accounts are being printed in the New Bulletin. 
A very injurious fungus was found attacking the roots of a fig-tree in one of the 
shrubberies. It spreads all through the ground and destroyed almost every plant for a 
considerable distance round the tree. Specimens sent to Kew were discovered to be 
a species of Rosellinia , a genus ol most deadly root-fungi. The diseased plants were 
dug up, and all roots, twigs, etc,, affected burnt, the ground was dug over and lime and 
copper sulphate (Bordeaux mixture) freely applied, which arrested the growth of the 
fungus and quite exterminated it. Bordeaux mixture was also used on Clove trees 
suffering from a leaf-fungus, the trees being syringed with the solution, with excellent 
results. 
Vote for Economic Gardens ... §2,200.00 
Expenditure : — 
Salaries ... ... ... §1,857.72 
Manure ... ... 59.65 
Pots and Tubs ... ... 69.60 
Ataps, lime and bricks ... 25.00 
Tools ... ... ... 141.89 
Balance ... ... 46.14 
§2,200.00 
Forestry. 
17. 1 visited Penang and the Dindings in the spring, and inspected the forest 
reserves in part in both places. In December, while in Malacca, 1 inspected the Gar- 
dens at the Ayer Keroh Reservoir, and went over much of the ground, which has been 
marked out for the planting of Gutta percha and India rubber. The various plants 
in the Gardens, mostly sent from, the Singapore Gardens are growing with remarkable 
vigour, chiefly noticeable are the Para-rubber, Ficus elastica and Ceara-rubber. The 
soil here is gravelly and dry and seems to suit this latter plant very well. It grew 
absolutely faster than the Para-rubber, and there were one year old trees 10 or 12 
feet tall with a stem three inches through at the base. Its latex seemed rich in 
rubber, and it may prove an useful cultural plant in dry upland gravelly places 
where little else will grow. Ficus elastica was also very thriving, and this plant is 
becoming, I am informed, popular with the Chinese. The Hon’ble Resident Coun- 
cillor showed me an excellent sample of rubber taken by Chinese from three year old 
trees. I he country round the waterworks formerly covered to a large extent with 
1 
