SYONA 30TA.T0.-iL GAJD5L:3 
*1 
.Monthly Report for October, 2603 
1 * 33 p. Purtado *s Report 
Herbarium. Che* Kiah inspected most of the bottles and tubes from 
the spirit collections, refilling the bottles with alcohol or alcohol- 
formalin as necessary, and re-waxing and removing the corks where 
required. 
He collected 400 specimens of about 20 different kinds of weeds used 
as vegetables. These are being dried at present. 
Che f ilur rearranged 6,290 specimens in the general herbarium 
incorporating in it the specimens of the Hong ICong Herbarium of the 
corresponding families, namely, Apocynaceae , Asclepediaceae, Loganiaceae, 
Gentianaceae’, Boraginaceae and Convolvulaceae. 
Mr. Purtado identified over 50 specimens of edible weeds collected 
for the purpose of showing them to Military Students. He had also to 
attend to various inquiries made by ITippon-zin concerning plants of 
medicinal or economic importance, and also to supply to them the 
required information (or literature) about their analyses. Many 
inquiries were received also concerning plants poisonous to men and 
livestock. 
Miscellaneous . Mr. Purtado visited Johor e in the company -of 
Prof. Karione and Capt. Hachiya, the visit being in connection with 
the study of medicinal and poisonous x^lnnts. Some officers were taken 
round the Gardens to show them the different poisonous and medicinal 
plants in the Gardens. 
It was a great relief to the coolies that the Department arranged 
for the oil distribution department ally thereby saving the coolies a 
good deal of time and trouble. 
It is rather difficult to recruit coolies at the existing rates, 
and further comiJlications have arisen because certain departments offer 
the coolies not only higher wages but also higher rice rations. In 
view of this it is highly desirable that the status of many of our 
coolies as a labourer on light work should be reconsidered. 
Mr. Mspeckerman typed 50 page3| of the Library Catalogue, and 35 
■cages of *ooisonous and medicinal plants. He also assisted Mr. A. Wahab 
-A #*. , — • 
in collecting the coolies* Nation cards and making their list for 
departmental use. 
Mr. York Ghye prepared 4 drawings of rattan and about 10 drawings 
of vegetables. 
Mr. Purtado also assisted in teaching A.R.P. duties to the people 
in the Gardens Kampong and those living in the neighbourhood. 
2. Mr. Holt turn's Botanical Work 
• 
Mr. Holttum completed his studs?’ of the smaller terrestrial orchids 
and began to write up his notes on this group (about 90 species). He 
began a revision of some of the groups examined at the beginning of the 
present work, which, were not treated with sufficient thoroughness. 
When this is completed a full revision of all Peninsular Orchids will 
have been made. A few more drawings were made during the month. 
3 • Mr. Corner *s Botanical work 
| 
Mr. Corner continued his researches on Malayan fungi and completed 
a large number of microscopical drawings , He also assisted Dr. Korioa 
in his studies of Malayan plants, in the collection of seeds and 
planting material and in the control of the Forest Reserves under the 
Botanical Garden. 
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