454 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ May 31, 1883. 
kind exertions of Mr. Low, onr resident at Perak, received a con¬ 
signment of germinating seeds of the second best variety of that 
country. This is called 1 Gatah sundek,’ and Mr. Low informs me 
that it forms a very large tree 120 feet high, but quick-growing. 
Prom specimens of the foliage and fruit sent with the seeds, it would 
appear (so far as can be identified without flowers) to be a species of 
Payena. This is a valuable gift, as ‘ the Gatah trees in Perak 
sufficiently large to produce the gum are now very rare, and very 
great difficulty arises in procuring seeds or specimens.’ The young 
plants are growing vigorously in Peradeniya and Heneratgoda.” 
With regard to Gutta Sundek or Puteh Sundek, Dr. Dennys’s report 
merely contains the following remarks :—“ It is stated by Captain 
Murray to be identical with Gutta Taban. Mr. Murton, however, 
describes it as the product of a tree differing from Dichopsis Gutta in 
having leaves ‘ much shorter and broader,’ more ovate in general 
outline, and the pilose hairs on the under surface not so fulvous as in 
that species. Captain Murray’s remark, however, points to the fact 
that commercially Gutta Sundek and Gutta Taban are deemed much 
the same, the former being only an inferior variety.” 
It is evident from the facts stated above that the running-out of 
existing natural sources of gutta percha is an event within measur¬ 
able distance. The preservation of the supply is peculiarly a case for 
Government and not for individual enterprise. I reproduce here the 
concluding passages of the convincing report of Dr. Dennys, in the 
hope that before it may be too late the policy suggested may seriously 
engage the attention of the Governments of some of our Eastern 
possessions. “ Comparatively scanty as are the details as yet to hand 
regarding both gutta percha and caoutchouc, two facts may be con¬ 
sidered ascertained. (1), That the demand is increasing and is likely 
to increase for some time to come, and (2) that the supply threatens 
to become exhausted within a very short period. As regards Singa¬ 
pore, there is ample evidence that both Ficus elastica and Dichopsis 
Gutta at one time abounded on the island, and that their disappear¬ 
ance is entirely owing to the want of foresight of those who reaped 
the first harvest of their yield. In view, therefore, of the very large 
amount of suitable unoccupied ground at Government disposal, and 
which is not likely to be wanted for building or other planting pur¬ 
poses, I would respectfully suggest that measures be taken to ascer¬ 
tain whether an appreciable increase to the future revenue of the 
colony might not be insured by selecting and planting suitable 
localities. 
“It may be difficult for the Colonial Government to exercise a 
direct influence in favour of care and prudence on the part of the 
native administrations, but much might be done to encourage enter¬ 
prise in the formation of new Gutta plantations. It may also be 
worth while to ascertain whether the appointment of European con¬ 
servators under the control of the residents would not achieve the 
end of preserving a most valuable monopoly to the different Govern¬ 
ments, as it may be assumed that the expenses thus incurred would 
be amply justified by the commercial results both to Singapore and 
Penang as depots, as well as to the original collectors and vendors 
of such important articles of trade. It is not impossible also that 
fresh discoveries might be made if not of new trees yielding similar 
products, of subvarieties which might furnish a commercially 
valuable substitute, while it is more than probable that vast areas 
of virgin growth might be discovered in the interior portions of the 
Peninsula by an explorer under Government auspices. 
“ The principal obstacles in the way of individual enterprise lie in 
the time necessary to mature the tree, said to be about fifteen or 
perhaps twenty years at least, and the difficulty of obtaining seeds, 
saplings, or cuttings wherewith to commence plantations. These can 
only be met by the cordial co-operation of the residents and native 
authorities, the latter needing especially to be convinced that by 
aiding the movement they will not be depriving themselves of a 
valuable monopoly. As regards the former it is probable that but 
very few Europeans would embark capital which would not yield an 
out-turn for fifteen or twenty years, which, I am informed on bota¬ 
nical authority, is the average time required before a tree is ready 
for tapping ; many trees, indeed, are reputed to be thirty years old 
when tapped, and it would, therefore, seem that the Government alone 
could afford to undertake the establishment of plantations. At 
present we are without data as to probable expense, but, as the trees 
are essentially jungle trees, and require no care when once fairly 
started, this may be taken as very low. Assuming that each picul of 
133J tbs. of the best qualities to represent the yield of ten trees, and to 
be worth 45 dots., ten thousand trees would give a gross return of 
45,000 dols. The available crown lands in Singapore could probably 
grow one hundred thousand trees, at the lowest estimate giving 
450,000 dols. in the gross out-turn, though this estimate must be 
mere guesswork until a proper survey be made. But assuming that 
the annual income of the colony could be increased by 200,000 dols., 
or less than half the sum named, the matter seems worth attention ; 
while there is reason to believe that even if the yield from the native 
states continued at its present figure the additional supply would 
soon find a market without materially lowering the price.” 
Facts about Leaves. —In a lecture by Professor Beal of America 
upon this subject, the following remarks occur :—As is well known, 
a tree cannot grow without leaves. These are put forth every year, 
and are a contrivance for vastly increasing the surface. An Oak 
tree of good size exposes several acres of surface to the air during 
the growing season. It has been estimated that the Washington 
Elm at Cambridge, Mass., not a very large tree, exposes about 5 acres 
of foliage, if we include both sides of the leaves. Leaves are more 
nearly comparable to stomachs than to lungs. A leaf is a laboratory 
for assimilating or manufacturing raw materials into plant fabric. 
The cellular structure of the leaves, wood, and bark of a tree is a 
complicated subject to treat in a popular way. It requires a vast 
surface of leaves to do a little work. By counting the leaves on a 
seedling Oak, and estimating the surface on both sides of each, we 
can see how many inches are needed to build up the roots and stem 
for the first year. After the first year the old stem of the Oak bears 
no leaves. It is dependent on the leaves of the branches, or its 
children, for support. A tree is a sort of community, each part 
having its own duties to perform. The root hairs take up most of 
the nourishment. The young roots take this to the larger ones, and 
they in turn, like the branches of a river, pour the flood of crude sap 
into the trunk, which conveys it to the leaves, which are the work¬ 
shops of the plant body. The trunk and main branches also support 
and hold out the young branches, which put forth the leaves. The 
assimilated or digested sap passes from the leaves to all growing 
parts of the plant, and a deposit is made where most needed. If a 
branch is much exposed to the winds, the base of it has a certain 
support or certain amount of nourishment. So with the trunk of a 
tree. If the base of a branch or the main trunk is much exposed to 
the winds and storms a much thicker deposit of food is made there. 
The winds give a tree exercise, which seems good to help make it 
strong. Our toughest wood comes from trees growing in exposed 
places. The limbs of a tree are all the time striving with each other 
to see which shall have the most room and the most sunshine. 
While some perish in the attempt, or meet with only very indifferent 
success, the strongest of the strong buds survive. 
ORCHIDS AT HOLLOWAY. 
In the extensive and choice collections of Orchids at the Vic¬ 
toria and Paradise Nurseries, Mr. B. S. Williams has at all seasons 
of the year a display of more or less magnitude. Large numbers 
of the most beautiful species and their finest varieties are repre¬ 
sented by not only thousands of plants of moderate size, but also 
in many cases by specimens of unrivalled dimensions, which have 
won their owner prizes and honours innumerable throughout Great 
Britain and on the continent. April, May, and June are particu¬ 
larly favourable months for visiting these celebrated collections, 
and at the present time the display is most satisfactory, grand 
banks of flowering plants being formed in several houses, and 
including representatives of hundreds of beautiful varieties. There 
is also abundant promise of further attractions within the next 
few weeks, which will prolong the exhibition far into summer, so 
that visitors may expect ample reward for a journey thither any 
time within the next two or three months. Mr. B. S. Williams 
spares no pains or expense to render his collection as complete as 
possible, and novelties are being constantly added either amongst 
imported or established plants; and it is quite surprising to note 
the great number of improved varieties of well-known species that 
are grown, all well marked, easily distinguished, and much supe¬ 
rior to the original forms. 
Cattleyas. —These are now flowering superbly, varieties of 
C. Mossise and C. Mendeli being particularly prominent. The 
range of variation in the former species is very great, some being 
most richly and deeply coloured, others very delicate, but all are 
beautiful. C. Mossia; alba marginata, C. M. Rothschildiana, 
C. M. Alexandra, C. M. elegans, C. M. Dodgsoni, and the Paris 
variety are‘only a few of the most remarkable forms. One grand 
specimen, with 140 pseudo-bulbs and about two dozen flowers, is 
a great feature in the bouse, and has a fine effect growing upon 
a block. The lovely C. Mendeli is also in strong force, closely 
allied to it being that most handsome Cattleya, C. Morganise, 
which has beautifully formed flowers, white or blush-tinted, the 
lip fringed, blotched with crimson at the point and golden in the 
throat. C. crispa, C. purpurata, and its magnificent variety 
Williamsi, C. Warneri, C. porpkyroglossa, with Lalia irrorata, and 
innumerable others constitute a diversity and richness of colours 
that no other Orchids can equal. 
Cypripediums are also finely represented, the distinct and 
beautiful C. superbiens, with its green-streaked dorsal sepal and 
dark purple-spotted petals and large lip, is flowering well, one 
plant having twelve fine blooms and another six. The snowy- 
white C. niveum, the large and handsome C. barbatum, the long- 
petalled C. Lowi, and C. selligerum, all contribute to the display. 
Dendrobiums are still good, though many are over, and others 
are showing flowers, especially D. suavissimum, of which there is 
a fine stock. 
In the cool house Masdevallias and Odontoglossums are flower¬ 
ing well, very handsome varieties of M. Harryana and ignea, with 
