9 
( 3 ) 
. 
Peaafo seeds varied considerably , the amount present in the last 
shipi ent received being sufficient to cause a transient illness among 
sore of those opening the packages. 
(8/ It a- i to re that the main cause if not the sole cause of 
the failure«of the Serai shipments were the too close packing and the 
hermetically soldering of the packagas.In the Singapore supplies the 
.* Hf. / 
seeds were able to obtain a sufficiency of Oxygen to retain their vitali^ 
.although as vras desired their germination was retarded;in the Perak 
supplies the small quantity of Oxygen present was quicjly absorbed by 
the seeds during their incipient germination and the changes then comx- 
-enced continued in the absence of free oxygen,the oxygen necessary for 
the production of the formic ' and.acetic acids being obtained from the 
decomposition of possibly some of the carbohydrates of the seeds. The 
* * 
presence of formaldehyde,hydrocyanic and formic aci^shows fairly 
conclusively that the changes which resulted in the destruction of the 
seeds originated largely,if not mainly,in the glucosides of those 
commencing to germinate. 
« , k , * 
(G) The Govt.Botanist thinks that possibly the Perak seeds were not 
"collected as soon as possible after thsy had fallen H as mentioned in 
the instructions but were freshly gathered from the trees and thus that* 
some, of them may not have been ripe enough to enable them to travel 
* • 
satisfactorily. This point should,I think,receive the attention of the 
Strains Settlements Government, 
s 
(10) The loss to the Colony by the almost complete failure of the 
consignments fron Perak has been very serious. Apart from the money 
loss of approximately £ 1,000 ,very heavy losses have been incurred by 
preparations for seed beds etc.having been rendered useless and from 
land intendedpnd prepared for cultivation, say some 1,500 acres,now 
* 
having to remain unplanted for a y^ear or more. 
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