Prospectus for the Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and Federated 
Malay States. 
Since 1891 a Bulletin dealing with Agri-Horticulture and other cognate subjects 
has been published by the Gardens Department at irregular intervals. Up to the 
present some nine numbers have been published and of their utility there can be no 
doubt: indeed, so much have they been appreciated by the Planters in the Colony, 
the Federated .Malay States and others, that a desire has been expressed that, 
having regard to the large and increasing number of Agriculturists and others taking 
an interest in Agriculture, the time has now come when something more than the 
Bulletin mentioned above is required. 
2. It is now proposed to publish a monthly Bulletin, which shall incorporate the 
old one, and as far as possible enlarge its scope by making it the medium for the 
exchange and record of Planters' experiences in all that pertains to their interests. 
3. The lines on which it will be conducted will follow to a large extent those of 
similar publications in other Countries, such as the Agricultural Bulletins of Australia 
and some of the West Indian Islands, especially Jamaica, and it will among other 
things include:— 
[a) Leading Articles by the Editor and others. 
(£) Articles on Forestry, Labour Supply, Soils, etc., etc. 
(c) Extracts. 
(d) Entomological Notes, Insect and Fungus Pests, etc. 
( e) Reports of Meetings of Planters' Associations and their Annual Reports. 
Reports on Agricultural Shows in the Colony or Federated Malay States. 
(f) Notes and queries. 
(g) Correspondence 
(h) Market and Trade Reports. 
(i) Weather Reports. - 
In fact its pages will be open to the widest possible extent to subjects of interest 
to the Planter, for whom in the main it is chiefly intended ; it therefore cannot be too 
strongly urged that to make it a success, and of real use to them, each one should 
make a point of writing something, however small, each month, and thus in a word 
make it a Planters’ Paper for Planters. 
4. It is proposed that the Gardens Department shall continue to edit the Bulletin, 
as they are possibly in the best position for consulting Books of Reference; but I would 
here emphasise strongly the difference between editing a Paper and writing it. It is 
of the greatest possible importance that a band of contributors be organized, and this 
I think could best be done in the Federated Malay States by the Chairman of the 
United Planters’ Association; in Penang and Province Wellesley by Mr. Curtis, the 
Assistant Superintendent, Botanic Gardens, Penang. In Perak by Messrs, Wray and 
Derry, the Curator of Museums, and the Superintendent of Government Gardens res¬ 
pectively. In Selangor by Mr. Arden, the Federal Superintendent of Experimental 
Plantations; and, when appointed, by the Chief Forest Officer of the Colony and 
Federated Malay States. These gentlemen will, I feel sure, (if asked by the Govern¬ 
ment) be only too pleased to contribute to its pages and also collect copy in their 
respective districts and forward it to the Editor in Singapore. It is by this combina¬ 
tion only that success can be achieved; and so far as the Gardens Department is con¬ 
cerned, no effort shall be spared to make it so. When possible illustrations will be 
reproduced. ■ * 
5. Subscriptions payable in advance will be at the rate of $3.00 per annum, or 
fifty cents for a single copy, and will be received by the Superintendent of the 
Government Printing Office, Singapore, to whom all orders should be sent. Subscrip¬ 
tions will commence from the 1st of October next, the date on which the first number 
will be issued. 
W. FOX, 
Acting Director , Botanic Gardens . 
Singapore, 1st August , i)oi . 
