3 
BOTANICAL RESERVES 
As already reported, the former Bukit Timah Forest Reserve was taken 
over by the Gardens Department in July, 1937. Timber thefts in 1938 were 
few, showing that the regular patrols are effective, and the areas formerly 
devastated by illicit felling are for the most part growing up satisfactorily 
into new thickets. Some of the older open areas are much overgrown with 
Gleichenia fern (Resam); it is intended to deal with these gradually as labour 
is available, to cut back the fern and when necessary to plant new local trees. 
A new path was made skirting the head of the fern valley, and another 
near the eastern boundary of the reserve; this latter path, by permission of 
the Municipal Water Engineer, was continued through the adjacent part of 
the water catchment area to the Dairy Farm. These paths open up to con¬ 
venient access parts of the forest formerly not easily accessible. They make 
the duty of patrolling easier and have also provided very pleasant new walks 
within the forest. 
The Health Department constructed an artificial pool in one of the 
valleys on the western side of the reserve. This pool serves as a reservoir 
for flushing the exposed lower part of the valley for anti-malarial purposes; 
it also provides a delightful forest pool which will serve an interesting pur¬ 
pose for the culture of shade loving water plants and native fish. 
The regular collecting of tree specimens in the reserve, with the aid 
of the botanical monkeys (.set’ 1937 report) has continued. Specimens are 
brought in almost every day, and as a result a number of additional trees 
have been labelled, adding both to the botanical value of the reserve and to 
its interest for visitors. These collections have been of particular interest 
and value to Mr. Henderson in his work on the genus Eugenia. At least 30 
different species of this genus have been found in the reserve, and ample 
material both of flowers and fruit has been available for investigation. Two 
of the species found during the year had not previously been known to 
exist in the southern part of Malaya. 
In addition to the collection of specimens, seeds of many interesting 
local trees have also been collected in the Reserve. Some of these seeds 
have been sown for re-afforestation or other local planting; others have been 
sent to botanical institutions in other parts of the world. 
In addition to the Bukit Timah Reserve, two other areas in Singapore 
have been selected for preservation. These are areas of Mangrove, one at 
the 14th mile on the road to Johore, the other by the Pandan and Jurong 
rivers. The old trees in these areas have mostly been felled but there is 
much young growth which if left will adequately preserve the character of 
the mangrove. It is most desirable to retain within easy access of the town 
samples of this very interesting vegetation, with the characteristic features of 
which all local students of plant life should be acquainted. The area near 
Kranji is not regularly patrolled at present, and it is difficult to prevent 
thefts of small timber. The Pandan area, which is much larger, is patrolled 
by a Chinese charcoal burner, who is allowed to cut timber under strict 
supervision. 
The boundaries of the above three reserves were agreed upon and 
surveyed during the year, but the final arrangements for constitution as 
Forest Reserves were not completed. They are to be made Forest Reserves 
for convenience of administration, not because they will be exploitable as 
forests. The Director of Gardens has been gazetted a Conservator of Forests 
in order to have control over them. 
