ANNUAL REPORT OF THE GARDENS DEPARTMENT, 
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS, FOR THE YEAR 1939 
STAFF 
Mr. E. J. H. Corner, Assistant Director, was on leave until 26th April. 
Mr. J. C. Nauen, Assistant Curator, was on leave until 29th June, when he 
took over from Mr. J. W. Ewart charge of the work of the Department in 
Penang; Mr. Ewart then returned to Singapore and resumed duties as 
Assistant Curator in charge of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Other 
members of the staff were on duty throughout the year. 
On the outbreak of war, Mr. E. J. H. Corner was appointed Food 
Supply Officer, Singapore; Mr. M. R. Henderson (Curator of the 
Herbarium) and Mr. J. W. Ewart also devoted most of their time to the Food 
Supply Office from the outbreak of war until the end of the year. 
Mr. C. X. Furtado, Assistant Botanist, qualified for the degree of 
Doctor of Science of Bombay University, having submitted a manuscript 
thesis on the history and present state of the systematics of Malayan palms, 
and also his published botanical papers on this and other groups. He 
actually received the degree after the close of the year. 
LABOUR 
The labour force remained approximately as in 193S, in the Botanic 
Gardens, Singapore, and the Waterfall Gardens, Penang, namely 85 and 
50 respectively. In Government House Domain the labour force was 
increased to 74, in addition to 20 extra men for special work; and in the 
Waterfall Gardens, Penang, 9 extra men were also employed for nine months 
on special work (as reported below). O11 Penang Hill the labour force 
amounted to 29, and n men in the Residency grounds at Penang. Rates of 
wages were unchanged. Health was in general satisfactory. 
REVENUE 
The revenue from the sale of plants, seeds, etc. was as follows: — 
Singapore :— 
$ c. 
Sale of plants and seeds ... ... 3,025 74 
Inspection fees, etc. ... ... ... 876 25 
Municipal contribution for Assistant Curator’s 
services ... ... ... ... 2,400 00 
Penang :— 
Sale of plants and seeds ... ... 561 90 
Municipal contribution for Assistant Curator’s 
services ... ... ... ... 1,200 00 
PLANT COLLECTIONS AND FIELD EXCURSIONS 
Owing to the absence of two senior officers on leave during the first 
half of the year, and special duties due to the outbreak of war during the last 
three months, less field work than usual was carried out. 
Regular collections were continued in Bukit Tim ah Forest Reserve, by 
means of the trained Berok monkeys (see below), and much useful 
material obtained in this way. Some collections were also made in the 
