ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF GARDENS, 
STRAITS SETTLEMENTS FOR THE YEAR 1931 
STAFF 
The Director returned from leave on January, 10th and resumed his duties. 
Mr. E. J. H. Corner, Asst. Director, was in Singapore throughout the year; 
from August 27th he acted as Professor of Biology, King Edward VII College 
of Medicine. Mr. M. R. Henderson, Curator of the Herbarium was in 
Singapore throughout the year. Mr. F. Flippance, Assistant Curator, had 
charge of the work of the Department in Penang throughout the year. 
Mr. G. A. Best, Asst. Curator, Singapore, was on duty throughout the year. 
Mr. J. Lennon, Asst. Curator, Parks, Singapore, was away on furlough until 
June 15th. There were no changes in the local staff. 
LABOUR 
The average number of gardeners and coolies on daily pay employed in the 
Singapore Gardens was 80, and at Penang 62. New men at Singapore were 
paid at the reduced minimum rate of 47 cents per day, and others receiving 
60 cents or more per day had their wages reduced by 5 cents per day during the 
year. At Penang rates of wages were unchanged until the end of the year. 
The health of the labour force was on the wh 
REVENUE 
Singapore:— 
Sale of plants and seeds 
Inspection fees 
Sale of guides and postcards .. 
Rent of buildings 
Penang:— 
Sale of plants and seeds 
Lole good. 
$ c. 
2,100 95 
233 25 
107 86 
52 00 
487 45 
2,981 51 
PLANT COLLECTION AND FIELD EXCURSIONS 
Mr. Corner made a short expedition to the Sedili River, Johore, in 
February, exploring some of the neighbouring swampy forest and collecting 
fungi. 
The Director made a short visit to Pahang in April visiting various locali¬ 
ties near the railway between Mentakab and Tembeling. Attention was chiefly 
paid to grasses and secondary growth generally; two grasses and one bamboo 
were obtained which were additions to the local flora ( Digitaria pseudo- 
ischaemum Buese, Eragrostis tephrosanthos Schult and Schizostachyum 
brachycladum Kurz.) An attempt was made to distinguish between the 
secondary growth on the different geological formations which are found near 
together in that part of Pahang, but without success. It appears likely that 
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