Description

Ridley is glad Morris raised plants from the gambir seed. He asks to know what was received dead in the last case he sent; he can send another later in the season, with some Carapa bark. He sent the bark extract to Christy but heard no more about it. He will try Rafflesias again but doubts he will succeed. Rhododendron teysmannii is very rare; it grows on Penang hill, but he has never seen it alive. Ridley requests more Mahogani [Mahogany] seed. Macrophylla is not old enough yet to judge the value of its wood. Last mail Ridley sent a tin box of Sago, made by the Ross's, from the endemic 'Xmas isle' [Christmas Island] palm. He would like Kayea [Khaya] senegalensis, but doubts if it will stand their permanent rain. Ridley spent July in the Cocos and Xmas isles as Government Inspector; he obtained a lot of seeds. The steamer broke down and he was delayed for a 'jolly' week in Java, examining Treub's garden [Bogor ex-Buitenzorg], getting fruits, and rummaging among Teysman's [Teijsmann's] orchids. Ridley brought some orchids from Xmas Isle and received a fine box from Cochin China and Siam [Thailand]. They have also received orchids from Trinidad, Penang, Singapore, Malacca, and Moulmein [Mawlamyine]; Treub has promised Javanese ones too. The garden artist paints almost nothing but orchids. The inhabitants of the Cocos Isles are suffering from want of milk. They have no cows because there is no grass. Ridley asks where he might get certain grasses in quantity; he is writing to Calcutta [Kolkata] and Reasoner Brothers, Florida, for some. It is difficult to make rapid progress in the garden; he has requested ten more men and a museum from Government this year. He wants to lay out the unplanted portion of the garden in natural orders, like Buitenzorg. Next year he will start afforesting in Singapore and requests timber tree seed. He still requires S. American and W. Indian palms. He has just received the [KEW] BULLETIN with the timber trees of the Straits Settlements; many of the Malay names are wrong. Pages 1 and 4 of 4.