Description

Many trees that Ridley has never seen in flower are out now out. Last year he obtained some plants from Southern Siam [Thailand], which have the biggest flowers of any Microstylis that he knows. The other day they got a case of plants from New Ireland containing Jatropha podagrica and Heliconia aureostriata, amongst other species. There may also be Heliconiopsis amboinensis, which Baker refers to H. bihai of Brazil. From New Ireland they also got a fine Arundo like grass with purple leaves, like a narrow Cordyline ferrea. Gamble has returned Ridley's small collection of Bamboos with an 'Oxytenanthera ridleyi' and a Bambusa ridleyi. The scandent bamboos there all look the same at first glance but are not. The extraction of gutta percha from leaves is still being pursued. A Frenchman is obtaining leaves from Rhio[?], drying them, grinding them to a powder and shipping them to France, but the manufacturer is keeping the affair rather secret. Ridley discusses his attempts at paper making from Lalang grass and requests a book on the subject. He discusses a German who is trying to get Ramie taken up. Ridley describes his, and a merchant's, attempts at making indigo. Indigo planters may be coming their way to start work; he hopes they will. Ridley encloses samples [not attached] of 'paper stuff', and describes their production. The first two samples are from Lalang grass, Imperata cylindrica; the other two from betel [Areca] nut palm spathe. He would like to know the value of these and if he could improve them in any way. He is going to try other waste products like betel nut husks. He discusses the accuracy of colouring in the figures of Trichopus and Lowia in the BOTANICAL MAGAZINE. He discusses the frantic retrenchment there but thinks the Secretary of State will have something to say regarding the stoppage of all agricultural and forestry progress as agriculture is Malacca's 'only hope'. He will apply for leave again at the end of the year and hopes to get it. Annotated. Page 1 of 4.