Description

McNair had the pleasure to receive from RBG Kew the note with regard to the tree he sent last year. He now takes the opportunity, by his friend Mr Birch[?] to send the root of a shrub that grows without difficulty in their climate and is used universally by Chinese gardeners to destroy insects on young vegetable plants. The Malays also, who are frequently too apathetic and lazy to fish, throw the juice of the root into small streams to stupefy the fish who are readily caught upon the banks in a very short time. The plant is called 'Tooba' by the Malays. McNair is noted as Colonel Engineer. Page 1 of 3.