Explore "Wanderings in New South Wales, Batavia, Pedir Coast, Singapore, and China, Volume 2" by George Bennett on Textopian.
The Botanic Garden-The Croton tiglium-The true Camphor-tree-The Malaleuca Kayu-puteh-Excursion into the interior of the island-Botanical productions-Chinese farms and plantations-Pepper harvest-Plantain-trees-Gambir plantations-Boiling houses-Cultivation and preparation of Gambir-Dense vegetation of the Jungles-Establishment of a Chinese-planter.
The Botanic Garden will soon cease to exist. Of the valuable trees it contained a few remain, liable frequently to injury from the inroads and depredations of cattle; and I understand that its locality is to be disposed of in lots for building. A large number of thriving nutmeg and clove-trees laden with fruit, still remain; and a few common tea-trees are seen flourishing, occasionally covered by blossoms, and fruit; several _Bauhinias_, among which the _B. tomentosa_ was conspicuous with its ornamental, delicate, white blossoms and leguminous pods, as well as the _Gardenia_, whose fragrant flowers diffused a powerful scent around some time before the shrub could be discerned; small plants of the Champaca (_Michelia suaveolens_) were also seen, but had not yet attained a sufficient elevation to gratify by the agreeable appearance and odour of its blossoms, which are so much the delight of the Javanese women, and other native females, who perfume and ornament themselves with its flowers.