Abstract
OF the numerous Botanic Gardens that have been established throughout the Crown Colonies during the past century, the only ones now remaining as an independent department are those of the Straits Settlements at Singapore and Penang. Under Mr. H. N. Ridley, the scientific reputation of this Department attained a high level, which has been well maintained by the present Director, Mr. I. H. Burkill. With the development of the Malay Peninsula, however, the scientific centre of the country has passed of recent years to Kuala Lumpur, and the more recently constituted Departments of Forestry and Agriculture are both centred there. It is natural, therefore, that the Botanical Department, which works with each, should also incline to Kuala Lumpur, and in this connexion it is rumoured that a possible change in the centre of botanical activities may be considered. The continued economic approachment of the Federated Malay States and Straits Settlements is a natural process, and it is only reasonable that each should contribute to the maintenance of a department which serves both and at present is maintained by the Straits Government only. The recent alienation of the Economic Section of the Singapore Gardens for building purposes materially limits the scope of the work which can be carried out from Singapore, and suggests that some alteration is desirable if the botanical work of the country is to be continued and be given full opportunity to develop. Mr. Burkill is due to retire in February 1925, and should the headquarters of the Department be moved to Kuala Lumpur and a new garden established there, from which those at Singapore and Penang would be administered, the selection of a successor is of more than usual importance, It will be no easy task to secure a Director capable of maintaining the traditions of the past and of reorganising and administering the Department in a widely extended sphere.
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Current Topics and Events. Nature 113, 934–936 (1924). https://doi.org/10.1038/113934a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/113934a0