WCP2892

[1]¹

OFFICE OF DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE,

FEDERATED MALAY STATES,

KUALA LUMPUR.

19.12.07

Dear Dr Wallace,

I have only once had the pleasure of meeting you and that you probably forget tho’ my name will place me as to my father² whom you know.

I hope this will arrive in time to great you on your birthday please let [2] me send you my congratulations & wishes for many more celebrations of Jan 8^th.

Malaya will always hold the memory of Alfred Russell [sic] Wallace dear and tho’ his peninsular has to a great extent become civilised yet it’s natural history interests are almost as numerous as when you introduced them [3] to naturalists –

My work here as Director of Agriculture & Govt. Botanist leaves me very little time for scientific research the extraordinary rapidity of rubber [illeg.] we had only about 5000 acres of planted rubber 3 years ago & now we have over 200,000 and an almost as large area of coconuts means a good deal of work. You may be interested in one of my doings.

[4] I have had reserved ^jungle belts across the country in various directions 2 miles wide so that the progress of insect and fungal parasites on rubber coconuts coffee &c is [illeg.] or delayed but I must not trouble you any further and again ask you to accept my congratulations and wishes for health & happiness.

yours sincerely, | J. B. Carruthers³ [signature]