7oL. IX. No.. 324. 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



377 



Cocoa-nut Cultivation and Copra in the Feder- 

 ated Malay States. 



The Inspector of Cncoa-niit Plantations of the 

 Federated Malay States reiwrts that the area devoted 

 to cocoa-nut-growing in the States during 1909 was 

 estimated at about 128,815 acres. It is probable that 

 about two-thirds of the trees are in bearing, and the value 

 of the whole area is somewhere in the neighbourhoiid 

 of 8 million pounds, sterling. 



The increase in the acieage during 1909 was 6,(jl8; 

 of this area, 5,118 acres were pianteil by nativi-s. and 

 1,500 by Europeans. 



The exports of cojira from the Federated Malay 

 States amounted to 104,-169 piculs (1 picul = 188;', ft.); 

 in 1909 and 1908 they were 71,981 an.l 49,82(i ]iicnls, 

 resjiectiveiy. 



According to the Board of Trade Journal for 

 September 29, 1910, from which these facts are taken, 

 much of the work that is being carried on in connexion 

 with the copra industry is directed toward giving infor- 

 mation to the natives as to the proper method of col- 

 lecting the nutsan<l making the copra. It is considered, 

 broadly speaking, that progress is being made in the 

 industry, and that there are signs of its further extension. 



Creasote tor Preserving Posts. 



An account of an experiment which is being con- 

 ducted in Antigiux for the purpose of investigating the 

 usefulness of creasote as a preservative for gate posts is 

 contained in the Agricultural, News, Vol. IX, p. 312, 

 and in the Annual Report on the Botanic Station, etc. 

 Antigua, for 1909-10. In relation to the employment 

 of creasote for similar purposes, a report has been 

 received, through the Colonial Secretary. Antigua, on the 

 use of this preparation for preserving telephone posts; 

 this was made by Mr. .J. Mc. Donald, Superintendent of 

 Telephones in that island. 



According to the report, the Telephone Depart- 

 ment of Antigua first employed creasote poles in 1896, 

 since when a number has been imported every year, so 

 that more than 1,000 are in use at the present time. 

 In 189(i and 1897, 250 of the treated poles were erect- 

 ed in different ])arts of the island, and none of these 

 have been renewed, all being quite sound, with a few- 

 exceptions, although they have been at least thirteen 

 years in the ground. A few of the poles show signs of 

 rot, but will last for some years yet, as this does not 

 apjiear to affect them to any depth. 



The observations have not been continued for 

 a sufficient length of time to make it possible to give 

 an opinion as to how many years creasoted poles will 

 last. Of the whole number in the island, only four 

 have been renewed so far, and these oidy after six to 

 eight years of use. This is sufficient to demonstrate, 

 in any case, that creasoted poles will last very nmch 

 longer than untreated pitch pine poles, as the life of 

 the latter is only from three to four years. 



It is a matter of interett, in regard to cost, that 

 the cieasoted poles, ready tapered, are imported into 

 Antigua at the price of $85 per 1,000 feet: this is 

 a little more than twice the cost of the untreated poles. 



A Labour-Saving Contrivance. 



A description of a simple and cheap contrivance 

 for carrying liquids short distances is contained in the 

 Journal of the Department of Agriculture of Victoria 

 for September 1910, p. filO. It consists of an ordinary 

 barrel, fitted with an iron handle which is very .similar 

 to that of a garden roller. After being filled, the barrel 

 with the liquid in it, is easily pulled or pushed by means 

 of the handle, to the place wh'^re the liquid is required.. 

 In the special case that is described, it was used for 

 conveying skim milk from the separator room to the 

 piggery. The barrel, of course, needs to be provided 

 with a vent, preferably f>n one side, near the rim. 



Such a contrivance can easily be cleaned by means 

 of hot water or steam. It may often be found of n.se 

 on estates in the West Indies. 



Agriculture in Sierra Leone. 



Colonial Reports — Annual, No. 648, to which refer- 

 ence was made in the last nmiiber but (jne of the 

 Agricultund News (p. 844), contains a section describ- 

 ing the progress of the agricultural development of 

 Sierra Leone. It is stated that this has been, and still 

 continues to be, much hampered by the absence of 

 a properly organized agi-icultural department; although 

 the efforts of the Goverinuent are succeeding in causing 

 a greater interest to be taken in agriculture in the 

 Colony an<l Protectorate. 



Work on some of the experimental farms has proved 

 to the natives that the jiractices of dee]j hoeing and 

 lotation of crops will enable rice to be grown without 

 letting the land lie fallov.--the usual custom. It 

 has not been followed by any change in the methods <jf 

 the natives, and it is expected that some time will 

 ela])se before this is brought about. 



Nurseries for rubber, cacao and gum copal have 

 been established. The intention is to plant the rubber 

 out in the forests covering the neighbouring hills, while 

 plantations of cacao will be formed. Success is already 

 being obtained with Heoea brasiliensis and Fantuniia 

 elastica. 



K(jla j)lantations have been established in certain 

 districts, in which the efforts of the Government have 

 been directed toward the prevention of the too close 

 planting of the trees. The produce of these is shared 

 equally between the natives and the Government, the 

 portion belonging to the latter being enqiloyed for the 

 purpose of extending the cultivation of kola in the 

 district. The raising of kola seedlings is being encour- 

 aged by the granting of bonuses. 



The area in which ginger is cultivated is increasing. 

 There are indications that, as regards fruit, a trade with 

 England might be established. 



Progress is being made in the growing of ground 

 nuts, maize, cacao, coffee and piassava. The attempts of 

 the Government to increase the area of the cocoa-nut 

 industry have failerl, on account of the prejudice of the 

 natives against planting more trees. 



