218 



growth of certain grasses is encouraged; under either system the 

 estates seem to have attained generally the object aimed at, and the 

 maintenance in that state is less costly than the attainment. Disc- 

 harrows are in more extended use having, since I911, proved them- 

 selves useful; and steam ploughs are in use on the Devon Estate. 



There is probably no estate in Malacca which has not brought 

 down its expenses considerably ; and the company reports mention 

 reductions in cost of varying amounts. 



The average London prices for first quality Plantation and the 

 amount imported, are given by Messrs. Lewis and Peat thus: — 



Yea r, 



I9II 

 I912 

 I913 



Fine hard Para did not fall proportionately, but from 4s. 7^d. 

 to 3s. 2^d., because it is better than Plantation for certain purposes, 

 is controlled by few strong hands able to hold up supplies, and has 

 not the promise of such enormous expansion as has Plantation. That 

 it should have been sold per lb. below Plantation once when the price 

 was high, is because its 18 per cent, of dirt at a high figure becomes 

 so very expensive ; but allowing for its impurities, rubber for rubber 

 it has never been cheaper than Plantation. Malaya must make its 

 best product as good as Fine Hard Para for all purposes. 



It is admitted on the London market that the quality of the pro- 

 duce of Malaya has improved. Some of this improvement may be 

 ascribed to the increasing age of the trees, but most of it is to the credit 

 of the planter. Earnest endeavours must be made to make Plantation 

 to sell equally with Para ; but for the present Plantation more by its 

 volume than its value, competes with Para. 



Although low class rubbers have been less abundant on the 

 market lately than formerly, the part which raw plantation has played 

 in driving these out is quite uncertain, for much of their decrease may 

 be due to reclaimed rubber as the industry in reclaiming is assuming 

 enormous dimensions, curiously without any satisfactory figures in 

 regard to it being available, and the product takes a place in direct 

 competition with low class rubbers : and it is to be borne in mind 

 by those interested in producing Plantation, that such improvements 

 may be invented in reclaiming processes as to bring reclaimed 

 rubber to a grade, where its volume will affect the price of the 

 raw product. 



The second crop of Malacca formerly was tapioca ; it has been the 

 mother crop of very much of the rubber from the time when Mr. 

 Tan Chay Yan and his syndicate planted the Bukit Asahan Estate ; 



