233 



Those apparently extraordinary fluctuations in the trade of Singa- 

 pore, in coconut products, do not appear in the Penang trade statistics. 



The figures very well reflect the varying crop, vi^hich was excellent 

 in 1910, and was again better in 1913 than in 1912. In addition to 

 an export in oil and copra, Penang exports nuts in increasing quanti- 

 ties to Madras and other Indian ports. 



Areca nuts which yielded so well in Malacca in 1910, when 

 -coconut palms did, behaved similary in Penang. Since then their 

 ■excess export has fallen somewhat. 



Excess Exports over Imports. 



1909 ... ... 100,463 pikuls. 



1910 ^ ... ... 114.854 



1911 .■• .-. 95.546 



1912 ... ... 97,688 



1913 •■■ ■•• 86,437 



Although the area under nutmegs and cloves in the Province 

 Wellesley is reported as unchanged, the last nutmeg trees on Bukit 

 Mertajam are now dying; and there seems to be no likelihood of fresh 

 planting there. The plantations in the island of Penang have 

 decreased considerably of late years, and the excess of exports over 

 imports has narrowed, more than seasonal variation accounts for. 



Area returned as under nutmegs and cloves : — 



