PREFACE, 



In accordance with a decision of the Government dated 

 3<Dth November 1909, I was charged to break my journey 

 from Java to Europe at Singapore and Colombo, in 

 order to visit the Rubber Estates of the Malay Peninsula 

 and Ceylon, and to investigate the methods of cultivation 

 and preparation of this product. 



In order to carry out this investigation, the journey 

 from Singapore to Penang was mostly made overland, 

 and about twenty estates in the Federated Malay States 

 and Straits Settlements were visited, and several visits 

 were paid to the Botanical Gardens at Singapore and 

 Kuala Lumpur. 



That this journey has been successful is firstly to be 

 attributed to the assistance and collaboration given me 

 in the most liberal manner by Mr. W. J. GALLAGHER, 



