INTRODUCTION. 



Rubber Culture in the Malay Peninsula has increased 

 of late years in a way that no other culture has done. 

 The plantations are still extending 1 every year, and this 

 is not astonishing-, as the future of rubber, from a 

 commercial point of view, seems hopeful, and because 

 the Malay Peninsula, from its excellent climate, its fertile 

 soil, and the competence of its Planters is well at the 

 head of rubber producing countries, with regard to the 

 production per tree or per acre. The cost of producing 

 the rubber is, however, rather high, as all the labour must 

 be imported. The cultivation of rubber exacts much labour. 

 One cooly per acre of plantation is certainly required. 

 When selecting land for rubber estates, the labour 

 problem must be specially considered. 



Not only in the Straits Settlements proper, but also 

 in Johore and the F. M. S. the cultivation of rubber has 

 increased, mostly however in Selangor, in the vicinity 

 of Klang, and in the district between Kuala Lumpur and 

 the sea-coast. Here are most of the rubber estates ; wich 

 for a great part almost touch each other. From the bunga- 

 lows, situated in the more hilly part of the country, thou- 

 sands of acres of rubber plantations may be seen ; right 



