15 



but I cannot obtain definite proofs of this anywhere. 

 Still it seems certain that hilly land under Cassava is 

 exposed to much loss by washing- away and lalang and 

 other growths are very rife among it when it is ripe. 

 In these lalang grounds the small drains which were 

 put in when the cassava is planted are still to be seen, 

 just as in Deli, on old tobacco lands, the same condition 

 is observable. I saw a notable example of the cultivation 

 with rubber of old lalang grounds in Negri Sembilan. 

 Australian ploughs had been used in the first place for 

 the elimination of the weed, but this method was sub- 

 sequently abandoned on account of the irregularities 

 of the ground and the want of skill of the labourers. 

 Hoeing was then adopted, but this had to be repeated 

 every fortnight. The expense was relatively low, about 

 $ 25 $ 30 an acre until ordinary maintenance weeding 

 every three weeks - - could be adopted ; this latter cost 

 about 75 cents per month per acre. In wet weather 

 weeding could be carried on quicker than in dry. 



One advantage offered by lalang is that clean land, 

 free from logs and other breeding places for fungus, is 

 obtained. It is not yet certain, however, whether tapping 

 results from Hevea on old lalang grounds will equal 

 those on old jungle, and one objection is that there 

 is a heavy loss of surface soil by wash, unless cover 

 plants are made use of. 



On the East Coast of Sumatra experiments have been 

 made to ascertain this. It was concluded that the culti- 

 vation of lalang soils would cost about the same as that 

 of jungle, and preference was given to the former on 

 the ground of the non-liability to fungus, which is so 

 destructive to Hevea. 



