56 



to me showing for the first year 69 piculs per acre and 

 for the third year only 25 piculs. The examples which 

 I saw of this cultivation gave the impression that the 

 Hevea did not suffer at all from the cane; one-half of 

 the trees which were three years old were already being- 

 tapped. The favourable growth was partly attributed to 

 the thorough cultivation of the soil, which was always 

 under a crop ; the soil was therefore cultivated down to 

 ii/2 f eet an d the dead cane leaves were dug in. 



Of course cane can only be planted as catch crop 

 where there is a sugar factory in the neighbourhood, 

 capable of dealing with the crop. In the above mentioned 

 example, this was so and transport charges were low ; 

 as the whole country is intersected with drainage canals, 

 so that water transport is easy (see fig. 22). 



As was the case with cassava, after sugar cane, lalang 

 comes up quickly and as soon as the last cane crop is 

 out of the field, the garden must be cleaned. 



c. 



Vegetables and other cultivations. 



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In the same districts where sugar cane is planted as 

 a catch crop, vegetables are often to be seen planted 

 in the rubber. After being planted with Hevea, the land 

 is given to Chinese market gardeners, who plant different 

 vegetables under the Hevea, such as Yams (Sweet 

 Potatoes), ginger, several sorts of Solanum, Patchouli and 

 others and being good agriculturists, the gardens are 

 kept carefully. The results are favourable and the growth 

 of the Hevea is excellent. 



Mention should here be made separately of the use of 

 Indigo as a catch crop; this is planted in the same 



