174 



of seed, mixed with 10 lbs. of fine sand, to facilitate ease 

 of spreading, is sown broadcast per acre, on a well prepared 

 surface. The plant reaches maturity when about three months 

 old. The weight of unhusked seed worked out at 650 lbs. per acre 

 per crop. It must be noted, however, that this yield was obtained 

 as a sole crop, on good land. About one per cent, of oil is obtained 

 from the seed. The present price of the oil is 12s. Sd. per lb. 

 Chenopodium may be grown as a catch-crop as it is not affected by 

 partial shade. 



Cinchona. 



About twenty acres of quinine. Cinchona succiruhra and C. 

 Ledgeriana were planted in March, 1914, on Gunong Angsi, Negri 

 Sembilan, at an elevation of 1,500 feet. The plants are very fine 

 healthy specimens and have shown excellent growth. Judging by 

 the present condition of the clearing there seems every prospect that 

 this valuable drug can be successfully grown on the hills in Malaya. 



Cboton Oil (Croton Tiglium.) 



The rmts, obtained from this small tree, yield a medicinal oil 

 which may be administered as a violent purgative. No special care 

 is required in its cultivation. A small crop was harvested, here, 

 when the plants were one year old and -there seems every prospect 

 of satisfactory yields being obtained when the plants are more 

 mature. This crop grows on the very poorest of soils ; it thrives 

 remarkably well on light laterite and many waste lands could be 

 profitably used in its cultivation. 



There are many spices, drugs, oils, scent-producing plants, etc., 

 which are receiving experimental notice but it is not possible to deal 

 with them in this paper. I would like it to be understood, however, 

 that a number of crops, other than those mentioned have shown some 

 promise and that the Department of Agriculture is only too pleased 

 to supply information regarding them and assist in any way possible 

 to further the cultivation of new products. 



Discussion. 



The Chairman (Mr. L. Lewton-Beain) said he thought he might 

 mention that recently the Penang Chamber of Commerce Committee 

 had passed a resolution asking the Government to consider the 

 question of establishing experimental farms throughout Malaya. 

 This resolution had been sent by the Colonial Secretary to the Chief 

 Secretary, who had submitted it to him (Director of Agriculture) 

 and he proposed to bring it forward at the next meeting of the 

 Advisory Committee of the Agricultural Department. He had been 

 instructed to bring the matter up for discussion at that Conference. 

 The matter fitted in well with w hat they had just heard,'^and he 

 might take the opportunity to mention what the Federated Malay 

 States Government had been doinsr in the. matter. 



