AND THE MALAY STATES 83 



Speaking again of the drainage system at Lowlands, it was marvel- 

 ously complete, all of the channels leading into the great agricultural 

 drain that ran through the middle of the plantation, and which, I believe, 

 was a government enterprise. 



In examining the plantation we walked over good paths by the side 

 of the drains, crossing them on tree trunk bridges, and ended by driving 

 over two very good roads that led to the heart of the planting. The 

 oldest rubber on Lowlands was some five hundred acres of five-vear 



FOUR YEAR OLD PLANTED "FICUS." 



[On the Lowlands and Highlands estate. Showing the Aerial 

 Roots as thrown down at this age. Hevea trees in the 

 background.] 



old trees, numbering 52,000. These had been later interplanted with 

 another 52,000 of varying ages. There were also one hundred and twenty 

 acres of two-year old trees, 18,000 in number. The largest five-year olds 

 that I saw were twenty-seven inches in circumference, three feet from 

 the ground, and were in a lot that was planted 20X20 feet. Speaking of 

 distances observed in planting, Mir. Bailey had tried many experiments. 

 He had plots 14X14, 14X28, 14X42, 14X20, and 24X24 feet. The 

 latter plantings were almost all interplanted later with Ficus elastica. 

 There was also considerable coffee in with the rubber, and as it happened 

 to be of an especially fine quality, at that time it was paying all of the 

 expenses of the planting and care of the rubber. 



