THE MALAY PENINSULA 169 



broad view, however, of this and other pests, and even 

 of the bad tapping in past years, the actual proportion 

 of trees affected certainly does not exceed 2 per cent, 

 of the total number in cultivation, and probably, if an 

 accurate census was taken, would be found to be much 

 below that figure. All well-conducted estates maintain 

 a special gang of coolies whose duty it is to search con- 

 stantly for any signs of disease, and report immediately 

 any indication of an outbreak. 



The most important centres of the rubber-producing 

 districts are situated between Singapore and Penang, 

 and include the Native State of Johore, the Federated 

 Malay States of Negri Sembilan, Selangor, and Perak, 

 and the Settlements of Malacca, Province Wellesley, 

 and Penang. In the State of Johore the development 

 of rubber estates has been retarded by lack of transport 

 facilities, but it is now making rapid progress. In 

 Pahang similar difficulties exist, and these, in conjunc- 

 tion with the mountainous nature of the country, have 

 resulted in only a limited number of plantations being 

 opened. In ICelantan, where the soil is well adapted 

 for rubber-growing and local labour is abundant, 

 insufficient means of communication have hitherto re- 

 stricted planting enterprise ; but the construction of rail- 

 ways and roads is being pushed forward rapidly, and will 

 alter these conditions very shortly. Similar considera- 

 tions also apply to the Native State of Trengganu. In 

 Kedah the area planted with rubber is extending ; com- 

 munication by road is now open between the principal 

 centres and the Province Wellesley, and_railway con- 

 nection will be establishjed^shortly. 



Along the railway-line from Tampin, in the State of 



