THE MALAY PENINSULA 



171 



are available, and the area can only be estimated. In 

 view of these circumstances, the only method of obtain- 

 ing approximately accurate estimates of acreage at 

 each centre of cultivation is from visiting agents, 

 resident planters, Government officials, business men, 

 and also from secretaries of planters' associations and 

 others interested in the industry. The estimates now 

 given were revised with the assistance of the Secretary 

 to the Planters' Labour Association, who has returns 

 from 485 estates in connection with the distribution ot 

 all Indian immigrants brought to Penang in accordance 

 with the quarantine regulations. If the official figures 

 are taken from 1906 to 1912, together with an allow- 

 ance of 5 per cent, for the area planted in 1913, the 

 total result shows 685,000 acres under rubber. The 

 very large area planted in 1911 and 1912 was due to 

 the great amount of capital subscribed for rubber 

 enterprises during the boom of 1909-10. The fol- 

 lowing table shows the expansion of the rubber in- 

 dustry in the Malay Peninsula during the last eight 

 years : 



