THE NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES 231 



The ficus-trees, of which 351,000 were planted pre- 

 vious to 1909, are not included in the above figures, as 

 they are being gradually cut out on the majority of the 

 estates. The holdings of Malays and Chinese settlers 

 are numerous, but are of limited extent, and in the 

 aggregate are only a small proportion of the total 

 acreage. 



During the last five years the tendency has been to 

 open larger plantations than formerly, a notable case in 

 point being the Holland-American Company at Asahan, 

 where 30,000 acres have been planted in the last four 

 years, and further extensions are contemplated to bring 

 the total area under cultivation to 50,000 acres. 



The amount of land available for the extension of 

 rubber-planting in Sumatra must be counted by millions 

 of acres, for two-thirds of the island remain untouched 

 to-day. Other considerations, however, besides suit- 

 able land must play a most important part in the 

 future development of the industry. The question of 

 the labour-supply enters largely into the problem ; 

 although at present no complaint is heard of any 



* Shows effect of rubber boom of 1910-11. 



