48 



From Kuala Lumpur to Klang is only about an hour's 

 run, but it is one of the most interesting trips in Malaya 

 to rubber growers. The fact that we passed through 

 Pataling, Sungei Way, and Batu Tiga railway stations is 

 indicative of the importance of this part of Selangor. 

 The Pataling Estates is one of the first passed on the 

 left, the old trees on which appeared to have been very 

 neatly tapped; there were one or two patches ot mimosa 

 given up to green manuring. The evil effects of close 

 planting were to be seen on many properties, the stems 

 being bent at all angles, and thin and weak; many 

 were being pollarded in order to give more light to the 

 better developed trees. 



The Klang District. 



This is the centre of the planting area in Selangor, 

 and I made many journeys to the leading estates there- 

 from. I had some very good times on Vallambrosa and 

 Bukit Rajah Estates, and got sight of Beverlac, Sliel- 

 ford, Sungei Kapar, Golconda, Kapar Para Rubber, 

 North Hunimock, Scottish Malay, and rnany other 

 estates. I hope to return to the district after my visits 

 to Java and Sumatra, and see other well known pro- 

 perties. 



Vallambrosa. 



Mr. H. M. Darby kindly conducted me over every 

 part of this property. I had the pleasure of seeing the 

 old tapped trees, the young extensive clearings which 

 will soon be in bearing, and the estate known as Bukit 

 Kraiong recently taken over and now being developed 

 by that company. It is remarkable to see how well the 

 bark has been dealt with; many of the trees which have 

 been regularly tapped still possess from one-third to 

 one-half of the original primary bark below five feet. 

 There will be no necessity to think of tapping renewed 

 bark on Vallambrosa for a long time to come, though 

 some of it is already over three years old, and full of 

 rich latex. The various sections have been planted at 

 lo by lo, lo by 12, 17 by 17, 20 by 10, and 20 by 12 feet 

 apart; all the latter day clearings are planted 24 by 12 

 owing to the large yields already obtained from a very 

 big block planted at that distance. I was informed that 



