255 



During the past year the area under rubber has been increased 

 by 78 acres planted among coffee and coconuts along the road 

 frontage. The young rubber all over is coming away well, and th^', 

 young plants are now well above the coffee. 



The clearing along the road on the boundary of Sungei Kapar 

 Estate is even and regular, and trees are thickening out fast. The 

 old rubber all over the Estate is quite healthy and free from pests, 

 with the exception of white ants, which give a great deal of trouble 

 from time to time, and are a constant source of expense. 



Unfortunately, a very severe gale of wind struck the Estate about 

 the 18th March, and a number of trees were either blown down or 

 had their tops broken off. 



The portions of the Estate— one on the Marshalsea Division, near 

 the A. A. drain, and the other on the Harveston Division— suffered 

 most severely. The damage done is more of a temporary than of 

 a permanent nature, as nearly all the affected trees have been 

 pollarded and put back in their places, and many of them have 

 already begun to sprout. 



During the past year about HO acres have been thinned out to 

 about 150 trees per acre. 



Crop.— The year's output of rubber amounted to 156,922 lbs., 

 against an original estimate of 100,000 lbs., which was subsequently 

 increased to 120,000 lbs. 



Expenditure.— \n last year's Report all charges connected with 

 tapping, curing, etc., were included under one heading; but the 

 actual cost of tapping and collecting scrap for the year amounted 

 2 4' J cents per lb. {yd. per lb.), which I do not consider a high 

 f ate when the close planting all over the Estate is taken into 

 consideration, and the comparatively poor yield per tree. 



The total cost of rubber produced, allowing for upkeep of land 



f ot ln bearing, i s 61-28 cents per lb., or, say, is. $d. The estimate 

 ° 2 l5,ooo lbs. rubber for the present year should be quite safe, 



nless something unforeseen occurs. 



j , Tlle future prosperity of this Company is now assured; the 

 our force is well established, and there should be no possibility 

 Esta?' C - r ° P be ' ng lost owin § to lack of cooIies t0 ta P' 1 he whole 

 chea 1S n ° W °P ened U P> and expenditure on all works should 

 ?r y ear by year on weeding owing to the rubber covering the 

 S'uuna more ~-j • ' • . .1 • _.:_u 



other works owing to the increased yield 



ma y De regularly anticipated for some years 1 



BUKIT KRAIONG. 



the end of June it is anticipated that we shall have planted 

 TV Vhich Wil1 have cost » includm g a11 buildings, but deduct- 

 1 charges, about $73.50, which I consider a very moderate 

 °r the first clearings' in a block situated like this without any 

 nnections or outlets. The land is very good indeed. 



