163 



necessary for some two or three years at least when it will he time 

 enough if necessary to destroy them. On the other hand among 

 Natives the cultivation is very much on the increase. He has great 

 faith in the cultivation of coconuts by natives as no other kind 

 suits them as well except, perhaps, that of padi. He would also 

 favour the cultivation of fruit trees and other productive catch 

 crops planted between the trees, as this yields a better return and 

 there is less vacant land to keep clean. He considers too that the 

 vield from the trees in the majority of cases of native plantations 

 could be increased 50 per cent, with increased care and attention, 

 and that the outlook of the industry in the Peninsula is hopeful. 



THE EXPERIMENTAL PLANTATIONS OF THE 

 MALAY STATES. 



Mr. ARDKN's report on the gardens at Batu Tiga, for 1903, 

 shows a good deal of progress. The Gardens have been increased 

 by 27 j acres to a total area of 66 acres, and a good deal of work 

 done in the matter of roads, drainage and buildings, and a large 

 number of useful economic plants were added to the collection. 



The Funtumia elastica made good growth but was persistentlv 

 attacked bv Caprinia conchylalis as indeed it seems to he almost 

 everywhere. 



It is proposed to plant a future lot in lines cut th rough the jun- 

 gle where they may be less subject to attack. 



A collection of fodder grasses is being got together. Paspaluin 

 dilatattim, a fodder grass of great reputation was introduced and 

 proved very successful. A strong growing and deep-rooting grass, 

 it grows well on steep banks, and might be used for railway 

 embankments. The Natal red-top Tricholvna rosea, a very prettv 

 grass of good repute as a fodder also has done well. (These two 

 gras'ses certainly looked exceedingly promising when I saw them 

 in the Batu Tiga Gardens. The Tricholcena was introduced into 

 the Singapore Botanic Gardens many years ago and did well for 

 a time but was eventually driven out of the place it occupied bj 

 the native creeping grasses. The Paspaluin is a valuable acqui- 

 sition giving a remarkably good mass of fodder, and holding its 

 own well. Could we but replace the Lalang which covers and 

 renders useless so many miles of country in the Peninsula with 

 this grass, there would be a good chance of raising cattle on n 

 reasonably large scale — Ed.) 



Experiments were made with Sanseviera, and Para rubber seed 

 and Blumea halsamifcra were sent to the Imperial Institute for 

 investigation as has been described in earlier Bulletins. 



Cotton seed, Egyptian variety, was obtained from Messrs. 

 [PRITCIIARD and planted experimentally, but did not prove verv 

 [successful, as owing to excessive moisture the plants grew sicklv 

 and were attacked by a mite which destroved a Iar<»e number 



