2QJ 



One year old 

 Two „ 

 Three ,, 

 Four 



Five „ and over 



Of this 38,000 acres is already planted, the figures being: — 

 Under 1 year old ... ... ... 16,000 



... 6,000 

 ... 4,500 

 ... 3,000 

 ... 2,500 

 ... 6,000 



Most of the Para plantations over five years' old are planted 

 200 to the acre, some Estates having more than 300, but on the 

 more recent clearings the distance apart is greater and the average 

 about 175 to the acre. 



The number of Rubber trees of all ages in the Federated Malay 

 States is approximately between 6 and 7 million. 



Last year's production of Rubber was estimated at 300,000 lbs. 

 The total world's consumption as found in the official statistics 

 of net imports of the great rubber consuming countries — United 

 States, Germany, Great Britain, France, Belgium, Austria and 

 Italy, was 137,530,458 lbs. or 61,397 tons. These official figures 

 fall short of the world's consumption probably as much as 15-20 

 per cent., but taking them as approximate the Federated Malay 

 States in 1905 produced 2oo tn °f tne world's consumption. But 

 the world's consumption as shown by official statistics is : — 



1903 ... ... 112,860,478 lbs. 50,384 tons. 



1904 ... ... 123,817,903 „ 55.275 „ 



1905 ... 137.530458 „ 61,397 „ 



an increase roughly of 10 per cent, each year. So that in 191 2 

 we may expect an increased consumption of 70 per cent, more 

 than in 1905. 



A demand for 232,288,000 lbs. or 103,700 tons, and of that we 

 could supply only -^th part. 



These statistics show that even if the increased demand of 10 

 per cent, per annum does not continue, there is little fear of over- 

 production for many years to come. Although rubber Estates on 

 large scales are being formed in many other places besides the 

 Malay States. 



Coconuts show an acreage nearly three times as great as that 

 of rubber and has increased by 10,000 acres, during the year still 

 calculating the value placed on rubber land, the capital value of 

 the rubber Estates is higher than that of coconuts. 



H. N. R. 



A NEW WAY OF DEALING WITH 

 TERMES GESTROI. 



Some five years ago a Chinaman who had purchased the hill 

 of Bukit Duyong in Malacca as a grave-yard, reflected that it 

 would be better to convert it into a rubber plantation. The hill 



