220 



which often reduces its damage to insignificance. Such a case is re- 

 corded from Hawaii where the local blackberry {Rubus) which over- 

 run the islands and become a nuisance, was found to be attacked by a 

 fungus Clypeosphoeria and to be dying out, and attempts are to be 

 made to destroy this plant everywhere by infecting it with the fungus. 



The report concludes, with the report of the department of 

 animal industry. Altogether the work of the year is very creditable. 



The staff of the departments comprise six officials for forestry 

 and botanical work, eleven for entomology and fruit inspection, seven 

 for the animal industry and three on the clerical staff, altogether 

 2/ Europeans working under five Commissioners. The expenditure is 

 about 43,000 dollars (American)per year. 



AGRICULTURE IN BRITISH NORTH BORNEO. 



Rubber and tobacco have been the chief objects of attention, but 

 there are signs of an awakening interest in coconuts. 



Rubber. 



Para rubber still holds the field, only a very few acres being 

 devoted to other varieties. The system of clean weeding has been 

 generally adopted in preference to the use of catch crops and weed- 

 killers, except in the Interior where Passiflora has been found very 

 successful. No serious outbreak of disease has been reported. Work 

 was started on 7 new Estates on the West Coast during the year. 

 Sekong and Sapong shipped rubber and obtained prices near the top 

 of the market. Woodford and Beaufort commenced tapping. 54, 

 631 lbs. of Estate rubber were shipped from the State, of which Sekong 

 accounts for 49,000 lbs. 



Tobacco. 



Tobacco was planted on 12 Estates. The crop on the whole is 

 reported as satisfactory and prices since received by telegram have 

 been good. A total of 14,819 bales was exported as against 15,672 

 bales in 1909. Kudat shipped 1,360 bales less than in 1909, but the 

 figures for two consecutive years vary relatively according to whether 

 part of a crop is shipped in December instead of Januar}^ Native 

 tobacco trade has been normal. 



Padi. 



Altiiough statistics are not available, it is reported that a smaller 

 acreage than usual was placed under padi. This is no doubt due to 

 the fact that the extension of rubber planting has attracted a large 

 numbe r of villagers to work on Estates. The Commissioner of Lands 

 deplores the decrease, and advocates serious attention being paid by 

 Government to this industry. Although the country is capable of 

 producing far more than enough rice for all local requirements, the 

 trade returns shew that 185.OOO pikuls of rice, flour and grain (the 

 bulk of the total being rice) were imported. 



