AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN 



OF THE 



STRAITS 



AND 



PEDERATED riALA/ STATES. 



No. 11.] NOVEMBER, 1911. [Vol. X 



THE GROWING OF VEGETABLES IN MALAYA. 



One of the essentials of a healthy diet in any country is a supply 

 of fresh vegetables. In the tropics this is perhaps more essential than 

 in temperate regions. The Tamil coolie realizes this and wherever 

 he can be grows his little patch of native vegetables, which 

 doubtless form a wholesome addition to his food supply. 



The European in Malaya is not so fortunately situated, as a rule 

 his tastes do not incline to the sweet potato (kledek) egg-fruit, yam, 

 ochro, green pepper, etc., which residents in earlier settled parts of 

 the tropics find so excellent. He is therefore dependent either upon 

 tins or on the Chinaman for what vegetables outside potatos and rice 

 he can get. The Chinaman's idea of what constitutes a palatable 

 vegetable and of sanitary precautions in the garden are not usually 

 in accord with those of the European. 



There is no doubt, however, that a large number of European 

 vegetables can be grown even in the low lands of Malaya; for 

 the expenditure of a little time and less money, there is no reason 

 why every bungalow would not grown its own supply of vegetables 

 all the year round. 



With the idea of proving the possibilty or otherwise of vegetable 

 growing under unfavourable conditions, some experiments were 

 carried out this year at Kuala Lumpur experimental plantation. 

 The soil here is a heavy clay and therefore not well suited to many 

 vegetables, moreover the dry weather experienced during the early 

 part of the year had a bad effect particularly upon the root crops. 

 It was not intended to attempt any proof of the profitability of grow- 

 ing vegetables — but merely to show what could or could not be 

 grown. 



