4°3 



also been brought under cultivation with this product in the Fe- 

 derated Malay States. 



4. That in the Botanical Gardens of Ceylon and the Malay 

 Peninsula, Para Rubber trees, of a sufficiently mature age, exist in 

 sufficient numbers to render it apparently unnecessary for the in- 

 stitution of an experimental garden of anything like the dimensions 

 as that which forms the subject of this memorial. 



5. That your Memorialists directly contribute to the revenue of 

 the Federated Malay States by paying an ad valorem export duty 

 of 2\ per cent, on all agricultural products, in addition to payment 

 of rents and premiums for land ; that further, in certain cases 

 special arrangements have been made with the Government where- 

 by it is incumbent upon land owners to plant up the whole of their 

 concessions with rubber within a period of ten years. 



6. That your Memorialists submit that the production of so 

 large an amount of Para Rubber by the Government of India must 

 result in serious competition with private growers, who have, under 

 already existing circumstances, to contend against an enormous 

 supplv from the indigenous rubbers of other countries. 



7. Wherefore your Memorialists pray that His Majesty's Govern- 

 ment may take any necessary action in the matter, and your Me- 

 morialists will, in duty bound, ever pray. 



On behalf of the Memorialists, 



(Sd.) E. Y. CAREY. 

 (Sd.) E. B. SKINNER, Chairman. 

 Hon. Secretary. 



CATCH Crops. — Yery little success has attended the efforts of 

 those who have endeavoured to keep down expenditure by the cul- 

 tivation of subsidiary products. The outlets are too small and mar- 

 kets are in consequence easiLy swamped. As long as prices keep 

 up, the Chinese sub-lessees will maintain their kladdie or pump- 

 kins, as the case may be, in fair condition ; but directly a slump 

 occurs, they cease to weed and indeed to put any more labour into 

 the undertaking at all, with the result that the Superintendent has 

 to devote a lot of valuable time to trying to get things straight, and 

 usually meets with very indifferent success. It is generally re- 

 cognized now that if more than one product is to be cultivated 

 upon the same ground, the best combination is Coffee and Para 

 Rubber, the former planted close, to yield maximum crops within 

 a limited period, and the rubber at whatever distance may most 

 commend itself to the individual proprietor. 



INSECT PESTS. — White ants have done a lot of damage to Para 

 Rubber, Ficus Elastica and coconuts, in the coast districts especi- 

 ally, during the past year, but continuous digging and disturbance 

 of the soil appear to disorganize them and keep their attacks with- 

 in bounds. Coconut beetles have been plentiful and their collection 

 has proved a very costly item. There is no doubt that the pro- 

 visions of the Coconut Preservation ( )rdinance are not being strictly 

 enforced, and your Committee hope ere long to see an intelligent 



