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long — but the fruit possesses the fullest and most pungent 

 aroma of all commercial peppers. 



Under cultivation the gardens were planted closely to 

 compensate for the smaller crop per acre as compared with 

 the larger fruited varieties (I believe about 7 x 7) and 

 on the older allotments, dadap (Erythrina umbrosa) had 

 been planted for shade but as a result of continuous pruning 

 the trees had become gnarled and stunted. Except that 

 this tree grows quickly it is not a good shade tree, as a 

 matter of fact it is much too large and the free develop- 

 ment of roots is too exhausting on the soil for the successful 

 growth of the vines. On all the younger allotments dadap 

 had been superseded by munkudu (Mo rind a tinetoria) a 

 much smaller tree and affording better shade at a minimum 

 expansion of root development. Between alternate rows of 

 munkudu a row of posts had been run, and in the rows — 

 whether trees or posts — an additional posts or posts had 

 been added wherever a good offshoot could be obtained, so 

 that while the shade was efficient the allotment was cropped 

 as closely as feasible. The munkudu trees were topped 

 above the second whorl of branches and as a consequence 

 the branches spread in a moderate horizontal direction. 

 (Munkudu is the most ideal shade tree I have yet seen for 

 pepper.) 



At the time of my visit the shade trees were being 

 pruned; where necessary the spreading branches were 

 shortened and all superfluous growths — what a coffee 

 planter would call gourmandizers — removed. This was the 

 season of ploughing and padi-planting, or as will be inferred, 

 the commencement of the rainy season, and as the catkins, 

 or flowers, are borne in the axils of new growths the vines 

 would not be overshaded during the growing season. 



Througout the allotments there was a system of tanks 

 for the reception of manure which was applied in the form 

 of liquid, and over the whole undertaking the vines bore 

 evidence of being well manured, and carefully tended, and 

 the gardens were clean of weeds. 



I was not able to obtain figures showing the yield per 

 acre, but from some Trang pepper I have since seen I 

 should estimate the average crop as less than that of native 

 pepper. 



I brought back (I believe) 500 cuttings, of these a part 

 were sent to Gapis estate, and the balance planted at Kwala 

 Kangsar garden, from where it may be possible to obtain 

 later information. 



R. Derry. 



