397 



Coffee. 



The area under coffee in the Federated Malay States 

 decreased considerably during 1908, only 8,431 acres being 

 recorded, some 25 per cent. Jess than the previous year. 

 This decrease is caused by the cutting out of coffee trees 

 in rubber fields, or by their gradual extermination owing to 

 the increasing shade caused by the larger tree. 



The cultivation of coffee is still profitable, but the 

 larger return given by rubber prevent the planter, except 

 in a very few cases, from considering the planting or tend- 

 ing of coffee as worth his attention. 



Tapioca. 



The cultivation of tapioca (Manihot uiikssima) occu- 

 pies a large area, over 10,000 acres in the Native States, 

 and a still larger area in the Straits Settlements. The low 

 prices which obtained during the year discouraged planting, 

 and in some cases the cultivators did not consider it suffi- 

 ciently profitable to harvest the crop. It has been used as 

 a catch-crop in conjunction with rubber to a considerable 

 extent, and when so used the gain in the protection and 

 cultivation of soil compensates to a very large extent for 

 the competition in the soil of the roots of the tapioca with 

 those of rubber. 



Rubber in Malaya. 



The progress of rubber cultivation in the Malay Penin- 

 sula continues to be unique in its rapid progress and in the 

 success of the areas already planted, and which has come 

 into bearing. 



At the end of 1908 there were 37,440,020 trees as com- 

 pared with 27,558,369 a year before; 60,636 acres were 

 planted during 1908, an increase of over 33 per cent, on the 

 previous year, giving a total of 241,138 acres of rubber on 

 the 31st December for the whole Peninsula. 



The output of dry rubber increased in 1908 by 56 per 

 cent. : $,539,922 lbs., or 1,580 tons, being produced as against 

 2,278,870 lbs., or 1,017 tons, in 1907. This 1,580 tons re- 

 presents probably about 1\ per cent, of the world's supply 

 for -last year. The average at which this was sold was not 

 less than 4s. per lb., representing an export of over 

 $6,000,000 in value or over £700,000; eight years ago the 

 value of rubber exports was about £1,700, a large and pro- 

 fitable industry having been created within that time, which 

 will next year show a return of produce worth more than 

 £1,000,000^ or $8,500,000. 



