often use unripe nuts, from which it is quite impossible to 

 make even decent copra. 



At the request of Government I have already made 

 representations on the subject, and suggested a scheme 

 which I believe, if experimented with, will go a long way to 

 arrest the evil complained of. The coconut trees in the 

 Federated Malay States compare favourably, both in yield 

 and size of nuts, with those of any other country, and in my 

 opinion there is no reason, except bad process of manu- 

 facture, why the copra made from the fruit should not be 

 as a rule, of good, even standard. At present, as I have 

 before stated, the outturn of copra from the native holdings 

 is inferior in quality. 



General. — I am satisfied that my staff have carried out 

 their duties thoroughly and with discretion, and by their 

 efforts steady progress has been made. No severe measures 

 have been adopted where persuasive means would effect the 

 same purpose, and all districts were strictly supervised 

 with the object of getting the natives to improve their hold- 

 ings. The eradication of all pests to which the coconut tree 

 is subject has had particular attention. The natives have 

 also been impressed with the necessity of planting young 

 trees between the old ones to replace the latter when they 

 eventually cease to bear, and cases are reported in nearly 

 every district of this being done. 



The introducing of the wild passion flower creeper 

 (Passiflora fcetida), known amongst the natives as "Buah 

 Lutup," to kill down the lalang which interferes so much 

 with the growth of the trees, has been encouraged, and the 

 results in many kampongs have been very beneficial — more 

 especially in the lower lands. 



In several localities near the Coast the trees suffer from 

 being waterlogged, and the influx of the tide brings up crabs 

 which attack and eat the young roots, and affect the bear- 

 ing of the tree. Better drainage is required to remedy this 

 evil, especially in the Kuala Selangor and Bernam Districts 

 which adjoin one another. A good system of drains and 

 sluice gates, which is beyond the means of the native 

 owners, would very materially improve the trees on the 

 plantations in these districts. 



The works which are being carried out by Government 

 in Lower Perak in the way of roads, drains, and bridle- 

 paths in the mukims of Bagan Datoh, Rungkup and Utan 

 Melintang, when completed, will open up a large area parti- 

 cularly suited to coconut cultivation, and 1 look forward to 

 a considerable extension in these localities. 



