440 



and consequently shows now much better growth. A fresh 

 plantation of young seedlings (liberiea and robusta), about 

 two acres, was made in April. 



Pepper. — As mentioned in my last report a piece of 

 ground had been cleared and pi anted with shade trees for 

 pepper cultivation. Plants of the best Trong variety were 

 received and planted in December and are at the time of 

 writing getting established and growing. 



Cocoa. — The shade trees, Dadap (Erythrina mdica), 

 planted on the cocoa plot, have, I regret to say, done badly. 

 They have been persistently attacked by caterpillars and 

 defoliated time after time. They have now been interplant- 

 ed with Munkudu (Morinda tinctoria) and will be eventually 

 replaced by them. A supply of cocoa pods was received 

 from Ceylon, but unfortunately through some mistake or 

 neglect the cases lay 21 days at Port Swettenham, and as a 

 result all the pods had become heated and the seeds des- 

 troyed. 



Arrangements have been made to get a fresh supply 

 in the present year. 



Grasses. — The grass plots have all been lifted and re- 

 planted during the year. There was some demand for 

 citronella grass (Andropogon Nardus) during the year and 

 900 plants were sent out. 



Fibre Plants (Musa viola sc ens). — In addition to the 

 plots mentioned in my 1907 report, experiments have been 

 initiated and are being carried out with a view to ascertain- 

 ing the vale of the "Wild Banana" or rnsang (Musa violas- 

 cens) as a fibre plant, also for the purpose of finding the 

 best means of extracting the fibre. The plant is one which 

 grows freely all over the Federated Malay States, there 

 must be large quantities of it in the jungle that would pay 

 for collecting. On some estates it comes up thickly after 

 the jungle has been felled. It should, I think, form a valu- 

 able catch-crop, and, in addition, act as a good cover plant 

 and so help to prevent wash on steep lands. 



A variety of Musa sapientum, known as "Pisang Beng- 

 gala," is also being tried as a fibre-producing plant. 



This variety attains a good size, grows quickly, and 

 produces an abundance of shoots or suckers. It is there- 

 fore, if only for the latter reasons, a desirable plant for 

 fibre purposes. 



I liave seen a sample of the fibre of this plant, prepared 

 by Mr. A. Hale, Taiping, which appears to be of excellent 

 quality. 



