7 



favourably with that on any other estates, situated in the flat alluvial 

 cost lands of the Federation, and in Krian the land has already been 

 well-drained by the old sugar planters and does not therefore require 

 Government assistance in drainage works. 



The sub-district of Matang bids fair to hold its own as the most 

 favourable for rubber enterprise. The estates now exporting rubber 

 are Jebong, Regalia, Matang Jambu and Trong. Applications for 

 land are still coming in, so that soon estates will line the road from 

 Simpang to Batu Hampar. 



It is expected that the customs returns still show a very consi- 

 derable increase in the export of Tapioca from Krian. This cultiva- 

 tion is chiefly in the hands of Chinese. 



Mr. F. J. Weld, District Officer, Kuala Kangsar, reports that 

 during 1908, agricultural and mining rents show an increase over all 

 previous records, which is very satisfactory. Of the most important 

 new lands alienated during the year for rubber growing purposes 

 was 1,000 acres in Bruas, 400 near Sungei Siput and 600 in the same 

 district for the same purpose. All the rubber estates in this district 

 have made good progress. 



The Government Gardens in Kuala Kangsar have been main- 

 tained by the lessees in a satisfactory manner, and the planting up 

 of vacant ground has been completed. Very good prices were obtained 

 for the rubber produced. The trees gave an average of about 9 lbs. 

 per tree and some of the oldest as much as 12 lbs. per tree per annum, 

 (many of these old trees are over 30 years old and are some of the 

 original trees introduced to Malaya in the year 1877.) 



Mr. Oliver Marks, acting District Officer, Lower Perak, reports 

 that in that district good progress on the whole has been made on the 

 estates during the year. The supply of labour has been plentiful and 

 the health of the coolies good, especially on the estates provided with 

 water from the Changkat Jong supply. Many of the estates employ 

 only Javanese indentured labour, and it is satisfactory to record that 

 the majority of these coolies are continuing to work on the estates 

 after the expiration of their three years' contracts. The majority of 

 the estates are opened on the rich alluvial flats so plenteous through- 

 out Lower Perak. The soil, he says, is similar to that of the Kapar and 

 Klang districts of Selangor, and the growth of Hevea bnisiliensis age 

 for age compares very favourably with that of any planted elsewhere 

 in the Malay States. 



Amongst the planters of the district there are advocates for both 

 clean weeding and for the encouragement of selected weeds as a cover 

 for the ground. The advantage of cheapness, general appearance of 

 the estates and growth of rubber trees would seem to rest, in Lower 

 Perak, with those estates on which clean weeding has been enforced 

 from the commencement of planting operations. Mr. Marks men- 

 tions some 23 estates, varying in area from 6,426 acres to 100 acres, 

 as existing in Lower Perak at the end of 1908. During 1908 no 

 applications for estate land in Lower Perak were approved. 



