319 



will spring" up in his land, for the coftVe blight did not begin in the 

 Malay kampong : but I heartily endorse the suggestion that legis- 

 lation be promptly adopted to ensure the treating of all cultivated 

 lands according to the methods of good husbandry. 



The Agricultural Department has issued a pamphlet of instruc- 

 tions regarding the cultivation of rubber. 



Coconuts. 



Mr. L. C. Brown estimates that the approximate area of 

 laiid under coconuts in Perak exceeds 63,000 acres. There has been 

 a steady increase and the cultivation is expanding. Native plantations 

 are better kept, and lalang is being eradicated. 



Europeans have applied for large areas of land for coconuts and 

 the natives are turning their attention to the Bernam river. 



Copra. 



The export of copra from Perak, valued at £52,000, shows an 

 increase of 7,500 pikuls. The price was considerably higher. 



The Gapis Estate, on the way from Taiping to Kuala Kangsar, 

 obtained from 25,000 nuts the fine average of one pikul of copra from 

 188 nuts. 



General. 



The Agricultural Department issued two useful circulars in the 

 Malay language giving hints on this form of cultivation. 



Mr. Brown recommends the cultivation of coconuts as a sound 

 and profitable investment, and advises interplanting coconuts with 

 (".offea robusta as a catchcrop. 



LAND AND AGRICULTURE. 



While the gross land revenue for the year under review shows 

 some diminution as compared with the figures for 1908, it is with 

 satisfaction that I am again al)le to record that the decrease is due 

 solely to a further reduction in the amount realised by land sales, and 

 that receipts under other headings show a substantial advance. The 

 total amount collected under all heads was $514,867 as compared with 

 $532,608 in 1908 and an estimated amount of $418,225. 



The amount brought to credit in respect of land sales receded 

 from $158,592 in 1908 to $122,975 in 1909. This reduction is wholly 

 due to the fact that whereas a large sum was realised in the earlier 

 year by the sale of town lots in Kuala Lumpur, only one such lot was 

 alienated in 1909. The difference in the amounts received on this 

 account only in the two years was over $56,000. While receipts from 

 sales of agricultural land show a diminution of about $17,000, those in 

 respect of mining lands advanced from $41,900 to $75,370. 



