212 
be  brought  into  rompetition,  excepting  Ceylon  and  India 
itself,  where,  however,  some  of  the  other  conditions  are  far 
less  favourable.  It  may  be  contended  that  little  is  known 
of  the  yield  over  a large  area,  which  Is  true,  but  on  the  other 
hand,  we  do  know  what  considerable  numbers  of  indiffer- 
ently cultivated  individual  trees  have  given,  and  there  is 
no  reason  whatever  for  fearing  that  our  average  yield  will 
be  less  than  that  at  any  other  country. 
The  area  under  rubber  (principally  Para)  at  the  end  of  1902  is 
given  approximately  at  16,000  acres. 
Ramhong. — The  cultivation  of  the  Ficus  Flastica  {Rambong)  de- 
serves more  consideration  than  it  has  yet  received^  and  I would 
draw  attention  to  the  following  observations  contained  in  the  report 
above  referred  to,  and  to  the  words  therein  which  I have  italicised: — 
(jutta  Rambong  [Ficus  elastica). — A small  sale  of  this 
rubber  from  about  4 year  old  trees  was  put  through  at  §190 
per  pikul,  the  average  yield  per  tree  being  about  10  oz.  The 
lot  in  question  was  the  most  ordinarv  ‘^scrap,”  and  for 
really  good  stuff  a much  higher  price  would  probably^  have 
been  paid.  '!  he  cost  of  collection  was  very  heavy,  the 
quantity  being  only  a very  small  one,  still  the  margin  of 
profit  is  sufficiently  wide,  at  the  price  quoted  to  make  the 
cultivation  of  Rambong  well  worth  considering.  This  va- 
riety has  the  advantage  of  yielding  nearly  two  years  sooner 
than  Para,  and  gives  a heavier  return  per  tree.  It  is  also 
cheaper  to  open,  being  planted  not  less  than  30'  x 30', 
spreads  with  great  rapidity,  consequently  keeping  the  weeds 
down  well,  and  is  indigenous  to  the  country.  It  moreover 
grows  with  great  luxuriance  in  well-drained  peat  land  where 
no  other  cultivation  does  any  good  at  all.  Tapping  is  easy, 
and  requires  nothing  like  the  care  that  is  necessary  with 
Para,  but  the  latex  is  slow  to  coagulate  when  poured  out  in 
pans,  and  the  value  of  really  good  Rambong  “biscuits’’  is 
at  present  an  unknown  quantity.  The  idea  seems  to  be 
that  the  quality^  of  this  rubber  is  inferior,  but  so  little  is 
known  about  it  when  really  carefully  prepared,  and  the  price 
realised  for  the  “scrap”  referred  to  was  so  satisfactory, 
that  it  would  certainly  appear  to  merit  much  greater  at- 
tention. 
Coconuts. — To  ensure  united  and  systematic  action  against  the 
enemies  of  the  coconut  palm — ^beetles,  rats,  wild  pig,  porcupine — • 
a Federal  Inspector,  under  the  “Coconut  Trees  Preservation 
Enactment,”  was  appointed  towards  the  end  of  the  year.  His 
labours  have  been  highly  appreciated  by  Europeans  and  natives 
alike,  and  h.ave  already  met  with  a considerable  measure  of  suc- 
cess. Mr.  L.  C.  Brown,  the  gentleman  appointed  to  the  newly 
created  post,  has  had  great  experience  of  coconut  plantations  in 
the  Straits  Sett'ements,  and  he  reports  that  in  many  districts  here 
the  soil  is  admirably  adapted  for  the  giowlh  of  the  palm,  no  ma- 
nure is  required,  the  most  favourable  conditions  exist,  the  trees 
