210 
been  heard  of  it  nor  has  its  receipt  been  acknowledged.^ 
A similar  fate  befell  a consignment  of  5,000  Para  rubber  seeds 
Oil  contained  in  which  were  despatched  ‘on  the  22nd  September. 
Para  rubber  seed.  This  seed  contain  a large  percentage  of  oil,  which  so 
far  as  I am  aware,  does  not  yet. enter  into  commerce.  If  however 
the  virtue  of  the  oil  expressed  from  the  seeds  was  demonstrated  a 
market  might  be  found  for  it  and  probably  a successful  bye-product 
would  be  in  the  hands  of  the  cultivators  of  the  Para  rubber  tree. 
17.  Several  attempts  have  been  made  to  induce  Malay  youths 
Teaching agricul-  to  enter  the  Plantations  with  the  intention  of  teach- 
ture  to  natives,  jng  them  to  take  a lively  interest  in  agricultural 
matters,  but  although  paid  the  wages  of  a working  coolie  and  al- 
lotted the  easiest  tasks  no  boy  has  been  persuaded  to  stay  any 
length  of  time.  In  conversation  with  the  late  Mr.  Driver,  Federal 
Inspector  of  Schools,  he  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  it  would  be 
impossible  to  obtain  boys  of  any  nationality  from  the  English 
schools,  owing  to  the  demand  at  present  existing  for  well-paid 
clerks.  This,  however,  does  not  I think  generallv  appiv  to  the 
('lass  of  natives  who  might  be  expected  to  take  up  agriculture,  and 
1 am  of  opinion  that  the  opportunity  of  instructing  natives  in  agri- 
cultural pursuits  based  on  sound  principles  is  one  that  ought  not 
to  be  lost  sight  of : though  until  the  Plantations  have  reached  a 
more  advanced  stage  it  may  perhaps  appear  to  be  a little  pre- 
mature. Any  scheme  of  this  kind  to  be  successful  should  be  con- 
nected with  a school,  and  lessons  in  agriculture  should  form  part 
of  the  daily  training,  and  each  student  allotted  a piece  of  ground 
to  be  cultivated  under  the  supervision  of  the  officer  In  charge,  and 
allowed  to  sell  the  produce.  The  students  would  then  have  an  in- 
terest in'their  work,  which  would  be  stimulated  by  the  possibility 
of  profits  which  might  accrue. 
18.  It  having  been  reported  from  India  that  applications  of  the 
Whi"e  ants  Gondal  fluid  have  proved  very  effective  against  the 
ravages  of  w'hite  ants,  endeavours  have  been  made  to 
procure  the  ingredients  locally.  This,  however,  has  not  been  pos- 
sible, and  I am  now’  in  correspondence  with  Sir  G.  Watt,  Reporter 
on  Economic  Products  to  tlie  Government  of  India,  on  the  sulflect. 
Should  the  experiments  in  this  diiection  ’prove  successful  probably 
some  local  tradesman  will  endeavour  to  procure  the  ingredients 
and  stock  them,  or  even  stock  the  ready  mixed  fluid. 
19.  In  September  I furnished  you  with  a report  on  Para  rubber 
Rubber  e.vperi-  in  the  Malay  Peninsula,  which  although  not  so  com- 
ments. plete  as  it  might  have  been,  dealt  with  most  of  the 
points  at  issue  in  connection  with  the  cultivation  of  this  tree  and 
the  extraction  and  coagulation  of  the  latex. 
With  respect  to  this  Professor  W.  R.  Du.xst.vn  of  the  Imperial  Institute  writes 
as  follows  to  the  Editor. 
“ A number  of  the  products  of  the  Straits  Settlements  are  at  present  under  in- 
“ vestigation  in  the  Laboratories  and  some  of  them,  Blunuui  (,'(i!s,njii/rni,  for  c.x.onple, 
” seem  likely  to  be  important.  I shall  hope  to  licar  of  further  problems  from  you.  " 
Editor. 
