592 



Kuala Kangsar, Matang and Larut. — The condition of the plan- 

 tations in these districts, I am glad to say, is satisfactory, and contin- 

 ues to steadily improve. 



Kinta and Batang Padang. — Further progress has been made in 

 the native holdings. I understand that a law has been introduced by 

 Government allowing owners of worked-out mining lands to utilise 

 them for agricultural purposes, and my Sub-Inspector informs me that 

 several owners have taken advantage of this and have planted coconuts. 



State of Selangor. 



Staff. — Mr. T. C. Nock was appointed Assistant Inspector on the 

 23rd of February, and assumed duty on the 5th March, and his services 

 have proved of great assistance to me. 



Cultivation. — I estimate 21,321 as the approximate acreage under 

 coconuts in the State at the end of 1907. This shows an increase of 

 2,248 acres as compared with the year before. 



These figures are made up from the various districts as follows : 



District. Increase. Total acreage. 



Kuala Selangor and Bernam 171 acres 9,921 acres. 



Klang and Kuala Langat 760 „ 7,760 „ 



Kuala Lumpor, Ulu Selangor and 



Ulu Langat 1,317 „ 3,640 „ 



2,248 21,321 



Kuala Selangor and Bernam. 



Kuala Selangor. — In the mukims of Tanjong Karang and Pasangan 

 there is a tendency on the part of the owners to neglect their coconuts 

 and devote their time to fishing and the making of ataps. Fortunately, 

 however, the beetles give no trouble here, and the only result of this 

 neglect is that the land at the foot of the trees becomes overgrown 

 with lalang and blukar, which interferes with their growth. 



There are several abandoned plantations in which the beetles 

 gave a good deal of trouble, but these have been treated and there is 

 now a general improvement in the condition of the trees. 



Bernam. — There are nearly 3,000 acres of land under coconuts in 

 this district, and so far the beetles have given no trouble. The trees, 

 however, are somewhat handicapped in their yield by the fact that many 

 of the kampongs are frequently inundated at high tide, and much of the 

 land is insufficiently drained. 



Klang and Kuala Langat. 



Klang. — On the whole the plantations in this district are in good 

 order, the exceptions being the abandoned kampongs between the 8th and 

 13th miles, Klang-Kuala Selangor road. These, however, were treated 

 as often as possible, and though they are overgrown with lalang and blu- 

 kar, the condition of the trees themselves — as regards their freedom 

 from beetles — has noticeably improved. Care was taken in discover- 

 ing and destroying actual and probable breeding places — such as rot- 

 ting stumps of coconut trees, manure and rubbish heaps, etc. — and 

 the pest is consequently decreasing, and is now well in band. 



