594 



Kuala Pilali. — The beetles here are well under control, and the 

 kampongs throughout the district show much improvement in upkeep. 



Coast. — The condition of the native holdings continues to improve 

 and the beetles give no trouble in this district. 



State of Pahang. 



I made a visit of inspection throughout Raub, Bentong, Tras and 

 Kuala Lipis in July, and again a further tour down river between 

 Kuala Lipis and Pekan, and thence to Kuala Pahang and Kuantan 

 during September. 



I found immense improvement in the upkeep of the Malay kam- 

 pongs, especially between Kuala Lipis and Chemor, and again in the 

 Kuantan district. 



It is satisfactory to report that the making of copra is now on the 

 increase, worked, however, by Chinese shop-keepers, and its manu- 

 facture has been extended to Temerloh, Nungoh, Lebar and Pulo 

 Manis. 



The dry disease has not entirely disappeared, a few trees having 

 been destroyed by it during the year, but it seems to be very much on 

 the decrease. 



The area under coconut cultivation in the State shows an increase 

 of 270 acres, chiefly in the Kuantan district, but the Sub-Inspector at 

 Pekan has not been able to give me, up to date, full returns. . 



The Sub-Inspector at Pekan mentions in his report that the 

 poorer natives are very anxious that Government should grant them 

 small plots of land free of taxes for the first four or five years and the 

 usual quit-rent thereafter, on the understanding that they guarantee 

 to plant up the land, so granted, with coconuts. 



Beetles. 



Perak. — As in the previous year the damage from this source has 

 been practically very little, Kinta and Lower Perak being very free 

 from this pest. At Kuala Kangsar some 106 trees were affected, but 

 the attacks of the beetles were not allowed to spread and the cause 

 of the trouble has been effectively dealt with. At Matang about 472 

 beetles were destroyed. In the Krian district the catches were heavier, 

 the attacks being almost entirely restricted to the Chinese sugar 

 estates. 



Selangor. — During the early part of the year literally thousands 

 of beetles were discovered and destroyed at Rawang in the trees on the 

 plantation belonging to the estate of the late Gunawardena. The 

 trees were all seriously damaged and the case seemed almost hopeless. 

 However, they were all carefully cleaned and treated in April, and in 

 October, when the coolies again attended the trees, they failed to find 

 a single beetle. This proves that when the method now adopted is 

 properly applied even extreme cases can be dealt with successfully. 

 The trees are now slowly but surely recovering, and before long should, 

 with attention, yield excellent crops. In all other districts the pest 

 is well in hand and the beetles appear to be decreasing. 



Negri Semilan and Pahang. — The beetles gave little or no trouble 

 in these States during the year. 



