January, 1910.J 55 



Three of the largest kind of coconuts 

 from the Penang Show have been put to 

 germinate. 



An experiment with Copra manu- 

 facture was tried, the following being 

 the figures obtained. The nuts were 

 generally small :— 



10,000 nuts weighed 



and contained water 



Miscellaneous. 



The Para rubber trees planted in 1905 

 have been again measured and show the 

 following increase for ten months : — 



1284-5 lb, 





163-5 „ = 



12-72% 



1121-0 „ 





376-5 „ = 



28-61 % 



753-5 = 



58-66% 



337 5 „ 



100-00% 



31-23% 





48-77 % 





The shells weighed 

 Kernels 



Weight of dry Copra 

 Loss of moisture 

 Prop, of dry Copra 



The oil Chekku mill has been com- 

 pleted and experiments on oil extraction 

 will be made. 



It is proposed to experiment on the 

 effect of sun and heat drying, as the 

 former is said to be better for copra 

 manufacture. 



Coconuts from 15 separate plots have 

 been collected and counted prior to 

 manuring experiments being commenced. 



Rubber.— Tapping experiments on the 

 Manihot dichotoma were commenced on 

 the 8th October when exactly two years 

 old from planting by two methods. 



1st, by cutting a shallow channel and 

 pricking. 



2nd, by cutting out the bark to the 

 wood. 



The rubber from each tree was weighed 

 and the yields point to great variation 

 in individual trees. 



Ceara tapping experiments were also 

 commenced on the same lines on trees 

 six years old and show the same differ- 

 ences. The yield from the Manihot 

 dichotoma was generally poor, and the 

 cost of collection, if the yield continued 

 the same throughout the year, avouM be 

 about 2/30 per lb. 



Castilloa tapping experiments have 

 been resumed. 



Half-acre plot planted 8' x 8' has been 

 fully supplied, 165 cuttings being re- 

 quired. Dry weather occurred after the 

 previous planting which accounted for 

 most of the deaths. 



Germination experiments of seed from 

 ten months old and two-year old plants 

 are being tried. 



Seed received for testing showed a 

 germination of 85 %. 



1,000 seeds of Manihot heptaphylla 

 have been obtained and a nursery 

 formed. 



in a> S 



2? m5 

 is 2 P 



< Row 3. Row 2. Row 1. 



Plot 78 

 Soluble manure : 



Dec. 1908... 10-27" 10-71" 10-52" 9"60" 

 Oct 1909... 14-78" 14-97" 13-63" 4"18" 



Plot 79 

 Crotalaria Striata : 

 Dec. 1908... 9-96" 10-41" 9'83" 963" 

 Oct. 1909... 14-16" 13-72" 13'39" 3-80" 



Plot 80 

 Lemon Grass : 

 Dec. 1908... 7-97" 7 71" 812" 8 03" 

 Oct. 1909... 11-29" 11'20" 10-83" 3'15" 



Plot 81 

 Indiagofera : 

 Dec. 1908... 9-27" 9 34" 9-41" 9-04" 

 Oct. 1909... 12-99" 12-98" 14-17" 4-12" 



Plot 82 

 Blank : 



Dec. 1908... 9-58" 10-41" 9-C" 9-31" 



Oct. 1909... 12-78" 13-76" 13-28" 3'70 ' 



Plot 80. The Lemon Grass was cut in 

 October and mulched. 



Plot 81. The Indigofera has recovered 

 after cutting, while the Crotalaria on 

 Plot 79 all died, being too old and the 

 shade too dense. 



Plot 82. Crotalaria was resown in 

 curves below each tree & from the stem, 

 much of the first sowing having failed 

 from the drought. 



Funtumia. — This plot was attacked 

 with the usual caterpillar Caprinia 

 conchylalis in September, and spraying 

 experiments with lead arsenate were at 

 once done, but with only partial success 



Paddy.— The transplanting of the 

 paddy on half the area has been com- 

 pleted, the lower half being manured as 

 in the broadcast portion. 



The effect of the manure was most 

 apparent in the colour of the plants. 



Where leguminous plants only had 

 been grown before the paddy the effect 

 was still more marked in the luxuriant 

 colour and sturdy growth. 



Oil; Grasses. - A distillation of Maha 

 Pengiri from Java has been made, and 

 the plot utilised for planting out a larger 

 area near the curing house. 



The ground has also been prepared for 

 plan ting out other varieties, which will 

 now be done- 



The modified still is being erected and 

 will be completed this week when 

 furthei experimental distillations will 

 be made with the various pure oil 

 grasses. 



