June 1, 1904. J THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 829 
ing a far larger area under coconuts than any other 
diatriot throughout the Federated Malay States natur- 
ally commands a voi'y prominent position in this 
cultivation. The area at the end of the year was 
estimated at 18,263 acres, an increase of 2,000 acres 
over 1902. The principal mnkims contributing to- 
wards this being Bagan Datu, Likir, Qtan Meleutang 
and Telnk Bahrn. I found a good deal of trouble from 
beetles in the vicinity otTeluk Anaon itself, but this 
has been quite checked, and I think no further harm- 
is likely to come abouo with present supervision 
The only large European coconut plantation, where 
there are about 800 acres planted up, is known as Bagan 
Datu Estate. Curiously enough although I found on 
my first visit much harm had been done by rats, etc., 
the trees were practically quite free from the beetles, 
but towards August the place became suddenly and 
severely infested both with the beetles and grubs which 
were found in large numbers in the decayed stumps 
lying about all over the estate and also imbedded in 
the top soil itself which is of loose black loam. Fortu- 
nately very few of the trees were lost or suffered much 
owing to the energetic steps taken to check the evil. 
The pests were ultimately stamped out by keeping the 
place flooded and quite under water for a considerable 
time. The native holdings which are very extensive in 
the Bigan Data, Runkup and Utan Meleutang mukims 
are very free from beetles. There is a very fair 
export of copra from these places, which must 
increase very considerably as the trees mature, 
To give some idea how valuable coconut land is be- 
coming in these parts, I may mention a lot of 30 acres 
hardly five years old, was sold for ,^300 per acre, and 
I am given to understand this is nominally the value 
the natives about here as a whole put on their planta- 
tions, Krian district is particularly interesting. Home 
time back coconuts were in great abundance in this 
district, but unfortunately a few years ago the 
beetles made such desperate ravages that nearly all 
the trees previously planted had in consequence 
been destroyed, A new start has now been made 
which promises in every way to prove quite a success, 
Previously it was hardly credited that coconuts could 
grow alongside of sugar cane owing to attack by 
beetles ; but, with proper precautions, I contend there 
was really no good ground for this presumption. 
There are now some 3,i;00 to 4,000 acres under culti- 
vation, but of the above peihaps not more than 200 or 
300 in bearing, the young trees are healthy, and 
notwithstanding that the greater part of them are 
amongst and in close proximity to the sugar cane, 
the beetles are not doing any serious harm now that 
proper measures to check their inroads are taken, 
Negri Sembilan. — Sub-Inspectors were appointed 
for each of the five districts — Seremban, Jelebu, Kuala 
Pilah, Tampin and the Coast — and commenced their 
duties early in the year. Very gord progress as a 
whole has been made under their supervision generally, 
with the exception perhaps of Tampin, where the 
natives do very little to cultivate their plantations, 
althont»h at Remban there are some very fine trees in 
many of the kompongs. 
Pahang.— It Wis not till the middle of the year 
that I found tirno to make a visit to this State. 
The outturn of copra is decidedly small, the only plan- 
tations where the product is manufactured being near 
Pekan; the 'usual price for the nuts down the river 
varies from 2 to 2j cents, which certainly ought to pay 
the owners very well. At Kuala Lipis they command 
often as high a price as 7 cents and a good many are 
forwarded there ; the internal consumption itself is 
very considerable. Of course thsre are a great many 
very neglected compounds, but as a whole they com- 
pare favourably with the native holdings in the other 
State. 8 ; but this is chiefiy due to the number of buffa- 
loes 'u these parts, which keep down the undergrowth, 
rather than to any particular attention given to the 
plautatious by the owners, Attacks by beetles are 
noticeable every now and again, but, until noaring 
Pekan, have so far done no serious harm. The trees 
are mostly in bearing and mostly of considerable age 
and it seems a pity that no trouble is taken by the 
natives to have vacancies filled up where trees die off 
or have to be cut down and destroyed from other 
causes. I am glad to say the area under coconut 
cultivation in the Kuantan district is being consider- 
ably increased. The great trouble practically every, 
where, but especially in the holdings on both sides of 
the Pahang river, comes from 
SQUIRRELS, 
which are in great numbers and do immense harm 
Formerly the natives used to employ the Sakei to 
destroy them with their "blowpipes," but owners com- 
plain they cannot get this done any longer. The matter 
is, however, receiving my attention. 
Genehal. — I find from the experience I have had 
here that the coconut trees between eight to ten years, 
or even older, that have been attacked by the beetles 
easily become recoverable with ordinary care in a very 
short space of time ; on the other hand, young trees 
between the age of three and six years require con- 
tinual and particular attention and always give con- 
siderable trouble, and this may also be said of the 
very old trees, which take even longer to come round. 
The frayed appearance of the coconut leaves so much 
seen about is quite as much due to the stag beetle 
as anything else, and this insect, beyond making 
this despoilment, does absolutely no harm to the tree 
as far as its growth and produce are concerned. 
There have, of course, been a great number of pro- 
aecnticns, but this was mostly earlier in the year, 
and during the remaining months I am pleased to say 
there has been a considerable decrease. The copra 
exported last year was considerably more than in 
19U2, notwithstanding the fact that the Oil Mills 
at Kuala Selangor are again working, and also that an 
unusually large quantity of nuts was used for seed 
owing to the increase of new areas opened and vacan- 
cies to be filled up. Quite apart from the progress 
that has been made in combating the damage done 
from the ravages of the beetles, I am pleased to say 
that much as a whole has been effected in getting the 
natives to take better care of their holdings, although 
there is still room for much more to be done iu this 
direction, which, beside improving the yield from the 
trees, is of itself a certain safeguard against attack, 
not only from beetles, but from other pests which 
cause great damage. As regards the 
PROSPECTS OF THE COCONUT CULTIVATION, 
now that the Para and other rubbers have , assumed 
and command so favourable a position, especially 
by the Ceylon planters, who are mostly interested 
in agriculture in the States, I do not anticipate, 
at least in the near future, any further large 
European estates being opened out under coconuts; 
in fact, the acreage — about 7,000 acres alto- 
gether owned by them at present — may at the end 
of 1904 be even slightly less, as I understand the 
coconut trees previously planted up amongst rubber 
will probably be all cut down to give the latter more 
room. I do not think this necessary, at least for 
some two or three years, when it will be time enough, 
and the future of rubber must by then be thoroughly 
assured one way or the other ; it seems a pity to 
sacrifice the trees just at present, many of which are 
just coming into bearing. While, therefore, the cultiva* 
tion may remain, so far as the Europeans are con- 
cerned, practically at a standstill for some time, it 
is satisfactory to note that amongst the natives it 
is very much on the increase. I still have the greatest 
faith in coconuts as far as the natives themselves are 
concerned, for I know of no other cultivation except 
perhaps padi, that suits them so well, and in my 
opinion everything passible should be done to 
encourage this industry among them. I have no 
objection at ell, in fact I favour, fruit trees and 
other productive catch crops being planted between 
the trees, as this yields a better return and there is 
less vacant land to keep clean, which suits the natives, 
and I would like to see a great deal more of this 
planting done. 
