3 ° 9 . 
13. A short summary of the work it is intended to carry out on 
the Experimental Plantations forms the subject of appendix B. 
I have, etc., 
STANLEY ARDEN, 
Supt Experimental Plantations. 
The Secretary to the Resident-General, F.M.S. 
Appendix B. 
/jtk February , fgos. 
— I have the honour to enclose for your information the fol- 
lowing short sketch of the work it is intended to carry out in con- 
nection with the Experimental Plantations. 
> The initial work must of necessity consist of working up a initial work, 
collection of economic plants, for experimental purposes and for 
distribution, if necessary ; of erecting buildings— cooly lines stores 
etc.— making roads, drains, etc. Plants of economical value wi! 
be introduced from other parts of the tropics and a collection of 
local economic plants will also be maintained. 
* Attention will be directed chiefly to ‘those plants of the A botanical 
greatest utility, but not exclusively, as 1 think it would be a mistake 
not to avail ourselves of the opportunity of bringing together a tainedi 
botanical collection, as such a collection would probably contain 
plants destined to become economically important. 
1 . Experiments as to the best method of extraction and coagu- 
lation of rubber will be continued on the older trees on the dif- 
ferent estates, and new rubber-producing plants will be introduced 
and their adaptability reported upon. Attention has been drawn 
to the disparity in yield of the “ Para ” rubber, and experiments 
with a view to accounting for this will be made. 
5. A portion of the ground will be utilised for the growth of Coffee, 
this important product. An endeavour will be made to establish 
species new to this country, and the hybridisation and grafting 
of Coffea lib eric a with other species will receive special attention. 
6. A collection of the various fibre-producing plants will be Fibres, 
maintained, samples being sent to London for valuation, and the 
cost of upkeep, yield per acre, and other matters regarding the cul- 
tivation thereof will be reported on from time to time.. 
7. There are several acres of land on the sites selected for the Rice, 
Experimental Plantations suitable for the cultivation of “ padi. It 
is my intention to use this with a view to improving the quality and 
yield per acre of this product by the introduction of new seed and 
a process of selection. I believe that in a few years much might be 
accomplished in this line and possibly a hardier and more robust 
variety, which would withstand the varying conditions of the climate, 
might be established, thereby considerably reducing the risk of 
failure. Considering the importance of rice as a staple food, and 
in view of the important irrigation works being carried out by 
'In? 
