35 « 
The Rajah whose claim for immortality rests, perhaps, rather on 
his prowess on the field of battle than on his system of upkeeping 
cultivation, stated that in spite of the most tender solicitude, coco- 
nuts would not thrive in this country. 
The gentlemen from Ceylon, it is said, told even a worse tale. 
The coco-nut is not only ungrateful — it is treacherous. It will 
come into bearing at about ten years of age, promise well, lead its 
owner into marriage and other reckless extravagance; and then, 
at about fifteen years of age, leave off, or almost leave off, bearing 
nuts. 
I have no doubt-that reasons, figures, etc. can and will be given 
to support this charge, but I think that the Sungei Rabats Orchards 
will take a good deal of explaining away with any argument less 
convincing than an axe. These orchards were the first planted in 
the Kwala Langat district and the Coco-nuts were in bearing for 
years when the late Sir ANDREW CLARKE paid his historical visit 
to the late Sultan Abdul Samad at Jugra in 1874. Some of the 
Coco-nuts were planted by a man named Udin at the time of his 
daughter's marriage to Berkat. This is the earliest planting I can 
trace — though it was not the first. Udin’s daughter died last month. 
Her age is registered at the Jugra Office at 79; but this is probably 
a fancy figure. At all event she was a very old woman and her 
grand children are extremely numerous and of very varied ages. 
I bought the trees which were planted during this lady's girlhood 
from her son, Lakim bin Berkat, three years ago. 
At that time, the orchards had been totally deserted for nine 
years and I expect that the condition of the Klanang cs holding ” 
which you describe in Agricultural Bulletin No. 6, was high class 
cultivation as compared to that of any produce. I felled the jungle, 
dug out three acres of lalang, drained the land and now weed it 
regularly. I have picked sufficient nuts not only to pay for this 
work but to recover the cost of the purchase. Some of the trees 
yield upwards of a hundred nuts per annum and practically, it is 
only those trees which were planted within a few years of aban- 
donment that make no return or are likely to make no return in 
the near future. It is impossible to give an average, because I 
have never counted the trees. It is difficult, owing to the system 
of planting. For instance, 1 find four stems growing out of a com- 
mon mound, each stem in bearing. Should it be counted as one or 
four trees ? Perhaps some Malay put them there to eat but fell 
asleep and forgot about them. 
I have heard somewhere that it is injurious ,to cut steps up a 
coco-nut tree. All the trees which are of any considerable age in 
our orchards have been so treated and some have been hacked 
about so wantonly that one wonders why they do not break down 
in the first high wind. 
Yours faithfully, 
CYRIL E S. BAXENDALE. 
P. S. — I expect to plant another 50 acre field with coco-nuts 
this month, 
