1 % 
necessary for some two or three years at least when it will be time 
enough if necessary to destroy them. On the other hand among 
Natives the cultivation is very much on the increase. He has great 
faith in the cultivation of coconuts by natives as no other "kind 
suits them as well except, perhaps, that of padi. He would also 
favour the cultivation of fruit trees and other productive catch 
crops planted between the trees, as this yields a better return and 
there is less vacant land to keep clean. He considers too that the 
yield from the trees in the majority of cases of native plantations 
could be increased 50 per cent, with increased care and attention, 
and that the outlook of the industry in the Peninsula is hopeful. 
THE EXPERIMENTAL PLANTATIONS OP THE 
MALAY STATES. 
Mr. Aruf.x’s report on the gardens at Batu Tiga, for 1003, 
shows a good deal of progress. The Gardens have been increased 
by 2 7 v acres to a total area of 66 acres, and a good deal of work 
done in the matter of roads, drainage and buildings, and a lan>'c 
number of useful economic plants were added to the collection. 
The Funtnmia vfastica made good growth hut was persistently 
attacked by Caprlula conchy/ a Us as indeed it seems to lie almost 
everywhere. » 
Tt is proposed to plant a future Jot in lines cut through the jun- 
gle where they may be less subject to attack. 
A collection of fodder grasses is being got together. Paspalum 
z/ilata turn , a fodder grass of great reputation was introduced and 
proved very successful. A strong growing and deep-rooting grass, 
it grows well on steep banks, and might be used for Railway 
embankments. The Natal red-top Tricholcena rosea , a very prettv 
grass of good repute as a fodder also has done well. (These two 
grasses certainly looked exceedingly promising when I saw them 
in the Batu 1 iga Gardens. 1 he Tricholcena was introduced into 
the Singapore Botanic Gardens many years ago and did well for 
a time but was eventually driven out of the place it occupied by 
the native creeping grasses. The Paspalum is a valuable acqui- 
sition giving a remarkably good mass of fodder, and holding its 
own well. Could we but replace the Lalang which covers and 
renders useless so many miles of country in the Peninsula with 
this grass, there would be a good chance of raising cattle on a 
reasonably large scale — T'd.) 
Experiments were made with Sanseviera, and Para rubber seed 
and Blurnea bet Is ami for a were sent to the Imperial Institute for 
investigation as has been described in earlier Bulletins. 
Cotton seed, Egyptian variety, was obtained from Messrs, 
Pritchard and planted experimentally, but did not prove very 
successful, as owing to excessive moisture the plants grew sickly 
and were attacked by a mite which destroyed a large number. 
