248 
in the Peninsula, I should imagine that these plants could be grown 
quite as well here as in Jamaica, for example, where the return of 
fibre from S, guineensis is estimated at i| tons per acre per annum, 
valued in London at £30 per ton. 
Both Sansevieria guineensis and S. zeylanica are represented 
in the collection of the Experimental Plantations, but so far have 
only been used for propagating purposes. 
9. Thefe appears to be need for further investigation with 
Further investi- regard to the cultivation of these plants and the 
gation necessary, preparation of the fibre, as the soil, climate and age 
of the leaves when collected have much to do with the length and 
strength of the staple and the quantity of the fibre generally. 
10. 1 enclose a small sample of Murva fibre recently extracted 
from a young leaf. Had this leaf been fully developed f 
* L ' the fibre would have been three or four feet long. 
1 have, dec., 
STANLEY ARDEN, 
Superintendent Experimental 
Plantations. 
The Secretary to Resident-General, 
Federated Malay States. 
KEEPING LAND CLEAN FROM WEEDS. 
The following observations by an agricultural correspondent of 
the Melbourne Weekly Times are appended : — 
The advantage of keeping the land clean will be admitted by 
every cultivator, whether farmer or gardener, though, strange to 
sav, *a great many allow it to get foul with weeds for lack of proper 
attention to its requirements. 1'his is the case with tillers of the 
soil generally but more especially do many Australian farmers err 
in this respect. The too common practice in 1 his part of the world 
is to get as many acres under crop as possible, and little, or even, 
in some instances, no further attention is given till the harvest 
time arrives. Though this may be the easiest way of farming, it is 
not the most economical in the long run. On the contrary, it is a 
most wasteful and thriftless practice. 
Common sense should teach everyone that the cleaner the culti- 
vation the better the crops may be expected to be. 
Land cropped in a foul state is not only laid under contribution 
for the production of a crop of serviceable plants, but has also to 
support a number of others that are useless and troublesome to the 
cultivator. Now, it must be perfectly plain to the most ordinary 
mind that, when crops have to contend with large numbers of 
weeds, the growth must be interfered with more or less. When 
land is foul with weeds there is a much heavier tax upon its pro- 
ductive powers when cultivated for a crop than if it were clean. In 
