402 
when he has obtained it. Such education might, however, go hand 
in hand advantageously to all concerned with the scheme I have 
proposed, and the Experimental Plantations Department should be 
prepared to supply the best varieties of a particular product at 
nominal prices and give all information respecting its cultivation. 
Compulsory measures have been suggested to me by one or two 
prominent Malays and others, but I am of opinion that this would 
simply result in driving the natives from the soil. 
ir. Such then is briefly the scheme I have the honour to sub- 
mit, in the hope that you will give it your kind consideration and 
take such action as you may deem advisable. 
I have, etc., 
STANLEY ARDEN, 
S it pert nt end ent Expert men tal Pin nt at torts . 
The Federal Secretary, 
Kuala Lumpur. 
Notes on the above. 
There can be no doubt that in the matter of cultivation by 
natives, a good deal more could be done than is at present 
effected. 
It is useless to try to induce a Malay to cultivate a crop for 
which he cannot readily find a market where he can get a good price 
for his produce. As a rule Malays will cultivate crops at least to 
some extent where they have a chance of disposing of the produce, 
and it is not their natural indolence alone that prevents them 
from doing so. There are many cultivations where little and sim- 
ple apparatus for preparing the product are required which would 
be very suitable for Malay cultivation, and which would be cer- 
tainly "taken up by them if they had a chance of a market. 
Mr. Arden gives a case in which a Malay had a difficulty in 
disposing of his sago in any way but bringing it down personally to 
Singapore, and Mr. Baxendale, in the last number of the Bulletin 
o-ave an instance of a somewhat similar nature in the matter of 
cotton. I may mention another instance to show the great diffi- 
culty there is at present in getting a valuable trade product taken 
up, and put on the markets in England. 
Some years ago an enquiry was made concerning a brush-fibre 
to Replace the Piassava of' Brazil, then becoming scarce. The 
matter was brought to my notice by Mr. Bulkei.EY (see Bulletin, 
Old Series, p. 58) who was interested in the business, and was 
then visiting Singapore. After showing him all likely fibres which 
could be obtained here, he selectedThose of the sugar palm Arenga 
saccharifera , known here as Kabong, and Tali hijau, as being well 
suited in every respect, and was prepared to take large quantities 
if the fibres were sorted according to size. I therefore induced a 
Malay to enter into the business, and to procure the necessary 
quantity. As the man had to travel about to collect the fibre and 
