278 
Federated Malay States Agriculture in 1906. 
1906 was a prosperous and in some directions exceptionally 
progressive year for agriculture in the Federated Malay States, 
The climate of the Peninsula is not subject to the vicissitudes 
which obtain in other tropical agricultural countries. The fact 
that the climate is so equable causes a constant active growth of 
vegetation, and consequently all our crops — whether annual or 
perennial — show much greater progress than the same plants 
during the same time in a country like Ceylon or South India, 
where prolonged periods of extremely small or absolute lack of 
rainfall cause temporary cessation of growth. 
The only drawback to the equable climate is that there is no 
“close time” for insects or fungal pests. In a country where a 
drought occurs at regular intervals parasitic fungi receive a 
serious check, no spores can germinate in dry air and many are 
killed. Insects also are prevented from spreading by a drought 
and by constant heavy rainfall. 
Coconut Plantations. 
The various cultivations of the Native States have suffered 
from no abnormal pests or diseases. The report of the Inspector 
of Coconut Plantations gives an interesting account of the pre- 
vention and cure of the disease due to beetles in this most useful 
and profitable plant. The work in charge of Mr. Brown and his 
subordinates is of great economic value to the country, and the 
fact that the coconut industry is in such a flourishing condition 
is in no small measure due to their efforts. 
That the glamour of rubber cultivation, with its promise of 
exceptionally large profits, should prevent the appreciation of a 
cultivation, which has been aptly called “ Consols of the East,” 
is perhaps only to be expected, but, as the Inspector of Coconuts 
points out, it is palpably a foolish proceeding, while plenty of 
good jungle land is still available for rubber planting, to cut down 
healthy coconut trees which are near to the yielding period in 
order to put rubber in their place. The fact that the price of 
copra steadily rose during the year till it was more than 30 per 
cent: higher in December than at the beginning of the year 
accentuates this mistaken policy. 
Padi. 
The rice crops in the north of Perak and in Kuang District 
of Selangor suffered considerably from insect pests last year 
which are dealt with in detail in the Government Entomologist’s 
report. With these exceptions the crops during 1906 were above 
the average, the plants were well grown and healthy, and the 
straw as well as the grain showed vigour and health. The area 
cultivated under padi was about 83,000 acres. 
