28 o 
Coffee. 
The acreage under coffee has again considerably decreased 
and only a few acres have been planted up. A large proportion 
of coffee acreage has been interplanted with rubber, the former 
being gradually cut out. 
Prices have remained fairly satisfactory, and were it not for 
the fact that rubber is considered to the exclusion of all other 
cultivations, coffee would be increasing instead of gradually being 
wiped out. Leaf disease op coffee is still with us, and there is 
little hope that while coffee remains this pest will cease, but the 
crops have not been very seriously affected by them. The Native 
States has produced 22,291 cwts. of coffee from 9,708 acres, an 
average of about 2 ,\ cwts. per acre, but this acreage includes a 
great deal of coffee which is growing under rubber of three years 
and upwards and consequently gives little or no crop. Selangor 
has nearly four-fifths of the coffee acreage, and the crops in that. 
State work out at an average of a little under 3 cwts. per acre. 
Rubber. 
The position of the rubber planting industry in Malaya at 
the end of 1906 compared with that at the end of the previous 
year is remarkable but not unexpected. 
In December, 1905, the total acreage of rubber planted in the 
Peninsula was probably less than 50,000 acres ; in December, 
1906, it was 99,230, practically during the year 1906 the acreage 
was doubled. The number of^ the trees, which was probably 
under 7,000,000, is now 12,980,756. The output of dry rubber, 
which was about ,150 tons in 1905, was in 1906, 412 tons, an 
increase of nearly three times. 
This result has not been achieved without strenuous effort, 
and that such an acreage has been felled, cleared, lined and 
planted, and with a very few exceptions is now showing a vigour- 
ous grow'th of healthy rubber tpees, is a tribute to the zeal and 
energy of a body of about 100 planters. 
The conditions under which new land is opened are not 
favourable either to vigourous health or enjoyment of much 
leisure, and the excellent work of these pioneers is apt to be 
overlooked by the proprietors and shareholders at home who will 
ultimately benefit by it. In this connection I may be allowed to 
to suggest that as the health of both master and coolie is of para- 
mount importance in the profitable running of an estate money 
expended in building comfortable and even luxurious bungalows 
and lines is a sound investment. The Superintendent is more 
likely to retain his health if when he finished his day’s work he 
has a cool, airy and water-tight bungalow and a comfortable 
