Dr. Olssen-Seffer, the Director of Agriculture, Mexico, 
investigated our rubber industry and gave interesting information 
respecting the rapidly growing rubber industry of his country. 
The Hon. Mr. Stainforth Smith was delegated by the 
Australian Government to examine the methods in relation to 
agriculture, mining, etc., of the Federated Malay States and Java, 
and spent some weeks in the Native States. On his return he wrote 
a report dealing with the question of what he had learnt and in 
relation to the opening up of British New Guiana, has since been 
appointed Director of Agriculture, Pubjic Works and Mines in 
New Guiana. Mr. M. Kelway Bamber, Government Chemist, 
Ceylon, Mr. Cremee, late Secretary of State for the Colonies to 
the Netherlands Government. Among those interested chiefly 
in the rubber industry who visited the Native States were the 
Karl of Carnarvon, Messrs. T. N. Christie, G. A. Talbot, 
A. Lampard, R. Morrison, F. Crosbie Roles and R. Davidson. 
Library. 
The library of the department has been added to during the 
year, many necessary scientific books and periodicals having been 
obtained, and as one of the chief functions of the Department of 
Agriculture is the giving of advice on technical matters a working 
library is essential, and within the next few years it is intended 
to form a library so that scientific and other technical work can 
be carried on without serious loss of time' and energy in having 
to refer to Europe for information. 
A card catalogue of the books, pamphlets and other sources 
of information at the disposal of the department has been begun 
and will much expedite the information bureau work. 
During the year over 1,000 letters of enquiry relating to 
agricultural matters were received and attended to, some 250' of 
these were from foreign countries. 
J. B. CARRUTHERS, 
Director of Agriculture md Government Botanist, F.M.S. 
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF COCONUT 
PLANTATIONS FOR THE YEAR 1906. 
The area under coconut cultivation at the end of 1906 in the 
Federated Malay States may be estimated approximately 103,000 
acres, apportioned to the four States as follows : — 
Perak 
Selangor ... 
Negri Sembilan ... 
Pahang ... 
53»395 acres. 
x 9>2i6 „ 
17,196 „ 
I5H93 >, 
An increase of about five per cent, over the preceding year. 
