268 
and healthy. I trust therefore that with more attention and 
better cultivation being given to the trees the disease may gradu- 
ally disappear. With this object in view I have arranged for 
some experiments to be carried out. 
General Cultivation. — Very marked progress has been 
made throughout the States generally in the condition of the 
native holdings, which has only come about after considerable 
up-hill work, as those who have had any experience of the usual 
Malay habits will readily recognise. It must be remembered 
that the powers that are given me under the Coconut Enactment 
do not really, help me very much in this respect. My Sub- 
Inspectors have done their utmost by encouragement and per- 
suasive measures towards bringing about this improvement and 
there is no doubt that the influence of the Penghulus of the 
districts has also had a very beneficial effect. While I am 
therefore indebted to many of them for the interest they have 
taken and the assistance they have afforded me, there are other 
Penghulus — generally having neglected plantations, of their own 
— who are very indifferent and seem to stand out against any 
reform. There is no doubt that, owing to the general improve- 
ment, better crops have been obtained from the trees, and it is 
gratifying to me to be able to state that several owners now seem to 
take a keen interest in their holdings. From this I am inclined 
to infer that they are at least beginning to understand the ad- 
vantage gained by more assiduous cultivation. On my last visit 
to Kuala Pilah the Sub-Inspector of Coconuts in that district 
informed me that since the natives have given more care and 
attention to their kampongs and taken a greater interest in them 
than formerly , he did not require to use the same pressure to enforce 
them starting to work on their padi lands in good time to assure 
the chances of a fair crop as was previously the case ; and that 
they are not so callous and indifferent as formerly. 
Advantage is now being taken by many owners to plant up 
the vacant places so often seen in their kampongs, mostly where 
the trees have either died from old age or been destroyed. .To 
guard against a recurrence of this, many of them have been 
induced to supply young plants where the coconuts are very old 
or have given up bearing. 
Market. — The price of coconuts has been very well main- 
tained throughout the year. In districts where the trees are 
plentiful, in good bearing, and over a large acreage, the price has 
hardly ever fallen below 2 cents and is more often 3 to 4 cents: 
The lowest of these figures gives quite a good return on the outlay. 
A^ain in districts where there are fewer plantations or the plan- 
tations are situated within easy distance of the larger towns the 
nuts generally fetch from 5 to 6 cents on an average; while m 
places where the cultivation is small they can be sold at from 7 
to 10 cents a piece, and in certain seasons even higher prices 
