283 
however, the most suitable soil is an arenaceous clay and the best 
climate one which presents distinct alternations of sunshine and 
shower. 
The crop will, under ordinary conditions, be ready for harvesting 
in the cold weather of the third year from planting it out. On crop- 
ping the grass it is committed to the still with as little delay as 
possible. The usual method adopted with the grass is aqueous distilla- 
tion in copper stills. In plantation-grown grass at least two crops 
can be harvested in the season, so that, calculating on an average on 
a bundle of the grass (of six inches diameter) from each of the 5,000 
clumps which may safely be counted upon to attain to maturity out of 
the 7,260 planted out, the yield of an acre may be estimated at 10,000 
bundles. Fifty such bundles yield a quart (40 fluid ounces) of the oil, 
so that the 10,000 bundles would yield 200 quarts or 8,000 ounces. 
Valued at 8d. per ounce, which is the current average selling price of 
the oil in the London market, the produce of an acre would realise 
£269-13-4. Even should the crop cost £66-13-4 to raise, tend, 
harvest, distil and transport the oil to market, a profit of £200 per 
acre would be obtainable from it from and after the cold weather of 
the tjiird year of its establishment . — Times of Malaya. 
OPENING OF THE KRIAN IRRIGATION 
CANAL. 
The opening of the Krian irrigation canal took place on August 
16, 1906. The ceremony was performed by the Resident of Perak, 
Mr. E. W. Birch. A large and influential gathering of Europeans 
and Malays attended, and the proceedings commenced with a speech 
from Mr. Birch who spoke as follows : — 
Ladies and Gentlemen, — It must be a source of the liveliest satis- 
faction to the Perak P. W. D. to see to-day the accomplishment of a 
work that has been on the tapis for seventeen years. It cannot be 
said of this work that it was hastily undertaken and too quickly carried 
through. It can be said of it that it was twice laid to rest and once 
greatly delayed. It can be said of it that it has been considered and 
advised upon by numerous Engineers, and that it has been the object 
of much criticism and scepticism. It can be said of it that outside 
advice has been often obtained, with the result that the advice of the 
Perak P. W. D. has been confirmed and largely adopted. It is an 
instance of how delay in carrying out a scheme in a new and progres- 
sive country has entailed greatly increased cost by reason of the 
simple axiom that continued progress means a continued rise in the 
price of labour and material. But the heat of discussion may well be 
now forgotten, and the difficulties encountered may well be looked 
back upon with pride. Krian was in urgent need of help from 
Government. Its inhabitants often suffered from water famine and 
epidemic disease. The annual rainfall did not greatly vary, but the 
rain fell fitfully, and padi planters could not make it their permanent 
home, for their crops not infrequently failed, and their supply of 
drinking water ceased at certain seasons. In 1889 Mr. Trump made 
a preliminary report. In 1891 Sir Frederick Dickson, whose knowledge 
t/isi 
