238 
It is difficult to prophesy with regard to rubber, but ^should 
■ Ho-f> that for the next four years the increases for Malays should be 
ffiaass-wsasS 
the increase may be slighter. In 1916 the output for Malaga should 
be at least 65,000 tons, on the present acreage alone. 
Crops grown with rubber may be divided into two claves : catch- 
materially retarded, the catch-crop yields returns for o^y^a few years, 
as sutsfsxx^Sivig. 
acreage is planted with catch-crops as against 10 per cent tor 19 9 , 
whilefor the Straits Settlements «^nUge is only "planter is 
realising^more 1 a^d more the &sad vantage of the method of cultivation. 
Cover crops are planted between rubber, at Pre^t principally 
with the object of reducing the expenditure on 
Sr tr ^h i e abou°rTs s"t “keep an estate clean weeded 
Ih^e Of a cover crop may be recommended as it may require ess 
keepTng in order than the original weeds and at the same time be less 
harmful to the trees. There is, however, no cover crop that can be 
unconditionally recommended in Malayan plantations, and undoubted- 
lv the be m-ocedure at present is absolute clean weeding, where the 
Lour forced sufficient ‘to obtain it. If a leguminous cover could be 
introduced, which could be easily kept under control A vmgh^ t b 
nreferable even to clean weeding, particularly if it could ^yiel 
sufficient revenue to pay for the cost of its - own cu lnv. it 01 n. A 
present the department is experimenting with giound-nuts, 1 to deter 
mrne if this crop will satisfy the conditions named, besides a number 
of non-revenue producing covers. 
Tanning is a subject that demands mention. In spite of n inner- 
„ U s Lw inventions, the favourite instruments are still the simpler 
tools the °ou°'e (straight or bent) and the farriers knife .oi jebong. 
Which of these is best depends really on which the tapping cooly js 
used to Where there is sufficient European supervision and a stable 
the tapping 
consequent good renewal of the bark. 
