397 
jCoFFEE. 
The area under coffee in the Federated Malay States 
decreased considerably during 1908, only 8,431 acres being 
recorded, some 25 per cent, less than the previous >eai. 
This decrease is caused by the cutting out of coffee trees 
in rubber fields, or by their gradual extermination owing to 
the increasing shade caused by the larger tree. 
The cultivation of coffee is still profitable, but the 
larger return given bv rubber prevent the planter, except 
hi a very few cases, from considering the planting or tend- 
ing of coffee as worth Ins attention. 
Tapioca. 
The cultivation of tapioca (Manihot utilissima) m occu- 
pies a large area, over 10,000 acres in the Native States, 
and a still larger area in the Straits Settlements, ihe lov 
prices which obtained during the year discouraged planting, 
and in some cases the cultivators did not consider it suffi- 
ciently profitable to harvest the crop. It has been used as 
a catch-crop in- conjunction with rubber to a considerable 
extent, and when so used the gain in the protection and 
cultivation of soil compensates to a very large extent tor 
the competition in the soil of the roots of the tapioca with 
those of rubber. 
Rubber in Malaya. 
The progress of rubber cultivation in the Malay Penin- 
sula continues to be unique in its rapid progress and m the 
success of the areas already planted, and which has come 
\t the^end of 1908 there were 37,440,020 trees as com- 
pared with 27,558,369 a year before; 60 036 acres were 
planted during 1908, an increase of over 3o per cent on the 
previous year, giving a total of 241, lo8 acres of mbbei on 
the 31st December for the whole 1 enmsula 
The output of drv rubber increased m 1908 by ob pei 
cent • 3 539 922 lbs., or 1,580 tons, being produced as against 
2,278,870 lbs., or 1,017 tons, in 1907. This 1,580 tons re- 
presents probably about 14 per cent, of the world s supply 
for last year. The average at which tins was sold was not 
less than 4s. per lb., representing an export ot over 
$6,000,000 in value or over £700,000; eight years ago the 
value of rubber exports was about £l,/00, a large and pio- 
fitable industry having been created within that time, wmcli 
will next year show a return of produce worth more than 
£1,000,000 or $8,500,000. 
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