416 
C 'rotatoria striata and another species of the same 
genus, C rotatoria incana, are leguminous plants, possessing 
usually very numerous and large bacterial nodules, and 
growing freely, when not cut; to 7 or 8 feet high. It (0. 
striata) has a yellow flower and a light green leaf, and 
affords a good cover if not allowed to grow high and 
scraggy. It should be kept cut to a height of about 2 feet 
fl inches. The cutting is not a costly process as it is only 
necessary to slash over the tops, leaving the cut part to 
remain as a mulch on the soil. The seed is obtainable in 
almost any quantity as a large acreage is already planted. 
Tephrosia purpurea and T. Candida are both vetch-like 
leguminous plants which grow freely on almost any soil, 
and give perhaps a better cover than crotalaria. They 
must, however, he slashed over at a height of 2-3 feet, and 
not allowed to run up, otherwise the light, and with it the 
Aveeds, will gain an entrance. 
Mimosa pudica, tbe “sensitive plant, ” a leguminous 
plant with red spherical flower heads and spiny fruits, is 
in many wavs the most suitable plant as yet tried for cover. 
The chief reason which makes it disliked by planters is the 
presence of thorns on its stems which are unpleasant to 
coolies walking through it. 
The habit of this plant of shutting its leaves in heavy 
rain and at night is an advantage as no rain is lost and dew 
falls on the ground. It never grows more than about two 
feet high; it persists and makes a dense cover over the 
ground when the leaves are not shut — i.e., when the suu is 
shining and the plant is not disturbed. It is, though a 
native of 8. America, common in all the planting districts 
and one of the first plants to take possession, and keep 
possession, of the roadsides. 
In addition to these plants 1 have recently been shown 
a creeping leguminous plant which was found by Mr. H. F. 
Browell of Damansara Estate. It is a species of Vigna, 
having dark green leaves and making a dense cover wMcli 
refuses to alloAv any weeds to exist. I have seen a patch of 
about half an acre on Damansara Estate, and there it 
appears to be the best plant for the purpose of cover that 
has been used in theFederated Malay States. 
The Future of Rubber. 
The Federated Malay States produce about three-fifths 
of the tin supply of the world, and in a few years time 
Malaya should supply a very large proportion of the 
world ’s demand for rubber. 
