often use unripe nuts, from which it is quite impossible to 
make even decent copra. 
At the request of Government 1 have already made 
representations on the subject, and suggested a scheme 
which J believe, if experimented with, will go a long way to 
arrest the evil complained of. The coconut trees m the 
Federated Malav States compare favourably, both in yield 
and size of nuts,' with those of any other country, and m m\ 
opinion there is no reason, except bad process of manu- 
facture, why the copra made from the fruit should not be 
as a rule, of good, even standard. At present, as 1 h&\ e 
before stated, the outturn of copra from the native holdings 
is inferior in quality. . , , 
Gf.xkrai.. — I am satisfied that my staff have earned out 
their duties thoroughly and with discretion, and by then 
efforts steadv progress has been made. No severe nieasnres 
have been adopted where persuasive means would effect the 
same purpose, and all districts were strictly supervised 
with the object of getting the natives to improve their hold- 
ings. The eradication of all pests to which the coconut tree 
is subject has had particular attention. The natives have 
also been impressed with the necessity ot planting young 
trees between the old ones to replace the latter when they 
eventually cease to bear, and cases are reported m nearly 
everr district of this being done. 
The introducing of the wild passion newer creeper 
l Passill ora festida), known amongst the natives as “Limn 
LutmV’ to kill down the hiking which interferes so much 
with the growth of the trees, has been encouraged, and the 
results in many kampongs have been very beneficial— more 
especial lv in the lower lands. 
In several localities near the Coast the trees suffer from 
being waterlogged, and the influx of the tide brings up crabs 
which attack and eat the young roots, and affect the heal- 
ing of the tree. Better drainage is required to remedy this 
evil, especial lv in the Kuala Selangor and Bernam Districts 
which adjoin' one another. A good system of drams and 
-Juice gates, which is beyond the means of the native 
owners, would very materially improve the trees on 
plantations in these districts. 
The works which are her 
in Lower Perak in the 
o being carried out by Government 
ni ljowei rtrimv m me way of’ roads, chains, and biidk 
paths in the mukims of Bagau Datoh, Bungkup and Ltaii 
Melintang, when completed, will open up a large area parti- 
cularly suited to coconut cultivation, and I look forward to 
a considerable extension in these localities. 
