440 
and consequently shows now much better growth. A fresh 
plantation of young seedlings ( liberica and robusta), about 
two acres, was made in April. 
Pepper. — As mentioned in my last report a piece of 
ground had been cleared and planted with shade trees for 
pepper cultivation. Plants of the best Trong variety were 
received and planted in December and are at the time of 
writing getting established and growing. 
Cocoa. — The shade trees, Dadap ( Erythrina indica ), 
planted on the cocoa plot, have, 1 regret to say, done badly. 
They have been persistently attacked by caterpillars and 
defoliated time after time. They have now been'interplant- 
ed with Munkudu (Mo rind a tinctoria) and .will be eventually 
replaced by them. A supply of cocoa pods was received 
from Ceylon, but unfortunately through some mistake or 
neglect the eases lay 21 days at Port Swettenham, and as a 
result all the pods had become heated and the seeds des- 
troyed. 
Arrangements have been made to get a fresh supply 
in the present year. 
Grasses. — The grass plots have all been lifted and re- 
planted during the year. There was some demand for 
citronella grass (Andropogon Nardus) during the year and 
900 plants were sent out. 
Fibre Plants ( Musa violascens ). — In addition to the 
plots mentioned in my 1907 report, experiments have been 
initiated and are being carried out with a view to ascertain- 
ing the vale of the “Wild Banana ’ ’ or pisang (Musa violas- 
cens) as a fibre plant, also for the purpose of finding the 
best means of extracting the fibre. The plant is one which 
grows freely all over the Federated Malay States, there 
must be large quantities of it in the jungle that would pay 
for collecting. On some estates it comes up thickly after 
the jungle lias been felled. It should, I think, form a valu- 
able catch-crop, and, in addition, act as a good cover plant 
and so help to prevent wash on steep lands. 
A variety of Musa sapientum , known as “Pisang Beng- 
gala,” is also being tried as a fibre-producing plant. 
This variety attains a good size, grows quickly, and 
produces an abundance of shoots or suckers. It is’ there- 
fore, if only for the latter reasons, a desirable plant for 
fibre purposes. 
I have seen a sample of the fibre of this plant, prepared 
by Mr. A. Hale, Taiping, which appears to be of excellent 
quality. 
