m 
AGRICULTURAL BULLETIN 
OF THE 
STRAITS 
FEDERATED MALAY STATES. 
No. 10.] . OCTOBER, 1908. [Vol. VII. 
IMPROVEMENTS OF FRUITS IN MALAYA. 
The cultivation of Tropical Fruits on scientific lines has up to the 
present moment not, except in a few isolated cases, been attempted 
seriously in Malaya. This is unfortunate as the absence of this cul- 
tural knowledge is too apparent in the poor quality of the native fruits 
exposed for sale in the local markets. 
Furthermore the industry has been almost abandoned in places, 
notably Singapore, and many of the old plantations in other parts of 
the Peninsula have been almost abandoned for so long that the quality 
and quantity of their produce is decidedly poor. 
The .scarcity of fruit of good quantity in Singapore lias been 
particularly noticeable within the last two or three years, and -what is 
available is mostly imported from outside sources. This state of affairs 
exists not only in Singapore but also, in a more or less degree, in other 
parts of the Peninsula and is in a great measure attributable to a lack 
of enterprise shewn by the native and Chinese cultivators. 
It is true that the Government offers fairly attractive conditions 
to the small land holder but notwithstanding one sees a gradual decline 
in the industry. What is most urgently required is a properly organiz- 
ed scheme with Government help in the form of thoroughly trained 
Instructors in the approved method of cultivation and improvement of 
native fruits, and assistance in procuring young plants of selected and 
improved strains at a cheap rate. 
The time has also come when an effort should be made to intro- 
duce many of the delicious tropical fruits which are not indigenous to 
Malaya but nevertheless flourish and fruit successfully here. 
With this object in view early in 1907 I submitted a scheme to 
the Government of Perak for the improvement of native fruits and for 
the introduction and distribution of others not met with in cultivation 
here. 
Roughly this proposal was to establish small nurseries at differ- 
ent places in the State which a central station at Taipeng where 
native fruits could be improved by a careful system Of grafting, cross- 
ing and selection. The plants obtained by these means to be disfcribut- 
