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FOOD-STUFFS IN MALAYA. 
By F. G* Spring, n.d.a., f.l.s. 
(Agriculturist, F.M.8 . ) 
^PHIS paper is written with one object and that is to endeavour to 
stimulate interest generally in connection with the growing of 
food -stuffs in Malaya. There are very large areas in cultivation, 
here, but the part devoted to food supply is, in comparison, almost 
conspicuous by its absence. The European planter does not appear 
to have sei'iously considered the growing of such crops and it is 
evident, that the Eastern races have, to some extent, ceased to 
practise what was, but a few years ago, their livelihood. It is 
surprising how few residents take an interest, in the subject, even 
as far as a vegetable garden is concerned and food production on 
estates, to a minor or any extent, for one’s own labour force is, 
1 believe, unknown. The cooly is not the one to further the 
growing of such crops. He may have his small plot of land but 
further than that he cannot be expected to go. The smallholder, 
particularly the padi planter, is the main support of what food 
materials are produced in this country and it is desirable that he 
should receive every encouragement. The larger planter has often 
opportunities of growing quite a variety of crops which would be of 
general benefit. Young rubber and coconut clearings, in the early 
stages of development are suited, in some cases, for the growing of 
food-yielding crops of short duration. I am fairly confident that a 
new clearing can support one or perhaps more annual crops, which 
take a matter of a few months to mature, without, to any appreciable 
extent, injurious results to the permanent crop. The culture and 
tilth required for the reception of a temporary crop, in many cases 
the primary tillage of the land, would I believe, compensate for the 
chemical constituents removed from the soil. In addition to this, 
the refuse material will, on application to the land, improve the 
mechanical condition of the soil which is of great importance, 
particularly in the tropics. I do not wish it to be understood that I 
favour the continued removal of one or a rotation of intercrops but I 
do think that short lived catch-crops might with advantage be 
grown, for a time, on first class land which is free, or comparatively 
so, from timber. 
Many uncultivated pieces of land in, or adjoining estate areas 
might be profitably utilized for the growing of food-yielding plants 
of a more permanent nature. 
The labour required for the proper culture of such crops is 
perhaps the most serious obstacle, for estates do not generally have a 
superfluous stock of coolies. Annual crops of this nature require 
more cultivation than is usual with rubber and coconut plantations. 
A good deal of supervision, particularly during the planting and 
harvesting seasons, is necessary. 
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