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the mechanical condition of both light and heavy soils and this 
combined with the improved tilth should compensate for the material 
removed in one or two harvests. This would apply to other cereal 
crops but not to the same extent with root crops. The growing of 
this cereal, or others mentioned below, might be seriously considered 
by those who have the necessary requirements for their proper 
culture. I might add that the Department of Agriculture will 
be pleased to assist as regards procuring of seed and advice as 
to planting. 
Rice. 
I do not propose to deal with this cereal as its importance 
in Malaya is well known but I would like to mention that hill 
padi and other native food crops, such as millet, Job’s tears, etc., 
open up more possibilities than has hitherto been supposed. 
Job’s Teaks. 
Thrives well in this country and is cultivated to some extent by 
the Malays. The grain of the cultivated variety is said to be sweet 
and wholesome and amenable to ordinary methods of milling. 
Certain forms of the grain are roasted, then husked and eaten whole 
and used to some extent as a substitute for rice. 
Millet. 
A fairly good crop from a small area of the common millet was 
harvested at the Kuala Lumpur Government Plantation. The seed is 
sown broadcast on prepared^ land and lightly covered. The crop 
takes about four months to mature. The grain is considered 
digestible and nutritious and is eaten whole, being cooked like rice. 
Ground-nuts. 
The Spanish pea-nut, small Japanese, Senegal, Mozambique 
and Tambo ground-nuts have been experimented with at the Kuala 
Lumpur Government Plantation at different times with varying 
degrees of success. The time of sowing and harvesting are most 
important factors as regards yields. Planting must be done during 
a wet period hut at such a time that the plants reach maturity in 
the dry season. I may safely say that a good yield will not be 
obtained should the crop be lifted during the wet season, the seed at 
such a time is not fully ripened and most subject to rot. Harvesting 
in dry weather is essential. Previous to sowing, the land requires to 
be lightly forked or ehangkolled, but not too deep, as the nuts would 
then be liable to be formed at a greater depth and thus increase the 
cost of lifting. The nuts are shelled and the seed sown at distances 
of 18 inches apart each way. Personally I favour planting on ridges 
as I think a more reliable and constant crop is obtained than on the 
flat, the nuts are not so liable to rot and the cost of lifting is less. 
Little after-cultivation is necessary beyond surface weeding but this 
must be carefully done, so as not to interfere with the nuts which 
✓ 
