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MINOR ECONOMIC PRODUCTS IN MALAYA. 
By F. G. Spuing, n.d.a., f.l.s. 
(Agriculturist, F.M.S . ) 
^ CONSIDERING the very large profits derived from plantation 
^ rubber, in the past few years, it is not surprising that other 
crops, with the exception of coconuts, have l’eceived little or no 
attention. A planter knows, approximately, what may be expected 
from his rubber plantation and is, therefore, chary of growing a crop 
about which there is any speculation. As long as rubber remains 
about two shillings per pound or over, it is not to be expected that 
general interest will be taken in other directions, but should the 
price ever reach the neighbourhood of one shilling per pound, then 
capitalists would, there is little doubt, be on the outlook for other 
industries. It is satisfactory that many enquiries have been received, 
for some time past, regarding the cultivation of a number of crops, 
for it is greatly to be desired that other agricultural products be 
developed in Malaya. 
A large amount of work is required to be done before a crop 
can, with any certainty of success, be recommended to the planting 
world. One must first inquire as to suitability in respect of soil and 
climate and then consider its possibilities on a financial basis. With 
small areas it is possible to make accurate records of when plants 
come into bearing, obtain yields, etc., in respect of each plant but it 
is difficult to say from individual yields, or even crops obtained from 
a few acres, bow they will behave when planted on a large scale and 
to give costs of production, yields and probable profits with any 
degree of certainty. 
On the Government Plantations we have experimented with 
many plants of economic importance, mostly on a small scale, but the 
more promising on somewhat larger areas, and I now propose to 
deal briefly with a number of the crops. 
African Oil Palm. ( JElseis guineensis.) 
This palm has long been grown in Malaya as an ornamental 
plant, but it is only during the past few years that its financial 
aspect has been considered in this part of the world. The palm 
would appear, from its distribution in the Peninsula, to thrive on 
most soils, but a rich humus, fairly damp but well drained, would 
probably give the best results. Rainfall is an important factor but 
Malaya is well adapted in that respect. In Africa, according to 
some authorities, the palm comes into bearing in its sixth or seventh 
year. At the Kuala Lumpur Experimental Plantation several acres 
were planted up in December, 1912, and a number of the palms 
began to form fruits towards the end of 1916. Further evidence of 
early crop production, here, is also available from a number of 
