i8 
were a scientific expert to study the matter— e.g., the idea prevails among the Malays 
that one heavy, and therefore slow growing, crop in the year is more profitable tan 
two croDS of the light padi, which matures quickly. Another idea is that m the rich 
fat lands which we have in the coast districts, were the land ploughed, the growth o 
straw would be increased at the cost of the gram, 
14. I consider that if an expert took the matter up as I suggest, he should 
establish a model farm where experiments could be tried, and to which an agricultura 
school might with advantage ibe attached, where students would be taught the best 
way to grow not only padi, but also fruit, &c., and from which seeds and plants mig 
be distributed. If properly managed, an institution of this sort should, alter a time, 
be self supporting. 
1 c In conclusion, I may add that if some means could be devised to introduce 
Chinese padi planters, with their wives, to settle in the country, the problem would be 
settled, as where Chinese do grow padi they get nearly double the crops the Malays 
do ; and again, the Malays are, as a rule, much more successful padi planters than the 
Tamils. 
I have, &c., 
C. LEECH, 
State Commissioner of Lands. 
XIII. 
Seremban, Sungei Ujong, 
January 25 th, 1892. 
To W. H. Treacher, Esq., C.M.G. 
Sir I have the honour to acknowledge your memorandum of the 15th January 
asking for suggestions upon the extension of padi planting in the Malay Peninsula. 
From the Circular which you were good enough to forward to me it appears 
that it is only contemplated to work with available aboriginal peoples or such as are 
here already. In my opinion, the inducements are so small, and the. alternatives so 
many that it will be found difficult to extend padi or graim cultivation, until as m 
Malacca Penang (more gardens than padi) and Province Wellesley, the population 
becomes not only adequate by natural progress and increase tor the more remune- 
rative sources of employment, but also more m proportion to the area of the land that 
it is now sought to bring under cultivation. 
To sum up the local sources from which cultivators are to be brought, I would 
submit that there are insufficient inducements to follow the cultivation of tood grains 
whilst the inducements to follow other lines of life are so many and attractive. But 
locally, something might be done by giving land and assistance to young married 
raiats that emigrated from Penang, Province Wellesley and Malacca to settle m the 
Native States, and if some advantages were offered of a similar nature to Malays 
from Sumatra and other places, men and women might also be attracted. To any 
one that has visited the extensive padi fields of Province Wellesley, Malacca, Kedah, 
and the smaller ones of Penang, it is apparent that the life is not entirely without 
attractions to the peoples of this country. 
I trust that you will not consider a few words upon the importation of commu- 
nities amiss. 
There are overstocked famine-threatened districts both in Ceylon and Southern 
India from which it would be possible, I feel sure, by bringing some communities 
to induce others to follow to what, to them, must appear an El Dorado of peace, wealth 
and comfort. 
The circumstances under which these communities might be successfully intro- 
duced would in many respects be similar. There should be an English or European 
director of the community— for choice, a young civilian— who has been well known to 
the people for two or three years, not only intimate with their language, their ways, 
their castes and customs, but also personally known and looked up to by the people, 
whom he should induce to follow him. 
The native headmen should all be selected and appointed by him, for some years 
at any rate. The administration of the community should be entirely upon the lines 
that the people had been used to in their own country, and that so much so that the 
greater plenty of this should be the only reminder that they had left their own homes ; 
