( 2 ) 
In fruit orchards the turning over of the soil, once 
a year, is necessary to obtain good yields; but, 
unfortunately, this is not done except by a few 
progressive growers. 
Annual crops are very much neglected as regards 
cultivation; it is not possible to obtain good results 
unless the soil is brought to a fine tilth and main- 
tained in a high state of fertility. 
Chinese vegetable gardeners are fully aware of 
this; but, when annual crops are grown on a field 
scale, sufficient cultivation is not, as a rule, given. 
The small holder devotes little or no care to soil 
treatment except in the case of rice and vegetables. 
The method of cultivation generally adhered to, on 
the larger estates, is clean weeding; the reason for 
advocating this system is the necessity of detecting 
the presence of “lalang” (Imperata. arundinacea) , 
a noxious weed which is more easily detected if the 
land is clean weeded. Lalang is a disastrous weed 
to any crop, and it is essential that proper supervi- 
sion be given in order that it may not become 
established. 
European estates are practically free from lalang, 
but — unfortunately — the same cannot be said of 
small holdings. Clean weeding on flat and on gently 
undulating land is perfectly sound, but on no account 
should it be carried out on hill land which is subject 
to soil erosion. 
Soil Con- The hills and undulating land of the 
servation. Peninsula are subject to considerable 
surface wash when the land has been 
cleared of jungle, shrub, or grass, and the impor- 
tance of preventing this is now fully recognised. 
