717 
AGRICULTURE IN MALACCA. 
any chance be destroyed. In the latter case he should clear his 
ground and plant it with the sago palm. This is a hardy plant and 
thrives remarkably well in swampy land and without culture. The 
only expense will be that of partially clearing the Glam jungle and 
planting it out with the seeds or young shoots of the sago, the 
whole amount of which will not probably exceed 300 dollars j after 
which nothing more will be required for ten years. The progress 
of its vegetation in the early stages is very slow, but as soon as its 
stem is formed, and the roots have acquired sufficient strength it 
kills the surrounding wood, and where the soil is rich, rises in a 
short time to about twenty-five feet in height, with a circumference 
of about six feet. As soon as this tree is in a state of maturity, just 
about the period that the flower buds begin to appear, it is cut down 
near the root, and divided into several sections for the greater 
convenience of removing them. The mass of mealy substance which 
is enveloped by and adheres to the fibres, is then scooped out and 
pounded into a pulp, which is packed up in bundles of a conical 
shape, made from the leaves of its own palms, for exportation from 
the native states. When it is intended for use, or for the Europe 
market it undergoes a further preparation, for particulars of which 
see Journal Indian Archipelago Yol, III. No. V. article Sago. 
Each tree is said to to yield from 20 to 120 gantangs of flour Sago, 
which is retailed at ten cents per gantang, but taking it at the rate of 
5 cents, and the number of gantangs at 90, to make up for the ex¬ 
pense of cutting and preparing it for the market and disposing it by 
wholesale, we have Drs 4.50 for the produce of each tree, which un¬ 
like the cocoanut is continually multiplying by young shoots sprout¬ 
ing up in great abundance from the roots, so that when once a plan¬ 
tation is fairly established it becomes an everlasting source of profit. 
Betelnut is also a profitable produce and has no kind of enemy, 
but the great luxuriance of our jungle and the invasion of the 
lalang grass, render its culture on an extensive scale somewhat 
expensive, so that it cannot be undertaken in conjunction with cocoanut 
planting by a small capitalist, and one whose time is not his own; 
but should he have money and time to spare, and is inclined to 
devote his attention exclusively to agriculture, he cannot do better 
than have one at the same time with his cocoanut plantation—the 
tree bears in five years, and in most virgin soils will thrive very 
luxuriantly. Drainable marsh is the best description of soil for 
this cultivation. If a person have perseverance enough and can 
personally superintend the details of his plantation, the following 
will perhaps be the most economical way tif cultivating it. 
Clearing and burning 120 acres of Glam swamp at 
62| cents per acre. Drs 75 
500 gantangsof seed Paddy at Drs 2| per cent.... „ 12. 50 
Drs 87. 50 
