February 25th. To Bukit Mertaj am, and with R. Scott 
vO Sempung Amp at , the *iuru estate, and then back to 
» t 
Penang. 
T 
But megs are ' said to- have gone out upon Bukit 
Mertajam. The Areca cultiyation remains.. There are in the 
town those who Buy and dry areca nuts. Upon slightly 
» 
ridged ground matting is spread, and the halved nuts 
are spread over the matting, walking ways being left 
* 
along the hollows. With a heavy hit of wood on a handle 
the huts are raked over by women. 
Of catch crops under ypung coconuts, pine¬ 
apples seem to come nest in importance after tapioca. 
' ' 4 
The squatter syste,:. is deeply rooted in the 
* * 
Province. Vegetable gcowing in within a squatter)s compet- 
$ 
ence. . . 
t c ■ 
# 
Fruit in- the Province upon estates is just relics of 
planting round former country houses, and is gradually 
going out. . 
The area of Sagittaria near £ukit Mertajam increases; 
t, * 
the Chinaman who owns it and raises pigs takes three crops 
8 ^ ear anci P a ys a large rent. He has diverted the villag 
drainage into his fields* On op crop of ■ Sagittaria. immedi¬ 
ately succeeds another. 
* 
^emuary 2t>th. Swietenia mahogani * has flowered in the 
Waterfall gardens this year for the first time:- hut int 
the town -it has _ flowered earlier. It may he possible to get 
seed from off the town trees. 
\ 
Tuan 
February * 2 7 th. Via Bagan ^ecchil to Rubang ITlu where I 
examined the forest reserve, and then via Tasek Gelugor 
to the fisiakoff estate and so back to Bagan tuan kecchil 
At Permatang Pauh I found coconuts damaged by Braohartona 
but no caterpillars left. * Stodthart of the Malakoff estate 
stated that the pest had suddenly disappeared in August; 
