Handbook of the federated Malay states - Sabrizain.org

Federated Malay States. 89
planting are punishable by fine. In the Kwala Pilah
district alone it is estimated that there are 16,500 acres under
padi cultivation.
Tapioca planting has during the last few years been a
profitable industry, owing to the high prices ruling. In 1900
126,201 pikuls were exported, the value of which is estimated
at $946,507. The industry is in the hands of the Chinese
and is carried on in Kwala Pilah, Tampin and Coast districts.
Most of the planters hold their land under permits by which
they are empowered to take three crops, paying duty on
exportation in lieu of rent. New land, now given out, will
carry a rent per acre and no duty will be charged on
exportation. The soil is soon exhausted by tapioca, and
after three crops have been taken is practically valueless for
several years : it is then abandoned by owners of permits.
To prevent this undesirable result in the future it is probable
that Grovernment will insist on some permanent form of
cultivation being introduced simultaneously with the planting
of the tapioca.
There is now a considerable acreage under coffee : most of
the estates are in bearing. The large estates are all owned
or managed by Europeans, and are situated in the Coast,
Seremban and Tampin districts. The labour consists mainly
of Tamils from Southern India, but Chinese, Malays and
Javanese are also employed.
A coffee-curing factory, the property of a syndicate, has
been put up at the Port Dickson terminus of the Sungei
Ujong Eailway. Here the all important process of curing
is carefully carried out. The interests of the planters are
watched by the Negri Sembilan Planters Association, which
meets periodically for the discussion of questions affecting
the industry.
The export of coffee in 1900 was 6,207 pikuls ;
this amount
is valued at $117,944, from which it will be seen that the
prices ruling during that year were very low.
The climate and soil are well suited for the cultivation of
Para Rubber {Hevea Braziliensis). There are over 2,000
acres at present under cultivation, the age of the trees
varying from 1 to 13 years. The oldest trees (12 to 13 years
old) have given yields of from 10 to 15 lbs. per tree per
annum of pure coagulated rubber : these trees are also giving
large crops of seed annually.
Getah Ramhong [Ficus Elastiea) is also easily grown from
cuttings and springs up quickly. There are about 200 acres