As regards Batu Dua Estate here again no change took place in the planted area. The ten acres replanted in 1996 at present makes a very fine eld of young rubber and the results, so far, have well repaid the money and labour expended thereon, The average area of 337 acres was in tapping throughout the year, which yielded at the rate of 541 ib. per acre Der annum. The standard of tapping. is reported to be satisfactory and the rate of bark consumption and renewal_is normal.
The quality of the smoked sheet produced is satisfactory and is accepted by the market without criticism, The supply of labour was adequate throughout the year but there was too much movement amongst the coolies which made it hard to main-ain a settled force. Health conditions were only moderately satisfactory.
The estate has been maintained in good order throughout the year and free from lallang and other harmful growths. Neither pests nor diseases gave any trouble The buildings and machinery were given the necessary upkeep."
to instal a small continuous Sheeting plant during the coming Year, which should reduce the cost of manufacture and improve the quality of our product.
Lastly we come to Klebang Estate. The acreage of the estate remains the same, but a new survey Is being made and minor alterations may be dis covered. During the year a further 47% acres were cut out and replanted in November 1937, so that at the end of the year there were 340 acres of mature rubber and 97 acres of replantings. These latter areas are reported to show excellent growth and are maintained in a lallang free condition. The dry weather at the time of planting caused a certain umber of failures, but these have all been supplied since then. -Manuring is being done on the replanted areas with very satisfactory results.
There is a nursery of 20,000 seedlings for the 1938 planting programme and the young plants are showing excellent growth.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.