Drastic tapping has been continued over: the 22 acres in Field 14 earmarked for replanting and scheduled to be done next year. The yields from this drastic tapping are satisfactory.
With the Alexandra Estate the general condition of the trees continues to be good but it must be admitted there is a gradual falling off in the yields. This has the close attention of the management and with the continuation of a less severe system of tapping and a routine of thorough manuring which has been authorized to cover a cycle of three years, it is hoped that the yields wil be increased. The trees carry quite good bark reserves.
In the Sungei Nibong Division good progress has been made in the replanting of the 19.5 acres in Field 1 In my last address I told you ti: manager had been instructed t consider bark renewals and bark reserves of greater importance than increased yields. With resting certain areas and 4 more conservative system of tapping, these instructions are being carried out and should produce reasonable yields for more years to come.
There is nothing new to report about Lumut Ftate which continues to be in a satisfactory condition.
In the report you will have noted the provisional assessments fcr 1938 and these compared with 1937 are as follows;—
A grand total of $19,233,499 for foreign imports from abroad during March 1938, swelling the January-March figure to $51,784,001 is noted from the returns issued by the Chinese Maritime Customs for Shanghai. Exports totalled $12,554,225 for March and $33,633,787 for the January-March period.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.