The consumption of bark was moral and the rate of bark renewal satisfactory. The new. continuous sheeting battery has worked satisfnctorily since its installation and has had the effect of reducing the cost of manufacture from.28 to.15 of an) Janua per pound. " The supply of, labour was sufficient for all requirements and the health of the labour! {force was reasonably good throughout {the year, Practically the whole estate {snow free from grass and under a Jcover of leguminous plants. Small jaraas of the younger rubber have
[with satisfactory results. been treated with "artificial manures Neither pests nor diseases gave any special trouble during the year and] such cases as were met with yielded] readily to treatment. All buildings were given the necessary upkeep and Jare reported to be in food service-Jable condition. No standard production assessment for 1939 has yet been received but it is hoped that when it is issued it wilt show a satisfac. tory increase over the allowance for 1938.
Speaking generally matters on this estate are in a very satisfactory condition. We come next to Bukit Sem-Jbilan Estate which, as I told you last year, is our star property. The area funder rubber was increased by. the planting up of 4 acres near the office, that have hitherto been occupied by} squatters, and during the current year further 21 acres of jungle land wil be planted with rubber. The average fea in tapping throughout the year was 968 acres which yielded at the rate of 761 pounds per acre per annum. The standard of tapping was excellent and the rates of bark consumption and renewal were satistactory. In this property we own an estate of outstanding yielding capacity.
Manufacturing Costs The cost of manufacture again showed a reduction from.36 to 31 of cent per pound. The supply of Habour was ample for all requirements jand the health of the force was generally satisfactory. The gardens are reported to be free from lallang and Jother noxious growths and under a Jcover of leguminous plants. Neither} pests nor. diseases gave any real {rouble and such cases as were met with yielded readily to treatment: All buildings and machinery were given the necessary upkeep and are report-Jed to be in good serviceable condition Development Account covers the cost lof replanting 4 acres of rubber on Bukit Sembilan estate and the upkeep for the 26 acres of immature rubber fon New Amherst estate.
New buildings cost Eh. $18,687.09.of which stim Eh. $3,065—were spent on the erection of a shop building on [Bukit Sembilan estate, which is now Het for Straits $216 per annum; Eh. $12,373 covered the cost of numerous Small buildings on New Amherst testate comprising a new smoke house, line for the factory coolies, a house the cattle keepers, two garages for Jthe tractors and the manager's car will, however, be necessary the accommodation for the coolies in the near future. doned area during the year, with the result that the standard production allowance was increased by 1,640 Ibs, four apart from this there was _no Jchange in the planted area. The estate was in tapping for 7 months bark consumption was normal and ithe rate of bark renewal satisfactory.
The supply of Labour was suMeient for all requirements and the health Jot the coolies was. on the whole, satisfactory although the increase. in Jthe labour force made the hospital] Jond sanitation expenses considerably higher. Weeding cost 35 cents per Jacre per month as compared with 25 Jcents last year and the estate is now reported to be free from lallang and Jother rough growths. Root discase Jcontinued to take its steady toll of {trees but apart from this neither pests nor disease gave any trouble.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.