Chapter 9 Breeding Chicken and Others.

A tiny farm with some orchards will suffice to maintain the farm economically.To provide further income  to me it would be more advisable to breed poultry as well.Kampong chicken fetch a better market price nowadays.

The orchards ought to be the most ideal for this.The growing fruit trees would provide much sheds as well as protection for the chicks from birds of prey.During the night  the chicks could rest on its branches as well.The dungs left behind by the chicks also provides the trees with organic fertilizers.Insects and worms attacking the fruit trees would also served as food  for the chicks alike.





to be continued

Chapter 8 Maintenance of The Orchard

Maintenance should begin as soon as transplanting completed.Of course should have established cash crop there after weeding should begin immediately .Thus keeping all planted areas free of weeds.Under the rainy condition season  noxious weeds regenerate at a fantastically fast space.

That was why I advocated immediate planting just anything even vegetables as soon as after burning or clearing,especially in spots where burning done..It is best to plant up these areas as soon as possible.That was to utilize the fertile burnt soil as soon as possible..Before long or before you even know it you be harvesting vegetables Should have planted seeds of bayam or other greens..

Pumpkins would be one of the easiest .Just simply spread its seeds ion simple planting holes.They would germinate almost immediately.Their  growth would grow very fast , spreading all over the vacant spots preventing other weeds to germinate.When that happened there be lesser growths of weeds.If there are could be esialy cleared.

It is the same if you choose water melons,but planting water melons attracts many insects to  devour its leaves.That why when planting them it should be treated with Furadan 3 G,maybe this was banned if so look for another substitute.There should be no lacking in cheacking those insect attacks.

Woody regeneration ought to be uprooted by either pulling them up or dug out whole plant.It should be easy to eradicate them at its infant stage.Noxious weeds such as lallang should also be weed likewise.Allow them to grow and within a short time you have to weed them out by spraying weedicides which could be disastrous to the fruiting durians.

That was so because certain weedicides do not decomposed duly away in the soil but kept on accumulating within it.Thus retaining its toxicity.Many of these had been banned by the government but unfortunately many still obtainable under the counter.Such weedicides as glyphosphate is definitely one of them.Used it and be prepare to face the consequences.

Fertilizers usages should adhere closely to recommendation.Fertilizers Companies normally supply all necessary information  on their products.Of course all companies would claimed their were always the best.I was lucky for when I first planted durians we had plenty of organic fertilizers from the Mill's effluent ponds.


Should your planting of durian be without shade,do mulching on all the planting points.Mulching can be of grasses or empty bunches from the oil Mill,only thing do not lay them too close to the young buddings.That should keep the soil around the young  budding moist most of time until your next watering.That should more reliable then depending on you worker on watering those plants in your absence. 

Erecting a fence around an orchard were never a necessity .However that would depend on what sort of neighborhood you have.If it were like my friend's property which was with a nice kampong area with an immediate villager with their rubber holding on that area Directly opposite his house he faced another farm land which had been caltivated with some orchards without any one staying there.

Next to that was Felcra.with their staffs quarters on a small hill.At the the end a small secondary jungle whose owners were all living in Kuala Lumpur.This secondary forest provided a santuary for some wild animals.From foot prints left behind in the newly cleared land I can visualized the type of animals around.

There was a wild boar roaming freely,digging and eating around.The boar's print was followed by a single foot print of that of possibly a huge cat,possibly a panther ,not a big definitely but a young one prowling around..Wild fowls also made their presence felt. I did not see any monkeys around but judging from the surroundings of oli palms I think those pests were lesser than expected 

When fruits mature pilfering from neighbors were I think were none if not negligible with such wonderful neighbors.There goes the relationship with them.Always maintained a close rapport with all of them.It pays when you be courtesy with them.Share  a few fruits with them and they be your unpaid guards all the time.

Should you require any workers to do weeding always give them the first preference.Do not get someone from outside that kampong.Of course it be best should you make full used of your immediate neighbor.Maybe he coud lazy but it pays to make him work for you even he or she were as such.Even he sleeps around your farm when he ought to working.Never mind he very presence would deter thieves from stealing your fruits..

Chapter 7 Building A Farm House

 This house in picture was the house my friend built recently.Not very well planned nor ideal as well.Absolutely too small to content with.It housed some small space for resting or sleeping area , a tiny kitchen plus a bathroom and a toilet.

Accordingly there were no intention to cook within because nearby within that kampong there were two or three stalls cartering for food and  drinks.Having ground floor for an orchard were not suitable because of snakes and wild animals roaming in the late,late nights.Surely you do not want those animals creeping around,I supposed.

For an orchard having a cemented brick house were sheer waste of hard cash.The reason I suggested to leave some of the jungle trees untouched for valid reasons.For example I would utilized those standing trees to be poles for a hut I was to construct.

A hut with raised floor were more suitable for an orchard or farm near a jungle..It need not be built big sufficiently to be called a bungalow.A raised floor of about ten or slightly more from the ground would provide ample space on the ground as sitting room,store and kitchen.

The upper floor should have two bed rooms and an open space in between for resting and for tea.The walls of the first floor should be mosquitoes netted with wind screens (Attap or Plastic) to prevent rain from splashing in during heavy rain falls.As such there be excellent ventilation.

If possible have all its corner poles of jungle timber left behind during clearing.Should I built I would used most of the timber of that secondary jungle,turning it into sort of log cabin.Of course if you must utilized as little sawn timber as possible,for example the flooring of the hut and the partition of the rooms .

The ground floor should opened without any walls unless necessary and be cemented.The stair ought to be of timber selected for when clearing the jungle.Do not recruit a contractor from the city or nearby town to do those constructions.They were definitely charged you hell.

Take your time,look for a good one among the local kampong folks there.You would be in a surprise I tell you for there would be ample people with hidden talents from within them.

Failing which you can locate for good ones among the Indonesian labourers around nearby or other construction sites.From them you could extract some one really good.I have seem much of these talented people surviving as poor construction workers around.

Do not believe me just take a good look at some the squatters' where some of these workers dwelt.With rotten or rejected timber they have constructed beautiful  houses.Seeing is believing.Pay them well and your house would built cheap.

The bathroom should be outside the house as well as the toilet with modern sanitation.I am talking from what I have seen around therefore my plans is definitely fantastic.With coconut palms lining around the hut it surely beatify it further.

Talking about beautifying a flower garden ought to be around the house.Flowers or ornamental plants planted around the house should be salable bringing in some income.Plant in nice pots all plants and flowers.With so much good soils around,why not?

Vegetables garden could also be planted at the back of the house for own consumption as well as for the market.All these can be established between the coconut palms.In between the coconut can also plant some guavas,jumbu air, star fruits or sour sop.

All these fruited  within a short period of planting and could be destroyed when the coconut were fully grown.These fruits would not give you a good crop or fruits becomes smaller once they get older or ought to cut back.Off shoots from them yielded better fruits.Better still replant them with better varieties.

The piece of land my friend brought was actually gazetted as kampong land that was why electrical supply reached its boundary..Not only that government water supply were easily obtainable.All he needed to do was to apply for them and be connected within the day.

He also enjoyed the facilitate of a good road near to his land.He therefore had only to connect it with strengthening of a short distance to reach his door steps.Easy access to the orchard is quite important for with that you cut down a lot of had work.

Chapter 6 Transplanting

With the complete clearing of the field,the field ought to line in preparation for transplanting.Recommended planting distance should be 25' x 25'. It could either be  rectangular or triangular,it does not matter really. 


Planting should be dug as soon as completion of lining.The size of planting holes should follow the size of the polybags of the planting materials.However I am of the opinion  of having larger planting holes for the young plants especially durians.

I have tried out holes as big as 10' x 10' and those holes proves to have vast advantages over small planting holes.Not only that I also had those holes  filled with top soils dug from around the planting holes.Thereafter planted the durain stump buddings in its center with a mixture of 6 ozs. of CIRP or Rock Phosphate.

All these were for better rooting and excellent water retention in the planting holes.It proved to be a sucess as I had fruits after three years of planting.Better believe it -  the extra costs involved was worth it.Well,that was in the past.

If you insist on small planting holes by all means suit yourself.If you are happy why not?I was fortunate as my Boss allowed me the freedom to practice what I preached.Planting should be done within the rainy season.The major rain fall should begin in October till the end of the year. The second round of rain fall should be in March and April of the year.

The plants should be firmly planted in the planting point..Please do not kick the plant as you plant.Respect them and they be pleased to return the favour,by bearing good fruits.The nursery people would suggest you water them every day but is that possible should employ workers to perform the job.My answer is a firm,"no or never".

Perhaps you do it yourself then it would be possible.Never rely on workers unless you are present there to supervise them.Placing a large bamboo basket over them protects them from the strong sun .The vegetable baskets also protect from the raging wind and heavy rain falls.The shade of the baskets should be able to keep the soil moist all the days round.

Raised the baskets from time to time depending on the height of the growing plants.The stickers  cut when clearing the field could be utilized.Such practice maybe slightly costly but it definitely pays With the baskets weeding around the plants were also lesser.
The first year of transplanting was most important. By then the bamboo baskets would have rotted within a year .Anyway they have served you well so good riddance.

Creating a beautiful orchard depended very much on planning.Should the land be adjacent to the jungle I would advice to plant fruit trees which the monkeys do not like.Fruits like pamaloes and oranges  are fruits I can suggest,Anyway there were no known reports of monkey damages on oranges or pamaloes.In any case these were also seasonal fruits.

Thereafter the rows of pamaoles and ranges plant your durians. The suggestion by nursery people on planting some accompanying plants to go along with "Mau San Wong" were utterly rubbish. To me these were sales gimmick.Pollination of durians depended on the tiny bats not otherwise.

Fruits like rambutans and pulasan should planted away from the jungle boundaries out of reach for the monkeys.Best rambutan clone today is the Thai clone called Anak Sekolah.So were mangoes.Chop Kam Nam were fast growing and should fruit within a year of planting.Tastes very very good.All these are fast fruiting plants, should fruit with a year of planting.

Should  a cottage or hut be built within the field - select a stategic position where government electrical supply available.If no supply around rely on generators for electrical supply.These are dam cheap nowadays.

Durian should not be planted around you hut.Coconuts will be a better choice.France coconuts are very good so were the MAWA/Phi crossed.What were better that after a hard days work and the refreshing nuts were within reached.


Jack fruit or Nangka and Chempadak could also be planted within the orchard but such fruit trees when bearing fruit should have all it fruit lets covered up to protect them fruit flies.The young fruits of these fruits can be cooked into curry - very good curry I assure you.. 


To be edited or rewritten..