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..

Chapter 5 Selection Of Planting Materials For The Orchard

Should you be within the Pahang areas I recommend you to purchase your budded seedlings from Tong Nursery,Karak.Remember there are two Tong Nurseries.


I am more accustomed to the younger Tong who now operates another nursery on the other side of town on the Mentakab road ( appro. 6 miles) next to the entrance of Sungei Pertang Estate.


Years ago I have dealt with him and I find him more reliable.He had provided me with plenty of good planting materials in the past,therefore I trust him more.


The older nursery is similarly good.They have a larger varieties of clones on all fruits.When this was operated by the younger brother the place was very tidy but not presently - extremely untidy and looked messy. 


It has been a long time since I last dealt with them.However,what ever had transpired I still trust the younger brother with his new nursery on Mentakab road.He had never failed me once with my orders with all genuine plants.

Quote me maybe with that he can give you some discount.Oh no,just joking business is business and he too has to make a living .Most important he delivers to you the best materials.Take a good look at his nursery and you will surely note the difference.

For durians the recent craze were to plant the so called "Mau San Wong" or Raja Kunyit.So popular were this clones that the price of such seedling amounts to fifteen ringgit per plant (small).

A year old budded stumps would easily cost fifty ringgit.I think that worth its value for establishing them in the nursery.Many could easily afford that.Apparently that was the only clone available in most nursery.


This clone like D 24 survived better in low lying areas or hill sides  where water are easily obtainable,Once mature the water requirement were much higher.That was why many D 24 die a premature death aftert six or seven years due to lacking water.


In high ground watering are necessary to keep those plants alive.Many orchard had pipes supplying all the necessary water  especially during dry season.

When transplanting young durian stump buddings I suggest  full protection for them.Standard practice were to have huge bamboo vegetable baskets over them.

This were to protect the young and tender plants from being scorched by the raging sun and also keep them swaying vigirously to the force of strong wind.
The overhead baskets also prevent the soil from drying faster than normal.

However,those from the nurseries seem to have a different notions by suggesting constant watering of the plants.Well,humans were humans should the bosses be around the watering will be done accordingly.Should be away how can you be sure of that.

 The reason  why small holders were successful  in planting durians without baskets were that they were always present to perform that watering themselves.
 Sould be luxurious sufficiently by all means have pipes fitted in the fields.

I am writing from my experiences and I am not boasting when I say the durians I planted fruited after three years of planting.Of course then I had plenty of organic fertilizers  for the durians.Those organic wastes from the effluent ponds of our Oil Mill.

In low lying fields like the ones in pictures  crops like green oranges could be planted. Another of the same citrus family Pamaloes could also be planted,except its fruits ought to wrapped up as soon as the flowers turned into fruitlets.


This will served to protect attack by fruit flies.These two are fast fruiting crops and can fruit within a year or so after transplanting.Do not waste thdse areas where you burnt away the wild trees.Have them planted with vegetables such as Bayam ( any variety will do),kankongs as well as germinate chillies seeds as well.Should you d like wise I assure you within three months you be harvesting vegetables.


Brinjals,is a crop you should abstain from planting on a large scale.Pesticides used on it were extremely expensive besides ineffective.Here leave all the good sales talk by salesmen aside and you would not regret it. Ladies' fingers  and long beans were also crops which could fetch easy income.


Should you construct a cottage or hut in the orchard it should be surrounded with coconuts palms.There were two varieties from which you can select or plant both.One was the fragrance coconut and the other the MAWA/Phi. crossed .The later is a known prolific producer.

Both will yield within three years or so.I am of the opinion that should your area be proned to wild boars attack.Plant you seedings slightly deeper and you would not regret for following me.

Well,the nursery people would recommend you to establish them at the crown level above the ground.That should be excellent,extremely palatable for the wild boars and what a fantastically easy meal.

Elephants before devouring the young seedlings would stemmed on them first to break them up.Wild boar on the other hand bite into them and should you plants be planted deeper this should deter them from reaching them.

Wild boars were lazy as pig we bred they would never take the trouble to dig in for the kernels in the young coconut plants.The nursery people will welcome that because you be purchasing more plants from them.

In any case that  was my opinion.My old boss disagree with me but he never made any attempts to stop me,why?Because I am good and very experienced and I talk facts.

A final comment on planting durians should I be establishing an orchard my I would never adhere to planting only one single clone - like the Mau San Wong.My selections would be D 24,the Thai clone with fruits having a long,long stalks(forgot the name),the original Perak Champion (From  Nursery in Cheras).

Actually,in place of bananas in the inter-rows papayas could also be planted.Presently there appeared to be s shortage of papayas in the market ,mainly because of a disease spreading among papayas in papayas growing areas.

It ,therefore fetching a better price. Actually both bananas and papayas can co-exist as a cash crop.With such crops actually could bring down the cost of running an orchard.


Mangoes can adapt easily to low lying fields with better harvest.Most people prefer to grow the Thai clone namely "Chop Kan Nam". Fruits like rambutan and "pulasan"are also durable crops.Unfortunately the price for rambutan can be discouraging,while "pulasan" were more stable.


Mangosteen can survived under durians only thing were they grow extremely slow and slow to yield anything.There was a type that fruited earlier but no one has anything successful to tell a story.

Chapter 4 Establishment of Cash Crops

I for one am a firm believer that as soon the field were cleared and when free of all noxious growths the land ought to be planted up with cash crops.For a two acres orchard there are a huge number of crops to choose from. Should you be around the orchard most of your time. 

There are many short term crops to choose from.Like water  melons but this crop requires  a lot of insecticides and pesticides.This crop requires attention at all times especially when it were ripening.For it attract thieves not from the neighbors but from others.Because these are easily disposable items.

However, for quick return of some cash I like to suggest pumpkins,This crop has high nutrious values and presently there are a craze over this food item. People are beginning to consume more and more of this fruits of late for health reasons. Should this be unsold they can be kept at a cool place for a couple of weeks without going bad..

There, of course the sales of such fruits should not be dependent on middle man.They would exploit you to the fullest.This crop does require and tender care.Once the seeds were planted into the field they should flourish beautifully without special attention.Once established you cna expecta bountyful harves with five months or so.To this one of the easiest crop to plant as a cash crop in newly cleared fields.

The next crop I could suggest were the winter melons.Similar to pumpkins this winter melons can easily grown in newly cleared land Not much care required but should you insist on work, weeding of weeds around plants will definitely do a world of good,plus regular fertilizing.

As earlier suggested that pineapples could be planted along the boundaries, on the soil dug up  from the boundary drians.Pineapples also has a good market vbalue.There are few plantable types.All these seedlings can easily be purxhased from small holders who had planted pineapples before.It is extremely cheap.Should you not buy them they be discarded anyway.

The leaves of the growing pineapple can easily act as a fence.Along those rows along side can also plant sweet ppotatoes whose planting materials could easily be found every where and could be obtainable free of charge.In fact the whole newly cleared field could be planted with sweet potatoes. Some manual work necessary here as the crop requires topping up of plant with soil.

This crop could be planted after the poumpkkin harvest or so A rotation of cash crops in the orchard should be good and recommended.Many could plant dragon fruits along the boundary  instead of pinapples or plant both .A row or two of dragon fruits will surely deter thieves from entering the farm.With so many  planting materials  avilable a costly fencing were therefore unnecessary.

Like my friends land there were no necessity to fill up those lower lying land for he can either deepened those area turning them into fish ponds.When dry season came served as water catchment providing water for the main crop of fruit trees.These low lying fields can be planted with yam and extremely suitable,too.The yam easily fetched a good price nowadays.

In low lying field such crop such as the one in photograph sugar cane can also grow as another cash crop.The area were definitely fit for planting them. Sugar cane requires a lot of maintenance. Removal of dry leaves ,topping up of soil extra,removal of young shoots.

With the first cash crop still in place another cash crop like bananas could be planted in between those points for fruit trees.It should over shadow the first cash crop of pumpkins as soobn as harvesting of pumpkins completed.  These bananas would be especially good should you plant durian as they provide shades for the growing durians,shielding them from the scorching sun..The plants  also helps to slow down the velocity of any charging wind thus allowing the durian plants not to sway according the strength of the prevailing wind.

The common type people planted nowadays were the "Perangan: variety.Each stump cost about fifty cents each or even lesser in bulk.But when planting bananas as a cash crop why plant the ones established in others orchards.Pay slightly a bit more- purchased those plants that were produced by tissue culture.

Tissue cultured bananas  are better in all respects.The main one was that the bunches of bananas were regular all almost the same size in bunches as well as in sizes of single bananas.In fact it tasted better with longer in shelf life.Tissue cultured plants fare better against local pests and diseases.Well you are the farmer,make your choice.

Tapioca,a crop many shaun was another good cash crop because many believe this absolved  a lot of nutrions, randering the soil poor.Really not so I say.Anyway nutrions could be easily replaced with fertilizers,so why the hue and cry.It weas a crop which required no extensive care. 

Chapter 3 Land Preparation For Transplanting

Having clear the land,the next step should be to prepare the land for transplanting of fruits etc.The land now cleared still has many tree stumps lying around which ought be eradicated.

A backhoe can easily dig up all those rooting plus the stumps.Here getting a correct driver was utmost important lest you be cheated.Obtain one recommended by friends or failing which get one recommended by known kampong folks or its "ketua".

Those stumps on digging up should be allowed to dry properly before set on fire..Thereafter the land could be planted as it is but should want a better cleared land and have sufficient funds then have the land plowed up and cross plowed.If possible give another rond of harrowing.

 This should loosen up much of the top soil.Thus preventing a fast regeneration of weeds in that land,thus saving substantial amount of money on weeding.The planting points should also be lined.Should you be planting fruits the lining of 25' by 25' will be good enough.Thereafter the planting holes dug. 

The planting holes should be dug before planting.The size should wider than one a half feet and another foot or so deep  Bigger should your plants be bigger.I for one had planted durians with much bigger planting holes.

Of course my method many cannot follow or agree. For in my last planting of durians my planting holes were ten feet by ten square and two feet deep.Following the dug holes filled with top soils gathered from around that area 

My loose soil  areas were bigger, providing the plant more soft space to spread its roots around faster easily.Water retention in those planting holes were better with more water for the growing durians. That was why my plants grew faster and fruited after the third year of planting.....Adapt my method and you would never regret it that you did.


My friend erected a  wire netting fencing around his land at another cost of  $12,000/= for his two acres.Rather expensive I think.To me these were unnecessary.Because judging from its locality I think that area was safe.Those kampong folks around were a friendly  lot,not  much in fact no foreigners living nearby.

It should a peaceful place for a orchard or a farm. No pilfering can be expected from such peaceful environment.Should the immediate neighbors be around allow them to pick a fruit or two,so what?. No big deal ain't it so?. That was to promote good relationship.In fact as a courtesy if they do not request for them you should make the first call to give them some first fruits.

Erecting a wired netting fencing also prevents wild animals from going into your farm.That to me meant that you be losing another source of income. There are cash values in such wild animals like wild boars and wild chickens.I will discuss this in later chapter,please bear with me and my ideas..

To me a boundary drain will suffice.A small drain that is not necessary a wide one but a small one about one feet  in width and two feet deep were enough.That were sufficient to define your boundary.When draining make sure the earth were all laid back on your side.

If I were to do it I would establish a row or two of pineapple on the side where the earth were place.The rows of pineapples should serve as a sort of fencing. The thorny leaves can prevent people from crossing over besides its fruits can yield sme profits for the orchard. Pineapple seedlings can easily be obtained.There are few varieties around. 

Should  the area be water logging after rain the area should be drained. Care should be undertaken making your drains  lest those drains were excessive and the lad over drained. Some fruits required plenty of water while they are some which required lesser water.

My friend's land  has two low lying patches at the both ends of the land which  should he deepen to collect the excess water which could be used during dry season for the newly established fruit trees.The deepen land could be used to breed fishes but my friend thought otherwise.

He prefers to flatten his land further with any access earth filled up those two low lying areas.That was the dumbest ideas I ever heard.By so doing his land will one fine day be flooded and his established fruits trees especially durians will be destroyed.

I am not joking - that can happened.Whatever it were never disturbed the topography of the land without a valid reason.Established the land accordingly and your orchard or farm would be fine..