*37 



CHAPTER XIV. 



COST OF LAYING OUT ESTATES — (i) HEVEA BRASILIENSIS, 

 (2) MAXIHOT GLAZIOVII. 



"POOREST and jungle land suitable for the cultiva- 

 tion of Hevea brasiliensis abounds in most of 

 our Mid-East possessions, and it is these territories 

 that we have in mind in discussing the all-important 

 question of cost in the laying-out of an up-to-date 

 rubber estate. Freehold land will cost from £1 to 

 £5 per acre according to position, the average being 

 about £2 10s. per acre, free of all charges except 

 special survey. In selecting land great care should 

 be taken to avoid ground that presents undue diffi- 

 culties as to both road-making and drainage, or that 

 presents the least suspicion of water famine, other- 

 wise the outlays in these respects may seriously 

 hamper subsequent development of the property. 



The preliminary work of marking off the various 

 fields — which should average 40 acres each, inclusive 

 of paths — detaching the areas which are to provide 

 wind belts, and selecting the sites for cart roads, 

 bungalows, factory, stores, etc., must be done before 

 the clearing contractors are permitted on the land, 

 and a clearly marked sketch of the estate made for 

 the guidance of all concerned. Both in Ceylon, India 

 and the Straits Settlements contracts for this kind of 



