138 THE WHOLE ART OF RUBBER-GROWING 



labour may be readily placed with the certainty of 

 getting the work done well and expeditiously. 



Planting contracts and contracts for buildings, etc. , 

 must be arranged separately, and be protected by 

 fines for unnecessary delay or non-compliance with 

 the agreed terms. On the other hand, it is always 

 good policy to offer a bonus for work well and duly 

 completed inside the period allowed. 



Hevea brasiliensis are best cultivated from 

 stumps " and planted 220 to the acre : two im- 

 portant factors which must be taken into account in 

 arriving at an estimate of the ultimate cost of bring- 

 ing an estate into bearing. The following figures are 

 taken from an estate account appertaining to a pro- 

 perty in Ceylon situated nearly eighteen miles from 

 a station and four miles from a Government cart road. 

 It may safely be accepted, in all its particulars as to 

 cost, as a fair example of rubber-planting as a whole, 

 not only in that island but in the Mid-East generally : 



Cost of land ^1,290 



Contract for clearing and burning 750 



,, Roading and draining 150 



,, Supplying and planting 101,000 



Para " stumps " ... ... 2,100 



,, Factory, bungalows, coolie lines, 

 machinery, tools, and well- 

 sinking ... 3,750 



,, Weeding and maintenance — 



Charges first year = 900 



Charges second year 570 



Charges third year 510 



Charges fourth year, including 



coast advances 250 coolies ... 915 



Making a Total of ^10,935 



which is not quite £22 per acre. 



