74 COCONUT PLANTER'S MANUAL. 



VALUATION OF COCONUT ESTATES. 



When valuing coconut estates, the would-be purchaser or 

 mortgagee naturally wishes to have all the available information 

 about the estate to be purchased or taken on mortgage. There- 

 tore full information must be obtained and given under the 

 following heads : — 



1. Situation of Estate. 



2. Title to the Land. 



3. Acreage and Particulars of Acreage. 



4. Census of Trees, Plants, etc.. i.e., Trees is bearing, Trees with 



Stems and coming into bearing, Plants of all ages 

 Vacancies. 



5. Distance of Planting- 



6. Lie of Land and Description of Soil. 



7. Roads and Drains. 



8. Boundaries, whether Natural or Wire-fenced. 



9. Age and Condition of Trees. 



10. Condition of Estate. 



1 1 . Crops and Prospects of Crops- 



12. Buildings. 



13. Supervising Stall'. 



14. Labour, whether Resident or Village. 



15. Medical Aid. Distance from Dispensary or Hospital. 



16. Approach Road to Estate. 



17. Neai'est Railway Station. 



18. Rainfall. 



When figures of . crop are given, you has to test them to see 

 whether they are approximately correct. Judging by the crops on 

 the trees, you have to decide what the number of the nuts per tree 

 is likely to be and then divide the number of nuts, as supplied 

 to you, by the number of trees in bearing. By these means you could 

 fairly find out whether the figures supplied are approximately correct. 

 Ascertain the number of nuts per candy from the estate books if the 

 figures are available ; otherwise use your experience and discretion 

 as to what it is likely to be, by the size of the nuts, <kc. Divide the 

 crop by the number of nuts per candy and you will get the number 

 of candies per annum. Multiply that by the average price of a candy 



