300 Coffee Planting. 



keeping cattle during the fourth year, so as to have 

 a supply of litter, &c., to put out the year following. 

 Some planters estimate three head of cattle being 

 required for every acre to be manured, but the cor- 

 rectness of this, or otherwise, will greatly depend on 

 the care with which the process of manure making 

 is attended to. Provided always there is plenty of 

 pasturage and fodder, the more cattle the better, 

 but it is useless having a larger number than can 

 be well fed and cared for ; seventy-five bought the 

 first year, and twenty-five added every year or two 

 afterwards, should be sufficient, with the various 

 composts, to provide manure for forty acres. 



Having arrived at the end of the seventh year, 

 with the estate clear, and capable of giving an 

 annual return of from ^3000 to ^3500 supposing 

 all to be in first-rate order, and the coffee market 

 to have kept up at not less than IOCXT. per cwt. in 

 London the estate may be valued at from five to 

 six years' purchase, say 



For the coffee in bearing . . . ; 18,500 

 For the forest-land (100 acres) . . 1,000 

 For the grass-land (200 acres) . . 1,000 



,20,500 



This gives over 90 per acre for the cultivated 

 portion ; whereas, at the present time, from 100 

 to 120 is asked, and (I am told) given in Ceylon. 



