ESSAY ON FUEL PLANTATIONS. 



= 2,210 rupees, for the acre. Then the account stands 

 thus : 



50 12 

 9 years' interest at 10 per 



cent 45 10 9 



Cutting and lopping 100 



trees 250 



Carting 277 tons at 1-8-0 415 8 



Expenses selling ... 76 



Total... 837 14 9 



Then from the total returns in the ninth year we have 

 a profit of Rs. 1,378. I have not the slightest doubt that 

 some of the casuarina plantations extending from Madras 

 to near Pulicat realise the above profit, but not all ; for it is 

 a curious fact that the further from the surface the water is 

 found, the more backward are the trees. And, probably, for 

 trees growing- inland, where the water-bearing stratum is, 

 perhaps, ten feet from the surface, not more than half the 

 above profit would be realised; but, after making every 

 deduction for indifferent sites, and there is no place where 

 the casuarina will not grow, except in stiff clay, it is, beyond 

 comparison, the best tree to grow for a firewood plantation. 

 If we assume that the trees are coppiced over once in ten 

 years and that they give a return equal to the first cutting, 

 then at the end of forty years the account will stand thus : 



Dr. RS. 

 Watching and pruning 10 



years at Rs. 7 a month ... 840 



Rent of land 10 



Cutting and lopping 1,000 



trees 250 



Carting 277 tons at Rs. 1-8-0 416 



Selling expenses 60 



Total... 1,576 



linl ten years... 1,576 



4th do. ... 1,576 



Grand Total... 4,728 



Or. 



By balance profit ... 



Sale of 277 tons at Rs. 8 



Do. 

 Do. 



do. 

 do. 



30 years... 

 40 do. ... 



Total... 

 Deduct charges... 



1,378 

 2,216 

 2,216 

 2,216 



8,026 

 4,728 



Balance profit.., 3,298 



