39 



Then as regards tapping. The increase any tapper can do is at 

 least a ^^th larger task on clean-cleared land. Put this into figures 

 over the first five years of tapping and another saving of S18 per 

 acre will be realized. That is, a total of $33 per acre on two items 

 only ; in the first five years of each period. 



The following example should explain what is meant : 



Weeding. 



Totals 



Average 



Gross cost, five years 



Saving per acre in five years 



Note. — (A) — Uncleared of timber. 

 (B) — Free of timber. 



Tapping. 

 Task per cooly, 364 trees + 1/lOth = 400 trees. 

 At 100 trees per acre labour required 1 ^^ cooly = (4 acres) = 

 one cooly. 



Cost. 



At 40 cents wages (say 



30 days) $ 13.20 p.m. ... $ 12 p.m. 



n ^ t, 792 720 



(jrross cost, five years . . . — — . . . — ,— 



Actual cost per acre ... 198 ... 180 



Saving per acre in five 

 years ... ... 18 



The above are obviously ''arbitrary" figures, but are reasonably 

 arbitrary. They are not exaggerated instances. 



This matter of saving could be still further carried down, i.e., 

 saving in cooly labour, housing, medical, etc., but enough, I think, 

 has been said to show that from the financial stand point, a consider- 

 able sum of money can be outlaid profitably — profitably not only 

 in the sense of benefit to our production cost, but to the ultimate 

 benefit of the estate, by improved plant sanitation. 



