A sisal plantation turning out 650 tons per annum, labour. 

 which is well within the capacity of one decorticator, 

 can now be run ^vith an average of 350 labourers per 

 day, and as time goes on this number may be re- 

 duced. Should the Government start a Labour 

 Department, and distribute labour fairly all over the 

 country, sisal growers will have little to fear where- 

 ever they live; but at present those near the native 

 reserves find labour easier to obtain than those fiu-ther 

 oflF. 



Appended are an Estimate of Expenditure for the 

 first period of four years of an eight hundred acre 

 plantation, a Balance Sheet drawn at the end of the 

 fifth year, and a Trading Account for the fifth and 

 subsequent years. 



The expenditure is estimated on a very liberal 

 scale, and no allowance is made for revenue derived 

 from catch crops, such as beans, peas, maize, etc., 

 which may be profitably grown between the young 

 sisal for at least one season and possibly two. 



It will be noticed that 800 acres are suggested as output. 

 a unit for a sisal plantation, and that the output over 

 three years is stated at from 3 5^ to 4 tons per acre. 

 But as it is necessary to allow the land to lie fallow 

 for twelve months after the last cutting before re- 

 planting, I have taken only 600 tons as the annual 

 output, which in the case of a properly equipped and 

 managed estate is di.stinctly a conservative estimate. 



The intending sisal planter should be prepared for 

 a capital expenditure of ;{;2o,ooo, although it is safe 

 to assume that after expending ;;{^i 2,000 the balance 

 might be obtained on mortgage. 



aa 



