138 THE WHOLE ART OF RUBBER-GROWING 



labour may be readily placed with the certainty of 

 getting the work done well and expeditiously. 



Planting contracts and contracts for buildings, etc. , 

 must be arranged separately, and be protected by 

 fines for unnecessary delay or non-compliance with 

 the agreed terms. On the other hand, it is always 

 good policy to offer a bonus for work well and duly 

 completed inside the period allowed. 



Hevea brasiliensis are best cultivated from 

 " stumps " and planted 220 to the acre : two im- 

 portant factors which must be taken into account in 

 arriving at an estimate of the ultimate cost of bring- 

 ing an estate into bearing. The following figures are 

 taken from an estate account appertaining to a pro- 

 perty in Ceylon situated nearly eighteen miles from 

 a station and four miles from a Government cart road. 

 It may safely be accepted, in all its particulars as to 

 cost, as a fair example of rubber-planting as a whole, 

 not only in that island but in the Mid-East generally : 



Cost of land 1,290 



Contract for clearing and burning ... ... 750 



,, Reading and draining ... ... 150 



,, Supplying and planting 101,000 



Para "stumps" ... ... 2,100 



,, Factory, bungalows, coolie lines, 

 machinery, tools, and well- 

 sinking 3'75 



,, Weeding and maintenance 



Charges first year , 900 



Charges second year ... ... 570 



Charges third year 510 



Charges fourth year, including 



coast advances 250 coolies ... 915 



Making a Total of ... ; IO >935 



which is not quite 22 per acre. 



