VIII 



PEPPERS 



285 



SECOND YEAR 



Superintendence 



Nurseries 



Weeding . 



Eoads and drains 



Terracing 



Manuring 



Pruning and training vines 



Supplying 



Buildings and contingencies 



THIRD YEAR 



Superintendence 



Weeding . 



Roads and drains 



Manuring 



Pruning and training vines 



Supplying 



Building, etc. . 



12 

 2 



12 

 1 

 8 

 5 

 3 

 1 



10 



Rs.54 



Rupees. 

 12 

 12 



2 

 10 



3 



1 

 10 



Rs.50 



The fourth year's crop ought to cover expenses. 

 There is, of course, the additional cost of picking, 

 curing, packing, etc., and the cost of land-rent. 



As to returns and profit, calculating the crop at 28 

 piculs per acre, and estimating the price at 10 dollars a 

 picul, this works out to 28 dollars, or about 600 rupees 

 per acre, which, estimating the whole cost of bringing 

 into bearing at 200 rupees, he shows a profit of 400 

 rupees per acre. This is too high for an average return, 

 however, as pepper fluctuates in price, and is often 

 lower than his estimate. 



Yield. The yield of a pepper vine varies a good 

 deal, according to circumstances. Of course, ill cared- 

 for vines give but a poor return compared with a good, 

 well-covered vine in the best condition. In reckoning, 

 too, the amount of crop to be expected, the method of 

 growing must be taken into account. The Bombay and 

 old Acheen system of growing the vines on tall betel-nut 



