404 COCOA 



CHAP. 



compared, it turns out that the average crop is rather less 

 than 3 cwt. (150 kilograms) per acre. In well-cared-for 

 estates, however, the yield is higher, though it may be 

 regarded as questionable whether the estimate of 5 cwt. 

 (250 kilograms), which Lock regards as a mean estimate 

 for estates, is not a little high. An amount of 5 cwt. 

 represents a return per acre of about 200 rupees (about 

 13:78.). 



Of the expenses the most considerable item is labour. 

 The average rate of daily pay in the cocoa districts is 

 about 40 cents (about 6d.). A permanent force of more 

 than sixty coolies per 100 acres is never employed. 

 Supervision will cost about 15 rupees per acre, and 

 other expenses, including manure, perhaps 30 rupees 

 more. According to Mr. Lock, it will probably be safe 

 to take the cost of production as 75 rupees per acre for 

 the lowest estimate and 120 rupees for the highest 

 (1 rupee = Is. 4d.). 



XL JAVA AND THE OTHER ISLANDS OF THE 

 INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO 



Long ago the cocoa plant was imported into the 

 Malayan Archipelago. It is said that about 1560 the 

 first plants were brought to Celebes by the Spaniards. 



In the northern part of this island (Minahassa) 

 it was cultivated, but only on a very small scale, in the 

 end of the eighteenth century ; the product was con- 

 sumed locally. About 1820, however, the culture was 

 extended in Minahassa ; this was in consequence of 

 increased demand in Manila for Minahassa produce. 



The export from the port of Menado began about 

 1825, and increased a little up to 1838, when it amounted 

 to 91,740 kilograms. From that time a disease, the 

 nature of which can no longer be traced, began to 

 damage the cocoa fields in Minahassa. The cocoa 

 culture went backward, and the exports from Menado 

 diminished. At present the cocoa exports from Menado 



