COCOA-GROWING COUNTRIES 439 



like the one in Fig. 128, this expense under present 

 labour conditions may be estimated to be about f. 3 6, 000 

 (3000), while the building of the sluice involves an ex- 

 pense of about f.12,000 to f.18,000 (1000 to 1500). 1 



In the old time of slavery a great amount of work 

 of this sort was done by the slaves, arid the establish- 

 ment of the plantations dates from that time. It is 

 questionable if it would pay at the present time even 

 when we eliminate the influence of the witch-broom 

 disease to establish a cocoa plantation where the 

 whole drainage system has to be laid out. But this 

 is seldom necessary. The number of plantations, 

 abandoned after the abolition of slavery, was com- 

 paratively large, and when one desires to start a new 

 plantation it would be possible to obtain an abandoned 

 one, which would have more or less useful portions of 

 old embankments and drainage works. 



Not only the establishment of the drainage system 

 is expensive, the upkeep also requires annually a large 

 sum, which has not to be spent in other countries 

 where there is a natural drainage. For a plantation 

 of some 300 acres this yearly expense is at least f.1200 

 (100), including repair of sluices. 



Against this drawback Surinam has compensations. 

 There is a rich soil, which gives very fair returns and 

 a great advantage easy means of communication 

 along the rivers of the plantations with the port of 

 shipment at Paramaribo. 



All transport takes place along the river, and the 

 tide-movement is of great use. Without any special 



1 For the reader who takes an interest in drainage works the following 

 specification of labour expenses may be given here : 



DIGGING OP EMBANKMENTS AND TRENCHES FOR A PLANTATION OF 300 ACRES. 



Front embankment (600 metres) . . . f. 1,800 



Side embankments (4000 metres) . . . 8,000 



Back embankment (600 metres) .... 1,200 



Digging of the main trench (5200 metres long) . 10,800 



Digging of the navigation trench (2000 metres) . 4, 000 



Digging of the pulling trenches .... 2,700 



Digging of the small trenches . . . ... 6,000 



Total cost of digging work . . f. 34, 500, or about 3000. 



