COCONUT INDUSTRY IN WEST INDIES 123 



NOTES ON THE FOKEGOING ESTIMATES AND 

 CULTIVATION IN GENERAL 



The author, when in Trinidad, had the honour 

 of being invited to a meeting of the Local 

 Agricultural Board. He was introduced to 

 about twenty planters from different parts, and 

 in discussing coconuts it was agreed by the 

 majority that with reasonable cultivation the 

 sixth year should be the first fruiting year. 

 Mr. Greig makes it the ninth year, which is con- 

 servative. Further, he provides for the planting 

 up of 100 acres only per annum owing to the 

 scarcity of labour. Here, too, the estimate is on 

 the safe side, for, given capital and energy, 

 local opinion estimates that at least 250 acres 

 per annum could be handled. It is understood 

 that these estimates do not allow for stumping 

 or continuous clean weeding, the term "culti- 

 vating " meaning the cutlassing and clearing up 

 of planted areas two or three times a year. 



The sum of 200 per annum for superinten- 

 dence is inadequate, and bears out the opinion 

 formed by the author when in the West, namely, 

 that managers and superintendents are in- 

 sufficiently paid. In one case that came under 

 notice, a manager of an estate valued at a quarter 

 of a million sterling was in receipt of remunera- 

 tion under 300 per annum. Is there any 

 wonder that some cultivations looked neglected 

 and returns are short ? 



European or white assistants in the West are 



