COCO-NUTS-THE CONSOLS 

 OF THE EAST. 



THE COST OF A COCO-NUT 

 ESTATE. 



WE approach this subject with a good deal 

 of misgiving, for in order to give a correct 

 estimate it would be necessary to quote 

 different figures for nearly every locality, some 

 of which vary so much, as can be seen with 

 those given, that great caution is necessary 

 in giving advice to others. Whilst, we are told, 

 it is possible to purchase an acre of planting 

 land in the South Sea Islands, and elsewhere, 

 for a few shillings, the price of good land for 

 such purposes may reach ^"5 to 6 per acre in 

 Ceylon, and even more. 



The same divergence exists in the cost of 

 labour, which in the Pacific Islands, in East 

 Africa, and Madagascar does not exceed 6d. 

 per head a day, whilst in Ceylon, the. Straits, 

 and the West Indies it is never less than is. 

 per day and frequently more. Although it is 

 by no means a general rule that the drawbacks 

 of one part compensate those of another, it 

 can be set down as fairly certain that where 



