2 ' Coco-huts- -The Consols of the East 



the .Kghfer prices-, for land and labour prevail 

 triere are also counteracting advantages to 

 be met with to improve the chances for the 

 most lucrative establishment of coco-nut planta- 

 tions, otherwise the centres in dispute would 

 be ignored entirely as unprofitable. 



For these reasons we have, where possible, 

 kept the various centres apart and included in 

 each estimate the cost of land, clearing, labour, 

 &c., but, as can be seen, we have not always 

 done so. The index, however, shows at a 

 glance what estimates are included in the book, 

 and where each one is to be found. 



We have heard it stated by quite responsible 

 authorities that the more confined the area of 

 a coco-nut estate, the greater are its chances 

 of ultimate success, owing to the possibility 

 of more intensive cultivation and closer per- 

 sonal supervision. This theory will not hold 

 with coco-nuts, which cannot be pruned back 

 or trained to take up less room ; like a huge 

 bird, they must have room to flap about in, and 

 move their leaves freely to the wind. Again, 

 system and method will successfully serve on 

 a large estate as on a small one, and, be it 

 large or small, if the best work is not to be 

 put in, it would be better not to start planting 

 at all. 



If a big estate has an adequate labour supply 

 and is divided into suitable sections, so that the 

 size of each is one which a superintendent can 

 well and conscientiously handle without worry 



