Planting in Papua 79 



should be capable, under cultivation, of giving 

 good results with any kind of crop suitable to 

 the climate." 



Regarding winds, Papua, being outside the 

 hurricane belt, possesses a great advantage in 

 this respect over those centres that do not 

 escape this trouble. The methods of cultiva- 

 tion recommended are by way of a nursery 

 and transplanting. The trees are said to start 

 yielding at five years, and to bear heavily at 

 eight and nine years old. Three thousand 

 nuts are reckoned to make a half-ton of copra, 

 and healthy trees will live at least sixty years, 

 probably longer. 



The following estimate is given of the cost 

 of clearing and planting 500 acres with coco- 

 nuts : 



1. Felling and clearing, at 2 per acre 



(exclusive of supervision) ... ... 1,000 



2. Lining and holing ... ... ... 150 



3. Cost of 30,000 coco-nuts for planting 120 



4. Planting, 27 x 27 ft. = (60 to the acre) 125 



5. Weeding and maintenance ... ... 200 



6. Roads and drains ... ... ... 100 



7. House for superintendent ... ... 100 



8. Huts for natives .. ... ... 40 



9. Tools ... ... ... ... ... 40 



10. Supervision ... ... ... ... 300 



11. Recruiting seventy natives and fees... 220 



12. Nurseries ... ... ... ... 20 



13. Medicine chest 1 ... ... ... 5 



14. Transport ... ... ... ... 80 



15. Rent of land 



1 See " Health in the Tropics" for stock recommended. 



