Planting in the Philippines 97 



eradicated. By the time these ploughs are 

 hors de combat the plantation would probably 

 be fairly well ship-shape, and although we may 

 be firm believers in cultivation between the 

 palms, everyone is not, so that, at any rate as 

 far as this section which is concerned only 

 with the initial outlay necessary to start the 

 estate is concerned, we will only suggest that 

 $500 be allocated as necessary for the purchase 

 of ploughs to eradicate grass and cultivate the 

 land before finally planting out. 



Regarding the question of ploughing versus 

 non-ploughing, it will be noted throughout this 

 book how unanimously the experts at the 

 different centres urge the absolute necessity of 

 sufficient tillage (i.e., ploughing, general culti- 

 vation, and manuring) if good crops are to be 

 looked for. 



Unfortunately, we are not told the highest, 

 lowest, or average yield, or how many nuts per 

 tree are obtainable in extreme cases. This is 

 what everyone is on the qui vive for, as yields 

 seem to vary from twenty to 200 nuts per tree, 

 with an average perhaps, taking the coco-nut 

 world round, of forty nuts per tree. We are 

 told, however, here as elsewhere, that there 

 should not be more than forty-eight trees to 

 the acre (30 ft. by 30 ft.), and then $i (or 45. 2d.) 

 per tree per annum could be looked for as the 

 net profit on freehold estates of good size. 

 The one quoted had 122,880 trees. If the 

 trees are planted closer than 30 ft. by 30 ft. 



