North Borneo and the New Hebrides 431 



tobacco, rice, Manila fibre, &c., finally coming 

 inland to where Para rubber will thrive, and 

 planting that. Large areas have already been 

 laid down in rubber, and seem doing well. 

 Those, therefore, who, like ourselves, believe 

 in mixed plantations, and coco-nuts laid down 

 as the main crop on a large scale, at least 

 20,000 acres or 1,000,000 trees, will agree 

 that North Borneo has a future before it, 'since 

 its position is central in regard to consuming 

 centres, and very suitable so far as soil, situa- 

 tion, and climatic conditions necessary for the 

 crops mentioned are concerned. Published 

 reports tend to show that coco-nuts, Manila 

 fibre (Musa textilis), cattle and pigs, rice and 

 sugar-cane, do well in the Philippines, so 

 they should do equally well, perhaps better, 

 if cultivated on a large scale in North Borneo. 

 If Chinese labour is freely introduced, it would 

 understand the management of pigs, and would 

 soon learn how to prepare pig-products for 

 market. They would also supply a good local 

 market for the flesh, the Chinese being large 

 consumers of pork. 



On p. 83 (et seg.) we discuss the cost of 

 planting-up land in the Philippines, and of 

 stocking the estates with cattle. With one 

 or two variations, to suit local differences, the 

 same total cost should serve with North 

 Borneo ; what you lose or save in some items 

 you will probably make up with the others. 



We also comment generally in the Philippine 



