434 Coco-nuts The Consols of the East 



but all will agree, we imagine, that the matter 

 is worth consideration, and should be given 

 a trial, especially as North Borneo offers such 

 excellent opportunities for planting-up the main 

 crop, on which all the others depend, viz., 

 coco-nuts. 



The demand for land for this purpose has 

 already commenced, and the Government on 

 the other side are doing all they can to en- 

 courage the establishment of coco-nut estates. 

 To reduce the cost at the start and to provide 

 dividends until the coco-nuts come into bear- 

 ing, Robusta coffee, since it has done so well 

 in Java and elsewhere, could . be planted, 

 provided the labour is there to look after the 

 coffee cis well as the coco-nuts, which need 

 the largest number of hands when planting- 

 is being carried on. It may be, as already 

 suggested, that at such times Filipinos might 

 be introduced for short spells, going home 

 afterwards when the planting-out is complete. 

 Soya beans and ground-nuts would also do 

 well, as they give quick returns and benefit 

 the soil. In face, therefore, of the cheapness 

 of land in British North Borneo, we believe 

 it will do well, and deserve the attention of 

 those wishing to establish coco-nut estates on 

 a large scale. 



We will conclude with the following letter 

 and photograph from Santo, New Hebrides, 

 under date of October 26, 1912 : 



u Little has appeared hitherto in the columns 

 of your valuable journal (Tropical Lije] regard- 



