437 



SAMOA IN 1913. 



THE following notes from the pen of Mr. H. J. 

 Moors are, we feel, well worth including : 



The output of copra in Samoa has steadily 

 risen from about 8,000 tons in 1901 to 11,000 

 tons in 1911, and the prospects are that within 

 the next six years the present output will be 

 at least doubled. As early as 1904 Ordinances 

 were in force compelling all able-bodied natives 

 to plant at least fifty nuts per annum, to be 

 spaced 30 ft. apart and kept free of harmful 

 weeds. As a result of this policy on the island 

 of Savaii, where the regulation was more com- 

 pletely enforced than on Upolu, statistics show 

 that fully 1,000,000 trees have been planted 

 and cared for ; whilst on Upolu, although 

 possessing arable lands to offer in abundance, 

 and with a population slightly larger than that 

 on Savaii, it is very generally admitted that 

 the supervision, being divided, and in many 

 hands, has not been as effective, and the results 

 have not proved as good. Owing to this 

 probably not above 700,000 trees have, so 

 far, been brought into existence on Upolu. 



Of course, native owners controlled a large 

 number of trees before the compulsory planting 

 began at all, and it is chiefly from these that 

 the present output of copra is gathered. Of 



