THE COCO-NUT PALM. 553 



It will be seen that in my calculation I have set down the 

 return lower than it is rendered in the less favorable statement 

 from Ceylon by a sum of upwards of 1,000 sterling. But even 

 supposing one-half of the amount of the lower Ceylon estimate 

 could be realised, we should have a return of 1,36(5 5s. sterling 

 from 100 acres of sea side sand. 



I now proceed to point out the very small outlay required to 

 obtain these results. In places where the coco-nut would be 

 grown, there is generally no heavy woodland requiring great labor 

 with axe and fire, and consequently one able-bodied man should 

 get through the felling and clearing away bush, on an acre of the 

 land to be prepared for the plant, in a short period, say, on an 

 average, four days. I will calculate, that for wages and rations, 

 each hand employed will cost sixteen dollars per month, an out- 

 side price. Let us then say that ten laborers shall be at work. 

 They fell two acres and a half per diem. In one month there 

 should be nearly 70 acres felled; but I will say that the 100 acres 

 will occupy them two months in felling and stacking the wood. 

 During this period our planter may be considered to have had the 

 aid of two more hands, engaged in the preparation, planting out, 

 and care of the nursery of young plants. Two more hands must 

 also be occupied in the construction of tanks and sheds, except 

 where there is a stream of fresh water. For grubbing up the roots, 

 if not very large size, the assistance of about a dozen cattle would 

 be required, a labor which would be performed by means of the 

 common grubbing machine, an implement in the form of a claw. 

 "We will consider that all hands are occupied another month in this 

 manner, and in removing and re-stacking the wood, and turning 

 up the land. The planting out would require but little time and 

 labor. At the end of three months then, one-half of the hands, 

 besides those engaged in the nursery and tanks, might be dis- 

 charged. We must make an allowance for provision for the fodder 

 of the cattle. Six thousand nuts would be required. 



Let us now see what are the planter's expenses ; making ample 

 allowance on account of each item : 



dollars. 



6,000 picked nuts at 10 dollars per 1,000 60 



Hire and rations of 1 2 hands, at 16 dollars for 3 months 576 



Two hands at nursery, for same period 96 



Purchase of 12 cattle at 20 dollars 240 



Foddering cattle one month 32 



Hire of two extra hands, making tanks and sheds 3 months 96 



Hire of 6 hands for 9 months 864 



Tools (including plough) 100 



Total 2,064 



About 415 sterling for expenses for the first year. 



Where fencing is required, we must add for making about three 

 miles of fenee,~say 30 sterling. Two carts would also have to be 

 provided, which will cost, say 20 more. In all we may compute 

 the first year's expenditure at 460 sterling. 



Second year's expenditure : ploughing land, or hoeing it twice, 



