164 YIELD AND EXPENDITURE 



acre), but where the soil is poor, less than half of this 

 amount is recorded. 



The average yield is considered to be approximately 

 1,000 kilos, per hectare (890 Ib. per acre). 



COST OF PRODUCING COCOA 



Trinidad. According to Hart, land suitable for cocoa 

 cultivation can be obtained from the Trinidad Govern- 

 ment at 1 per acre, exclusive of survey and other fees, 

 but any particular block of land applied for is subject to 

 competition. 



Labourers are paid from 25 to 60 cents, Is. 0%d. to 2s. 6d. 

 per day. 



In this island cocoa estates are generally planted on 

 what is known as the contract system. The land is 

 cleared at the owner's expense and it is then handed 

 over to one or more contractors. 



The contractor usually retains possession for about 

 five years. During this period he plants the cocoa and 

 shade trees, as arranged by contract, drains the land, 

 and grows catch crops for his own profit. When the 

 estate is taken over by the proprietor, the contractor 

 is paid at the rate of Is. or Is. 3d. for each bearing cocoa 

 tree, and smaller amounts, in proportion to size, for less 

 developed trees. Where shade trees are planted they are 

 paid for at the same rate as mature cocoa trees. 



With regard to the cost of clearing new land in Trini- 

 dad, Hart considers that the felling and burning off costs 

 between 15 and 25 dollars per quarree (19s. 6d. to 32s. 6d. 

 per acre). By the contract system a cocoa estate may 

 be established at from 12 to 15 per acre, exclusive of 

 buildings. The annual working expenses of the estate 

 may be calculated at from 3 to 5 per acre. The neces- 

 sary buildings for an estate of 300 acres can be erected 

 for 200 to 250 ; in this estimate, neither dwelling- 

 houses nor artificial drying-chambers are provided for. 

 Weeding or cutlassing is usually carried out twice a year, 

 and costs about 5s. per acre. 



Picking and drying cost from 5s. to Qs. per cwt. of 

 dried cocoa. 



Picking and placing the beans in the fermenting-house 

 costs from 3s. d. to 5s. per 110 Ib., but these operations 



