CHAPTER XIX 



THE LAND AVAILABLE, AND THE VALUE OP A 

 CACAO ESTATE 



From a return made by the Crown Lands Department of 

 Trinidad, it appears that the total amount of unalienated 

 lands in the colony on Mrach 31st, was 538,669 acres, much 

 of which is mountain and swamp land unsuitable for the 

 growth of cacao. There are, however, many thousand 

 acres of good land still available for this kind of cultivation. 

 The area in cacao is not definitely known, but, estimated 

 by the export returns, it may be approximately ascertained 

 from the statistics already given. 



The present price of Crown Lands in Trinidad is £2 10s. 

 per acre, most in original forest, and, for the greater part, 

 somewhat distant from the centres of population, therefore 

 difficult of access, and growing more so year by year. 



In the usual course of business, however, there are large 

 and small private estates constantly upon the market, 

 the price of which varies, according to locality, the quality 

 of the land and facilities of transport. 



The value of a cacao estate is usually estimated at per 

 1000 trees, and not at per acre. The price varies from 

 60 cents, or 2s. 6d. per tree in one district, to $2, or 8s. 4d. 

 in another. 



The most satisfactory method of valuation is to count 

 the number of trees upon the ground, grading them as 

 follows : No. 1. Full-bearing trees. No. 2. Half -bearing 

 trees. No. 3. Quarter-bearing trees. The valuer then fixes 

 price per tree according to his estimation of their condition, 

 the class of cacao grown, the position of the estate, the 

 facilities for transport, the labour supply, and the number 



232 



