57 



100 acres plants £320 

 200 " ratoona 190 



£510 



Cane cultivation ... £510 

 Manuring canes, plants 5 cwt., ratoons 2-J 



cwt., 50 tons at £10 ... 500* 



Foddering pens — growing cow peas ... 100 



Fences and pastures ... 60 



Cattle Men ... 25 



Annual depreciation of live stock ... 80 



Do. dead do. ... 50 



Immigration (coolies) ... 120 



Salaries ... 400 



Headmen, Watchmen ... 75 



Taxes ... 80? 



Interest on working Capital ... 50 



Premium on silver 1 p.c. ... 20 



£2,070 £2,07o 



If the canes are to be cut and carried to factory 

 depot : — 



Cane cutting 8/ per acre ... £120 



Carting to depot 11/ ... 15 



£135 £135 



£2,205 



The cost per acre is thus, £7 7s. 

 The return may be estimated — 



Plants 28 tons per acre 



1st ratoons 20 " 



2nd do. 18 " 



66 or 22 tons average per acre. 

 Cost per ton of canes 6/8 nearly. 



No allowance has been made for casualties, such as unusual dry 

 weather reducing the crops, heavy winds causing the canes to fall 

 down and rot, heavy rain coming when the canes are well grown and 

 approaching ripeness ; perhaps 1/ per ton might be added for insurance 

 against these evils— making the total 7/8 per ton. With regard to 



*The item of £500 for manuring canes, is not in my opinion justified. That it 

 is not a prevalent agricultural practice is proved by the fact that it represents J 

 of the total value of fertilisers imported into Jamaica. That it is unnecessary, is 

 brought home to my conviction by recent analyses of Vere soils showing an extra- 

 ordinary standard of fertility. At present crops are solely limited by the water- 

 supply. If fertilisers were used, the yield per acre should be increased to such an 

 extent as still further to reduce the cost of cane per ton. Eliminating this fac- 

 tor the cost of cane comes out at 5/2 per ton instead of 6 8, a figure in accord 

 with other data given this district which have been submitted tp me. 

 15.4 02. H. H. Cousins. 



