May, 1812.] 



389 



Sapa and Exudations. 



ed by Mr. C. M. Cumming, Manager of 

 Linggi Plantation Limited, Selangor, of 

 the cost of opening up a rubber plant- 

 ation of 1,000 acres (250 acres each year) 

 including 10 per cent, for contingencies. 

 The cost is estimated as representing 

 First year, 119,681 ; second year, $18,588 

 third year, $22,649; fourth year, $33,902 

 fifth year, 126,741; sixth year, $27,053 

 seventh year, $31,240. The total cost 

 (without interest) would thus far be 

 $179,854, but striking off respectively one- 

 eighth, one-third and five-eighths for the 

 last three years, the amount would be 

 reduced to $147,969, oi approximately (as 

 Mr. Pigart states) $150 per acre. 



Taking the principal items of gross 

 expenses for the first and seventh years, 

 the following result will be shown : — 



1st year. 7th year. 



Premium and Survey $2,272 



Clearing 250 acres 2,130 

 Planting 250 „ 852 



Plants and Seeds 1,136 



Bungalow ... 1,704 



Hospital, etc. ... 1,704 



Rent ... 568 2,272 



Superintendence 2,272 4,260 



Weeding ... 1,278 8,520 



Machinery ... ... 5,680 



Other Expenses 3,976 7,668 



17,892 



Contingencies, 10 % 1,789 



28,400 

 2,840 



$19,681 $31,240 

 The estimate of $150 an acre, it will be 

 remembered, is arrived at in conjunction 

 with five-eighths of the amount of the 

 expenses for the seventh year beinn 

 charged to revenue. 



Yield per Acre. 

 According to the estimate of promi- 

 nent planters, the annual yields per 

 acre may be counted as follows :— 



Pounds. 



Fifth year ... 50 



Sixth year ... 150/188 



Seventh year ... 250/281 



Eighth year ... 350/381 



Ninth year ... 400/404 



Tenth year ... 400/577 



Eleventh year 400/633 



While well-managed estates have been 

 producing from 500 to 800 pounds of rub- 

 ber per acre, it is remarked that in many 

 cases these figures will net be reached. 

 At the same time, it is added, these 

 conservative estimates will probably be 

 greatly exceeded if tapping is delayed 

 until the proper period has elapsed, and 

 is then carried on in the most scientific 

 manner. 



Estimated Results at Fifth and 

 Twelfth Years, 



In pro-forma calculations given of 

 prospective annual results from the 

 fifth to the twelfth year, the lowest of 

 the above estimates of quantity is used 

 as a basis of calculation. 



The scope and general feature? of the 

 above-named calculation are illustrated 

 by the following estimates applicable to 

 an estate of 1,000 acres :— 



Fifth year— 250 acres at 50 lbs. per 

 annum = 12,500 lbs. at $0'72 per lb. $9,000 



Less cost of production at $0'48 

 per lb. ... ... 6,000 



(Estimated result) ... $3,000 

 Twelfth year— 1,000 acres at 400 lbs. 

 per annum =400,000 lbs. at $0-72 

 per lb. ... ... $288,000 



Less cost of production at $0'36 

 per lb. ... ... 144,000 



(Estimated result) 



$144,000 



Cost of Production per Pound. 

 As to this crucial point, it is stated 

 that the average cost per pound for 

 thirty-three estates taken indiscrimin- 

 ately, equalled Is. 2|d. or $0-29. This 

 average, it is noted, is on a basis in- 

 cluding young trees. That in the estim- 

 ates of results just referred to, the 

 cost of production is figured at 36 cents, 

 is in harmony with the conservative 

 nature of Mr. Figart's other calcul- 

 ations, 



Comparative Quality of Product. 

 On this subject Mr. Figart makes the 

 following recommendation : — 



" Plantation rubber, while superior to 

 fine hard Para in resinous and mineral 

 tests, has generally proved inferior in 

 strength, and more care must be taken 



