November, .1911.] 



407 



Edible Prodvats. 



made for the cost of clearing the land 

 and preparing it for planting than is 

 called for by the estimates herein- 

 before quoted, and as the returns from 

 catch crops will 1 manifestly depend 

 directly on the character of the soil 

 selected and on the efficiency of the 

 administration of the estate, no allow- 

 ance is made for them. 



Practical experience has shown that 

 under capable administration, with 

 favourable soil and market conditions, 

 they may be made to pay the cost of 

 clearing and planting the land, and 

 that of keeping it clean during the first 

 two or three years after it is cleared. I 

 am of the opinion that if this is done it 

 is all that can be expected, and I doubt 

 somewhat whether it would be feasible 

 to achieve this result on a coral island. 

 Nevertheless, if I myself were selecting 

 a site for a coconut plantation, I should 

 select one on a coral island which was 

 pretty well isolated in order to avoid 

 possible danger of insect and other pests, 

 which might result from the fact that 

 neighboring plantations, if any existed, 

 were badly cared for. 



Survey 

 Rental 

 Clearing and ploughing 



1,250 acres at $20 per acre 

 Clearing 1,250 acres at $10 



per acre (ploughing not 



necessary) 

 Cost of seed 



Planting 33,000 nuts, at 



$02£ each 

 Fencing 



Assistant manager's salary 



Assistant manager's hou&e 



Labourer's quarters 



Storehouse lor rice, tools, 

 trade-goods, etc. 



Well, tank, pumping en- 

 gine and pipe for water 

 supply 



1 mile of track (rail, 12 lbs. 

 to yd.) 



5 cars at $30 each 



Tools 



15 draft cattle, at $40 per 

 head 



One American or Austra- 

 lian horse 



Two native ponies, at $50 

 each 



One 30-foot launch, with 10 

 h.p. petroleum engine ... 



Launch engineer at $37 '50 

 per month 



Kerosene, engine oil, cotton 

 waste, for launch 



Totals 



FIRST YEAR. 



On Ordinary On a Coral 

 Forest Land. Island. 

 ... $ 250 00 $ 75-00 

 256'00 256-00 



25,000-00 



1,656-25 



825-00 

 1,00000 

 1,800-00 

 1,000,00 

 2,000,00 



500-00 



12,500-00 

 1,656-25 



825-00 



1,800-00 

 1,000-00 

 2,000,00 



500-00 



600,00 600-00 



765-00 

 150-00 

 500 00 



600-00 



150-00 



100-00 



1,500-00 



450-00 



200-00 



765-00 

 150-00 

 500-00 



600-00 



150-00 



100-00 



1,500-00 



450-00 



200-00 



$39,302-25 $25,627-25 



Note. — A launch is estiirated for, because 

 unless the plantation is located directly on 

 some inter-island harbour, one will be necessary 

 in keeping up communication between the 

 plantation and the nearest port. A liberal 

 estimate has been made for quarters for men, 

 which would allow of putting up a substantial 

 shed, with galvanizhd iron roof. It would give 

 the men good quarters, and could later, at small 

 additional expense, be converted into a drying 

 shed, while the iron roof would be useful for 

 catching rain water, especially on coral islands. 

 A good well, with a pump, tank and pipe is 

 essential in order to provide adequate bathing 

 facilities for the assistant manager and men, 

 and water for animals, sprouting nuts, etc. 



It would probably be necessary to run 

 a small store in connection with a plant- 

 ation at which articles of common 

 necessity should be sold at Manila prices, 

 plus 20 per cent, plus cost of trans- 

 portation, but labour should be paid tor 

 in cash and the men left free to trade at 

 the store or not, as they please. 



From the total should be deducted the 

 receipts from catch crops, if any, and 

 from the sale of timber and firewood, 

 which on forest land might somewhere 

 nearly cover the cost of clearing and 

 planting. The sandy soil of coral islands 

 will grow pineapples, peanuts, cassava, 

 corn, or yams, but as weeds do not spring 

 up readily on this soil, and as com- 

 paratively little work is required to 

 keep it clean, it might be more desirable 

 not to plant catch crops but to leave all 

 plant food in the soil for the coconut 

 trees. 



It will be noted that I have provided 

 for an assistant manager only, It would 

 be necessary to have one competent man 

 constantly on the ground. There would 

 be necessity for work in other places in 

 connection with the purchase and ship- 

 ment of supplies, seed nuts, etc., and 

 the securing of labourers, which should 

 be performed by a manager, and the 

 best way to provide for this unless the 

 owner himself cared to do it, would be to 

 have one thoroughly competent man 

 who would serve as general manager for 

 several plantations, and who would not 

 only perform the work above referred 

 to, but would visit and inspect the plant- 

 ations at frequent intervals. 



If the assistant manager proves 

 capable, his salary should be raised 

 $2,000-00 per year until it reaches at least 

 $3,00000, 



