20 
SPICES 
CHAP. 
Agriculture, like everything else, has no code of 
rules, and it is impossible to lay down strict laws for 
every local condition. A successful planter is one 
who is always studying and learning, often inventing 
simple little improvements which save cost and time 
or increase the value of his product. 
ESTIMATES 
In a book written for use in all parts of the 
world it is difficult to give estimates of cost and profit 
which can be strictly depended upon for all countries. 
Expenses vary in different places and at different times. 
It is only possible to give a general idea as to costs 
subject to local conditions. The cost of land, the 
expensiveness of labour vary in different places, and 
either may rise in countries undergoing development. 
A sample of expenses likely to be incurred, say, in 
opening up an estate of nutmeg trees, from high forest, 
is here given, modified from H. C. Belfield’s Handbook 
of the Federated Malay States. 
Estimates for planting 250 Acres 
First Year 
Felling and clearing 250 acres at 13 dollars an 
acre, felling 9 dollars, clearing 4 dollars . $3,250 
Lining at 150 trees to the acre at L50 per acre . 375 
Holing and filling 250 acres . . . . 750 
Planting at 1 dollar an acre .... 250 
Supplying at 50 cents . . . . . 125 
Nurseries ........ 300 
Seed 190 
Roads and drains at 12 dollars an acre . . 3,000 
Weeding for six months at 1 dollar per acre per 
month ....... 1,800 
Superintendent’s salary at 300 dollars a month . 3,600 
Buildings, Superintendent’s house . . . 1,500 
,, Conductor’s house . . . . 250 
Coolie lines, say . . . . . . . 1,300 
Tools ........ 500 
Contingencies, medicines, etc. . . . . 1,750 
Total 
. $15,945 
