1 Jan., 1898. ] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 57 
marked intelligent legislation. ew countries are blessed with advantages 
such as Queensland possesses ; she is perhaps the only one of the Australian 
group that has the tropical features so necessary in this regard. The time will 
probably come when the more wealthy Southerners will awaken to this fact, 
and launch some of their money and energy in clothing the shores of 
Queensland with the cocoanut palm. ‘his may perhaps be considered by the 
more prosaic as flavouring of romance and not practical. Jn this connection it 
may be as: well to quote from the Produce World of October. Under the 
heading ‘“‘ Notes and Views,” it has the following: Several cocoanut 
roperties have lately changed hands in Ceylon, the prices paid varying. 
hus: Letchimey estate, consisting of 248 acres, went for 162,000 rupees, 
being equal to 660 rupees per acre The Setavana plantation of 100 acres 
realised 33,000 rupees, or 3380 rupees per acre, just one-half. Brankajaya 
failed to find a sale at auction, and has since been sold for 40,000 rupees, 
which, as the average (stc) was 200, comes out at 200 rupees per acre. Last, the 
unpronounceable Aspokunawattee property went for 48,000 rupees—it consists 
of 365 acres, 200 of which are planted with cocoanuts.”” There is, perhaps, not 
much encouragement in this statement to the individual who is looking out for 
arapid means of accumulating a large fortune. Such rapid accumulation of 
wealth is not to be found in any agricultural venture—whether in the tropical, 
semi-tropical, or temperate zone—in the present age. The abolition of slavery 
was far-reaching in its effects; still, to thoughtful men, with a little capital, 
cocoanut planting on our Northern shores should be considered as a probable 
factor in the comfort of the individual and in the wealth of the colony. 
