I now proceed to point out the very small outlay required to obtain these results.  In places where the coco-nut would be grown, there is generally no heavy woodland requiring great labor with axe and fire, and consequently one able-bodied man should get through the felling and clearing away bush, on an acre of the land to be prepared for the plant, in a short period,—­say, on an average, four days.  I will calculate, that for wages and rations, each hand employed will cost sixteen dollars per month, an outside price.  Let us then say that ten laborers shall be at work.  They fell two acres and a half per diem.  In one month there should be nearly 70 acres felled; but I will say that the 100 acres will occupy them two months in felling and stacking the wood.  During this period our planter may be considered to have had the aid of two more hands, engaged in the preparation, planting out, and care of the nursery of young plants.  Two more hands must also be occupied in the construction of tanks and sheds, except where there is a stream of fresh water.  For grubbing up the roots, if not very large size, the assistance of about a dozen cattle would be required, a labor which would be performed by means of the common grubbing machine, an implement in the form of a claw.  We will consider that all hands are occupied another month in this manner, and in removing and re-stacking the wood, and turning up the land.  The planting out would require but little time and labor.  At the end of three months then, one-half of the hands, besides those engaged in the nursery and tanks, might be discharged.  We must make an allowance for provision for the fodder of the cattle.  Six thousand nuts would be required.

Let us now see what are the planter’s expenses; making ample allowance on account of each item:—­

dollars.
6,000 picked nuts at 10 dollars per 1,000 60
Hire and rations of 12 hands, at 16 dollars for 3 months 676
Two hands at nursery, for same period 96
Purchase of 12 cattle at 20 dollars 240
Foddering cattle one month 32
Hire of two extra hands, making tanks and sheds 3 months 96
Hire of 6 hands for 9 months 864
Tools (including plough) 100
-----
Total 2,064

About L415 sterling for expenses for the first year.

Where fencing is required, we must add for making about three miles of fence, say L30 sterling.  Two carts would also have to be provided, which will cost, say L20 more.  In all we may compute the first year’s expenditure at L460 sterling.

Second year’s expenditure:  ploughing land, or hoeing it twice, watering plants, manuring, repairing fences, and supplying plants, say hire of eight men for six months, about L150 sterling.  The same for the third.