The Karandhai estate, the property of the late Mr. J. Byles, was
sold last month for L2,400, part of it bearing. It consisted of 303
acres, of which 228 are planted with coco nuts--about half the trees
six years old.

The Victoria estate, in extent 170 acres, planted and part in
bearing, and about seventy acres of jungle, was also sold for
L1,500. Mr. G. Dalrymple was the purchaser of the latter, and Mr.
Davidson of the former. Both lots were cheap. The properties are
among the best in the district, the latter, especially, is a
beautiful estate.

About two-thirds of the estates planted are looking well, and the
remainder but indifferently, in fact, ought never to have been
planted, and I believe will never give any return. About 7,000 acres
are now under cultivation here, and clearing is still going on.
Estates can now be put in for about one half what they cost
formerly, viz., about L4 or L5 per acre, and can be kept in order,
inclusive of all charges, for about 15s. to 20s. per acre for the
first two years, and about half that afterwards. Estates, in some
instances, have been put in for about L3 per acre.

Elephants have almost disappeared; now and then a stray one comes.
Figs are still a great nuisance, but the greatest anxiety among
planters is regarding beetles. You will be sorry to hear that the
first year the trees showed fruit or flower, one-tenth of them were
destroyed by the beetle; the insects still go on destroying, and
hardly a tree attacked ever recovers.

This is a very serious evil, and upon which the fortunes of all
those involved in coco-nut planting depend. The trees come into
bearing but very slowly, and I consider no estate will give any
return over its current expenses under twelve years. It takes twelve
months from the formation of the flower, till the fruit ripens. On
an estate, perhaps one of the oldest and best in this district, out
of 120 acres, part seven and eight years old, about 12 per cent, are
in flower or in bearing, and give a return of about twenty-four nuts
per tree, on an average, yearly. On the next oldest, the return is
not near so great. But few of the estates here will, I think, pay
interest on the money laid out, and many will never pay anything
over the expense of keeping them up, even after coming into bearing.
I doubt if