Rubber production fell short of the estimate by 33,500 lb., chiefly because of the loss of branches caus. ed by the weight of the volcanic ash and the heavy wintering which followed.
The cost of producing the rubber, namely 7-6d. per pound, is about id. higher than for 1918. Nearly the whole of this increase, as you will see, appears under the headings "Upkeep of Gardens" and "General Expenditure," for which the eruption must again be held responsible, since the entire cost of repairing the damage was charged to production, and amounted to F. 18,000.
For the current year the output is estimated provisionally at 600,- 000 Ib., because the manager and the visiting agent wish to be careful until they see how the trees respond after the heavy wintering and vigorous branch development that is at present taking place.
The harvest of coffee largely exceeded the estimate, and notwithstanding the fact that it was not up to the usual high standard of quality, owing again to the ash rain, which dried the berries and prevented them from attaining to full growth, it fetched more than double the price realized for the crop of 1918.
For the current year the harvest is estimated at only 500 piculs.
In spite of the eruption of the Kloet we have had the best all round year in the history of the company.
The profit disclosed by the Dutch company's—working. account is F.447,335.76. This is F.145,000 more than was made in 1916, previously the best_year the
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.