“How much is a quintal?” came from Frank.
“One hundred and twenty-five pounds,” answered the professor. “1,200 quintals would be how much, Newton?”
“150,000 pounds, sir,” answered Frank, after a short mental calculation.
“Correct. Now, Robertson, at $15 per hundred pounds, what is such a crop worth?”
“The crop is worth $22,500,” answered Mark, after another pause.
“Gracious, there must be money in raising coffee!” exclaimed Sam.
“Do they get fifteen cents a pound for this?” questioned Darry.
“The market price at present is about sixteen cents,” answered Juan Greva. “It runs from ten cents to twenty-two cents.”
“You must remember, boys, that what is received for the coffee is not pure gain. The plants have to be cared for constantly and there is much to do before the bean is ready for the market. All such labor has to be paid for.”
From the nursery they walked to the coffee grove itself, a long and broad field, laid out into squares, with ditches of water flowing between. The plants were set out in rows, with many banana and bucuara trees between.