i6 3 



CHAPTER XXIX. 



COST OF MAKING A 3OO-ACRE TEA GARDEN. 



IN the following estimate 100 acres are supposed to be 

 planted the first year, 100 acres the second, and 100 acres 

 the third. 



To elucidate a table I shall draw up in the next chapter 

 showing the probable receipts and expenditure on such a 

 garden for a series of years, I shall suppose this plantation 

 to be begun in 1875, and number the years accordingly. 



The expenditure would truly, in the supposed case, begin 

 in the latter part of 1874, but it is more convenient to 

 regard it as commencing ist January, 1875. 



I estimate all new cultivation as planted " at stake," 

 that is, the seed sown in situ. Nurseries are only to fill up 

 vacancies. 



I shall not pretend in this to go into minute details, such 

 as are given at page 84, for it is simply impossible to do so. 

 The cost of making a plantation must vary greatly, being 

 determined by climate, available labour and its rates, lay of 

 land, nature of jungle to clear, &c., &c. In this estimate 

 only round numbers can be dealt with. The prices I assume 

 are average ones, neither suited to very heavy jungle, and 

 very expensive labour, or the reverse : 



ist year (1875). Rs. Rs. 



Purchase 700 acres land, at Rs. 8 per acre . 5,600 

 40 maunds seed, at Rs. 70 * . . 2,800 



Carried over Rs. . 8,400 



* The cost for seed, nurseries, and transplanting increases each year as 

 the area over which vacancies may exist enlarges. 



