NOTES. 



Cost of Cultivation and Manufacture of Tea in Java, 



Mr. Jacobson at Java has arranged his ground into planta- 

 tions, each consisting of one million bushes, planted in squares 

 of four feet. These he divides into ten gardens of 100,000 

 each, subdivided into parks or sections, regulated by the num« 

 ber of days in which the planter determines to establish his 

 gatherings. The calculation adopted by him is grounded on a 

 subdivision into 35 sections, each containing 2857 bushes ; and 

 that each gathering should continue 35 days during a season of 

 four gatherings. 



Thus, a garden consisting of 100,000 bushes will yield 

 37,000 lbs. of fresh leaves, or 10,000 lbs. of tea. This is equal 

 to one pound of tea from ten bushes ; and 3| lbs. of fresh leaves 

 to 1 lb. of tea. 



The total cost, including rent of manufactories, planting, re- 

 muneration, and cost of transport to the ship, would amount to 

 4000 florins, which, at Is. Sd. the florin, on 10,000 lbs. of tea 

 would be less than 8d. the pound, Rhine (which is about the 

 same as English) weight. But if the gatherers are skilful, and 

 gather ten catties the day, which they can easily do, then the cost 

 would be 3,500 florins, or less than 7d. the lb. And if the 

 planter can stimulate his workmen to diligence, he may make 

 one pound of tea from five instead of ten bushes, and thus 

 diminish his cost from 30 to 40 per cent. 



In fact, the cultivation of tea at Java is a certain source of 

 gain ; on middling lands ten bushes will yield one pound of tea ; 

 but on good lands the same quantity may be procured from five 

 bushes. And, in another part (§ 186.), the author distinctly 

 states " That it may be taken for granted that 142 Amsterdam 

 lbs. may be made from ten bushes, which is equal to 1 lb. from 



