THE fROPlCAL AGRICULTURIST. [October i, 1887. 
tea producing district, and one likely to command 
good prices in the LaDe. Rapid as the progress of 
the tea enterprise has been, there are in England, 
ind especially in Scotland, too many people smart- 
ing from their coffee losses to feel anything but shy at 
again putting capital in Ceylon. In a year or two 
more, when this shyness will be overcome by facts 
and figures, the price of tea estates and available land 
will increase greatly, and another cycle of prosperity 
visit the planting community. The railway will then 
be extended to Haputale, and the yearly festivities 
which have been so much upon the wane of late may 
again assume prosperous proportions. Then will be the 
time to sell ; to sell while the demand is brisk and 
buyers eager. Tea may not last for ever, but if it 
enjoys a reign of forty years as coffee has done, it 
should satisfy the present generation. The pubic 
may be interested to know that the following estimate 
is given in its entirety, although of course, numer- 
ous small corrections of actual expenditure up to 
date could have been made. It has not been deemed 
worth while to alter any item, so little have they 
differed from the money estimated for their cost. 
What difference there has been, has been a saving 
effected under various heads. Exchange, having fallen 
so much during these past two years, makes a dif- 
ference which is more apparent than real in that 
it affects both expenditure and crop sold alike. We 
will not commit ourselves by recommending any partic- 
ular district or elevation for choosing a property. 
It will be obvious that should an abandoned coffee 
estate be selected with the usual stores and build- 
ings upon it, a substantial reduction in the follow- 
ing estimate can be made under the head of build- 
ings, bungalow, and so on. Many of the finest tea 
properties now realising yearly profits, were, in the 
years 1880 to 1884, abandoned as useless coffee 
estates. 
Estimate for opening 100 acres in 1881, and 200 
acres in 1885. The block containing 470 acres, and 
costing 5,500rs. New land in the low country. 
Expenditure. 
First year, 1884 : R 
Cost of land .. .. 5,500 R 
Salary and allowances . . 2,070 
Survey fees . . . . 200 
Felling and clearing . . . . 1,200 
Lining, holing, <fec. . . . . 2,100 
Cost of seed and nurseries . . 4,000 
Planting and supplying . . 600 
Weeding .. .. 1,000 
Roads .. ..360 
Drains .. .. .. 1,000 
Bungalow .. .. .. 700 
Oooly lines .. .. 1,000 
Tools .. ..680 
Contingencies .. .. 300 
Outlet road.. .. ..800 
21,510 
Second year, 1885 (200 acres): 
Felling and clearing . . . . 2,200 
Survey fees . . . . . . 400 
Nursery, and cost of 80 maunds 
of seeds .. .. .. 6,300 
Roads .. .. ..700 
Drains .. .. .. 2,000 
Lining, holing and planting . . 5,600 
Weeding .. .. .. 2,400 
Tools and contingences .. 1,200 
Salaries ... .. .. 4,500 
1885 or 1886: 
Buildings, lines .. 300 
Permanent factory .. .. 3,000 
Roller ... .. .. 1,000 
Dryer .. .. .. 1,500 
Engine . . . . . . 1,500 
Erecting and transport .. 500 
Upkeep of 1884 clearing : 
Weeding .. .. .. 1,200 
Supplying .. .. ..150 
20,800 
4,500 
7,800 
475 
275 
2,400 
1,050 
200 
150 
2,000 
Seed and nurseries 
Upkeep roads and drains 
Total expenditure to end of 1885 
1886— Upkeep, 200 acres, of 1885 : 
Weeding 
Seed supplying, &c. 
Roads and drains . . 
Contingencies 
Salary 
100 acres clearing of 1884: 
Weeding, pruning, supervision, &c, 
included in cost of manufacture, at 
45 cents per lb., also London charges. 
Yield of tea I5 to 2^ years old from 
100 acres, at 2001b. per acre 
Less value of 20,000 lb. tea, at 75 oente 
per lb. ... 
Total outlay ... 
1887. — 300 acres tea open, viz., No. 1 
field, 2£ to 3 J years old : 
100 acres, at 350 lb. per acre 35,000 lb. 
200 acres, at 200 lb. per acre 40.OC0 „ 
and machinery 
Outlet road ... 
Permanent bungalow 
Less 125,000 lb. tea at 75 cents. ... 
Outstanding outlay 
1889,— No. 1 field, 4J to 5| years 
old, at 600 lb. per acre . . 60,000 lb. 
No. 2 field, at 550 lb. ... 110,000 „ 
170,000 lb. at 45 cents. 
170,000 „ 
2,100 
56,710 
5,800 
9,000 
71,510 
15,000 
56,510 
75,000 „ 
75,000 lb. tea to cost 45 cents per 
lb,, including 10 cents, for 
London charges ... ... 33,750 
Making an outlet road into cart road 2,500 
Less 73,000 lb. tea at 75 cents, per lb. 
Outlay ... 
1888.— No. 1 field, 3£ to 4| years 
old, at 550 lb. per acre ... 5,000 1b. 
No. 2, at 350 lb 7,000 „ 
36,250 
92,760 
56,250 
36,510 
36,510 
125,000 „ 
125,000 lb. at 45 cents. ... ... 56,250 
Additions to tea factory, Barbacue, 
4,000 
1,000 
3,000 
64,250 
100,760 
93,750 
7,010 
Sale of 170,000 lb. tea at 75 cents per lb 
Profit 
1890.— 300 acres of tea, yielding 600 per 
acre, at 75 cents. ... ...135,000 
Cost of 180,000 lb. tea at 40 cents . . 72,000 
83,500 
127,500 
4,500 
— 63,000 
Total profit ... ... 107,000 
Explanation of expenditure at 40 cents, per lb. : 
R. cts. 
Supervision per acre 20 00 
Pruning 6 00 
Weeding ... 10 00 
Drains and roads 2 00 
Upkeep buildings and machinery 2 50 
Contingencies 1 50 
42 00 
