Chapter XXIX · COST OF MAKING A 300-ACRE TEA GARDEN.
Reading edition
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 1st 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:—
1st year (1875).Rs.Rs.
Purchase 700 acres land, at Rs. 8 per acre5,600
40 maunds seed, at Rs. 70[63]2,800
Nurseries for vacancies and labour transplanting[64]200
First temporary buildings1,000
All expenditure to plant 100 acres, at Rs. 80 per acre[65]8,000
Cultivating the said 100 acres first year, at Rs. 50 per acre[66]5,000
—22,600
2nd year (1876).
60 maunds seed, at Rs. 70[64]4,200
Nurseries and labour transplanting[64]300
Repairs, buildings and some new ones still of a temporary nature500
All expenditure to plant the second 100 acres, at Rs. 70 per acre[65]7,000
Cultivating first 100 acres, at Rs. 60, second 100 acres, at Rs. 50 per acre[66]11,000
—23,000
3rd year (1877).
70 maunds seeds, at Rs. 70[64]4,900
Nurseries and labour transplanting[64]400
Buildings for Tea manufacture (temporary) and repairs to buildings3,000
—8,300
All expenditure to plant the third 100 acres, at Rs. 60 per acre[67]6,000
Cultivating first 100 acres, at Rs. 70, second at Rs. 60, third at Rs. 50 per acre[68]18,000
—24,000
Interest on first year’s outlay, two and a half years, second year’s outlay, one and a half years, third year’s outlay half year, at Rs. 5 per cent. per annum.5,357
Total expense to make the 300-acre garden83,257
The garden is now made at a cost, including interest on all outlay of Rs. 83,257, and I am very confident that a good 300-acre garden can, as set out, be made for that sum. The rates assumed are so liberal that a fair margin is allowed for bad seed or any other misfortune.
4th year (1878).
20 maunds seed, at Rs. 70[69]1,400
Nurseries and labour transplanting[69]500
Repairs, buildings[70]500
Cultivating first 100 acres, at Rs. 80, second at Rs. 70, third at Rs. 60 per acre[71]21,000
—23,400
5th year (1879).
10 maunds seeds, at Rs. 70[72]700
Nurseries and labour transplanting[72]500
Repairs, buildings[73]500
Cultivating first 100 acres, at Rs. 90, second at Rs. 80, third at Rs. 70 per acre[74]24,000
—25,700
6th year (1880).
Nurseries and labour transplanting[72]500
Repairs buildings[73]500
Cultivating first 100 acres, at Rs. 100, second at Rs. 90, third at Rs. 80 per acre[74]27,000
—28,000
7th year (1881).
Nurseries and labour transplanting[72]500
Building a permanent Tea Factory and Tea Store and repairs to building[73]12,500
Cultivating first 100 acres, at Rs. 100, second at Rs. 100, third at Rs. 90 per acre[74]29,000
—42,000
8th year (1882).
Nurseries and labour transplanting[72]500
New permanent houses for Manager and Assistant, and repairs to buildings[73]8,500
Cultivating first, second, and third 100 acres, at Rs. 100 per acre[74]30,000
—39,000
9th year (1883), and all years after.
Nurseries, at Rs. 500[75]
Repairs to buildings, at Rs. 500[76]1,000
Cultivating the 300 acres, at Rs. 100 per acre[77]30,000
—31,000
Nothing is allowed for interest after the third year, for soon after that, viz., fifth year, the garden begins to give profits on the yearly operations.
All the above figures are carried out in the table in the next chapter, page 172, and how large the profits on Tea may be will there be seen.
In none of the estimates of cost, up to this, is the expense of manufacturing the Tea included. It would have been very inconvenient to do so. The cost is so much per maund of Tea, and I prefer estimating the Tea at its market rate minus the cost of manufacture shown at pages 70 and 162.