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:--
Purchase 700 acres land, at Rs. 8 per acre 5,600 40 maunds seed, at Rs. 70[63] 2,800 Nurseries for vacancies and labour transplanting[64] 200 First temporary buildings 1,000 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 nature 500 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 buildings 3,000 ------ 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 garden 83,257 ======
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.