828 ON C. CALISAYA, VAR. LEDGERIANA, AND C. LEDGERIANA. 
of the C. suecirubra, and must be very remarkable, or the term (and 
the terms used by these Indians are always graphic) would not 
have been employed. It is scarcely necessary to say that he entirely 
rejects Dr. Trimen’s plate of C. Ledgeriana, Moens, as also my 
unfortunate plant of Micrantha Calisayoides ; but it is important 
also to notice that he does not admit the claims of Mr. Gammie's 
plant, which I have described, nor of my form B, of which this is 
probably an example. The leaves and flowers are too large, as 
also are those of C. anglica. 
Briefly, the result of our meeting has been to put the whole 
matter before me in a new light, and one which, if confirmed, will 
furnish another and very important illustration of the benefit of 
eross-fertilization. It seems that Dr. Weddell had heard of these 
white-flowered Calisayas, but was unable to meet with them. 
So far from being looked upon as a distinct species, or even 
variety, they have been regarded as the Tata (father) trees 
by the Indians, who are intensely jealous of Europeans having 
any thing to do with them, as they consider that if they were 
destroyed, all the rest would perish and the Indians with them. 
When they meet with a tree of this sort, they are assured that 
all the surrounding Calisayas will be of good quality, and at 
once erect their huts and set to work. I cannot learn from Mr. 
Ledger any reason for this, which seems, at first sight, superstition. 
It must originate from observation. 
Now when we consider that these same cascarilleros have 
anticipated by centuries Mr. Darwin’s observations, and con- 
sequently named their trees macho and hembra, is it not likely 
that they may be right in this analogy also? and that the pre~ 
potent pollen of these princely fathers is necessary to keep up to 
its full perfection, or even to preserve from extinction, the finest 
race of Cinchona ? 
Now if we turn back to my first plate, and remember that Mr. 
Ledger recognizes this at once as the true Tata tree, what can 
we infer other than that it is (so to speak) a bull of the right breed 
amongst the herd. 
If I am right in all these conclusions (which are my own and 
not Mr. Ledger's) it is of great importance that in every planta- 
tion of Calisayas the Tata trees should be found in sufficient 
numbers, and that the others should be kept free from foreign 
influences. Mr. T. N. Christie, of Ceylon, has recently sent, 
through Dr. Trimen, to the Pharmaceutical Society select speci- 
