THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



(■July 2, 1883. 



Mr. Francis to extract indiarubber from the bark, but with 

 no practical result, as the amount obtaiued was only three 

 per cent of the quantity treated, and this quantity woidd 

 never pay for the cost of extraction. 



The Report concludes with a wholesale condemnation of 

 "the nefarious aces of traders and others'* who induce the 

 Indians to cut do\vn rubber-bearing trees for the pm-pose 

 of obtaining their juice. The Indians should be held re- 

 sponsibl. r r this on detection, and "much more should 

 the men who instigate them to it, for their own profit, 

 knowing that they could not do it with impimity them- 

 selves, be severely punished for their villany." From the 

 products of OUT forests which are utihsed, important as 

 they uudoubtedly are, the colony derives hardly any profit, 

 while the forests are impoverished by wanton waste, and 

 the depredations of the dishonest, and the trade is in the 

 hands of a few merchants. As to the balata trade, unless 

 some efficient method of utilising the whole of the bark 

 be discovered, felling should be prohibited, and, if mth 

 this rule, an export tax were imposed, and every pack- 

 age containing the gum requii'ed to bear a sjjecial brand 

 belonging to the grant on which it was gathered, which 

 would show the production of each grant, a very salutary 

 change would be etfected in the trade." All right-think- 

 ing people will agree -tvith Mr. Jenman in the above 

 remarks, and heartily endores his proposals for improve- 

 ment. It is not only in Indian-Rubber and Ballatta this 

 is required. Large quantities of Locust Gum, Tonquin 

 Beans, and other products of the interior are now beiug 

 exported from the colony, collected principally on Cro^vn 

 Lands, and which do not contribute one cent to its 

 taxation. Mr. Jenman deserves the thanks of the entire 

 community for the discovery he has made, and for the 

 valuable infonnation liis report contains. — Denujiara Gazette. 



♦- 



CINCHONA BARK ^AND QUININE IN THE 



UNITED STATES. 



From the annual renew of the New York Drug Trade 

 in the Oil , Paint and Dntti Re/xtyter, we quote as follows : — 



The imports of Cinchona bark for the year ending 

 December 30, 1882, were 29,2(0 bales, again.st 31,700 in 

 1881 and against 32,800 in the previous year. 

 Im}iorts and Sales of Cinchona Bark from lff7S to ISSJ. 

 Stock 

 Decem- 

 Eeceipts. her 31. Sales. Exported. 



Bales. Bales. Bales. Bales. 



1878 44,900 10,100 35,700 900 



1879 46,700 16,000 26,6.50 4,400 



1880 32.800 29.000 34.S0O 6,800 



1881 31,700 11,800 26,600 4,400 



1882 29,200 12,500 16.600 10,100 



The stock on hand January 1, 1883, was 700 bales more 

 than it was in January 1 of the prerions year. The number 

 of bales received was 2,500 less than in the previous year, 

 while the number of bales exported was 5,600 in excess 

 of the exportation in the year ending December 31, 1881. A 

 comparison of the bark receijits in the L^nited States 

 with those of other countries shows that the foreign 

 receivers of bark are more and more profiting by the un- 

 happy position in which Congress has plaeed the recei\'ers 

 of bark and the quinine manufacturers in the United States. 

 Imports of Bark in Lonlon Market. 



Receipts. 



1878 bales 45,250 



1879 , 58,666 



1880 „ 78,2.57 



1881 , 115,360 



1882 „ 117,571 



Showing an increase of 2.210 bales. Of the total London 

 receipts there were 6,312 bales Calisaya in 1882. against 

 7,017 in 1881, 6.5S0 in 1880, 9,187 in' 1879, and 7,834 in 

 1878. 21,631 bales East Indian in 1882. against 15.388 in 

 1881, 20,692 m 1880, 13,460 in 1879, and 6,251 in 1878. 

 5,473 bales Carthagena in 1882, against 5,723 in 1881, 

 6,480 in 1880, 5,360 in 1879, and 5,771 in 1878. 84,155 

 bales of Colombian and New Grenadian in 1882, against 

 87,232 m 1881, 44,505 in 1880, 30,659 in 1879, and 25,394 

 in 1878. 



The importation of bark into the French Market shows 

 a still greater gain. There were imported into France 

 during the year 1882, 39,657 bales, against 26,452 in 1881, 

 20,166 in 1880, 15,994 in 1879. and 11,995 in 1878. The 

 year 1882 closed with a stock of bark in the English, 

 French and American markets of 103,076 bales, against 

 59,743 m 1881, 48.369 in 1880, and 44.577 in 1879. The 

 imports into the three markets were 186,428 bales in 

 1882 173,212 in 1881, 131,223 in 1880, and 121,360 in 



1879. The number of bales .sold in the Loudon market 

 were 84.471 in 1882, against 104,333 in 1881, 64.291 in 



1880, and 43,775 in 1879. 



There were sold in the United States 16,600 bales in 

 1882, against 26,600 in 1881, 34,800 m 1880, 26,050 in 

 1879, and 35,700 iu 1878. 



Considering the fact that the world's consumption of 

 quinine is certainly increasing yearly, the decrease in the 

 amount of sales of bark in 1882, in comparison with 

 those in 1881. would seem rather anomalous ; but it is 

 to be accounted for by the fact that the year of 1881 

 was one of great activity in the quinine interest. Com- 

 binations among the holders of bark and among the 

 manufacturers of quinine were anticipated; the market 

 for "futures" was very active; and there is no doubt 

 but that the amount of quinme manufactured iu the year 

 1881 was considerably in excess of the actual wants of 

 the world. 



Dm-ing the year 1882 the manufacturers, with possibly 

 two exceptions, have been buying only to supply their 

 immediate wants. A feeling of gi'eat uncertainty has 

 prevailed. The holders of bark, most of whom have made 

 advances on the b.irk consigned to them, have felt that 

 they shoidd not sell nt the price which quinine manu- 

 facturers could alTord to offer, in order to produce quinine 

 at the ruhng rate. 



The bark syndicate in London, refered to in last year's 

 report, which controlled a large portion of the best barks 

 in the London market, especially those of the Cuprea 

 variety, came to an agreement- in .July last with the two 

 largest manufacturers in Europe, whereby they agreed 

 (separately) to take a large quantity of the bark at a 

 price which was considerably above the rulmg price today. 

 It was supposed that these manufactiu-ers would combine 

 interests and advance the price of quinine, instead of which 

 a competition was commenced, especially for the American 

 market. The price was much depressed, and now rules 

 lower in America th.an it does in Europe. MTiat the 

 outcome will be is very uncertain. There is certainly a 

 large stock of bark in London and Paris, but it must bo 

 considered that a large percentage of this bark is of 

 comparatively low grade. 



The Ouprea district of Santander has, as was indicated 

 in last year's report, become a small factor in furnishing a 

 supply of rich Cuprea bai-ks. The neighboring States, especi- 

 ally Tolima, have sent a very considerable amount of bark 

 to the market, m general appearance the same as that from 

 Santander ; but this b.ark has proved to be of comparat- 

 ively httle value, and it is of these varieties that the 

 London stock represents a large amount. 



The noticeable feature of recent ojierations has been the 

 large sales of Ceylon and East Imlia cultivated bark, in com- 

 parison with those from South America. In recent .luctions 

 a very much greater quantity of these barks hiive been 

 sold than the South American. Considering the amount of 

 East India and Ceylon arrivals in comparison with those 

 from South America, the proportional sales of East Indian 

 and Ceylon are very large, and go to show the probable 

 drift of the futm-e. 



Everything imlicates that at some time iu the near 

 future om- supply of bark niU be derived from plantations 

 where the cultivation of ciuchona is thoroughly under- 

 stood, rather than from the natiu^al growth iu the South 

 American forests. Taking the ratio of the progress of the 

 two countries into consideration, it will be possible for a 

 grower in Ceylon to fm-nish bark at so much per imit of 

 quinine, cheaper than could a shipper iu South America, 

 even should he have the land and natural gi-owth free, 

 and have only to pay expense of cutting .and shippiug. 



The question has been considered by private ]>arties 

 aud by om' Government respreseutatives as to whether 



