August r, 1883.] 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



So 



were of " reneiftd^' bark, respectively 2*2 and 2"4 per cent, 

 and, deducting these, the percentage falls to 0'9-' of quin- 

 ine. This cultaie can hardly be profitable for quinine 

 manufacture,* nor yet for pharmaceutical purposes, as I 

 have shewn fii-st in my ' Quinologia,' 1862, and raJtay times 

 since, that the " red bark " contains a dislinctli/iioxiuus 

 inyredleiit not found in the barks better adapted for 

 medicinal use. i. 



The tests of the inferior Calisaya, Schuki-aft, Javanica 

 and Augiica, are about 1 per cent of quinine, Surely this 

 cannot pay at prest-tit ; but, even if it does, how will such 

 plantations compete in future with the immense cultiva- 

 tion commencing eLsewhere. Of course, in Java the re- 

 deeming feature is the Ledyenana ; the ojjiciitaiis seems 

 also to promise well. 



The result of these trials seems to prove that elevation 

 above the sea-level is far more important than all the 

 other factors in the problem, but why this should be so, 

 I confess I do not see. The true home of the cinchona 

 is in the clouds ; direct scorching sunlight is fatal. 



I am at this moment observing with intere.st the effect 

 of Hght on some cinchonas. In the early part of last year 

 I sowed, almost at the same time, seed of the true 

 Ledyeriana from the Yarrow estate in Ceylon, derived from 

 trees yielding from 7 to 12 per cent of quinine, and also 

 seed kindly given me by >Ir. Christy, from Bolivia, of the 

 best kinds there cultivated. I watched with interest the 

 development of the young plants, which for a considerable 

 time entirely resembled each other — only that I found the 

 Ledyciiana the more sensitive to surrounding influences. 

 After some months' growth the BoUvian seed began to 

 develop the characteristics of the verde, morada and the 

 rubra venada of Bolivia ; whilst the Ledyeriana showed 

 features of diuci^i.ce, though at the same time of close 

 afliuity. This was shown, amongst other things, by the 

 rich velvety surface of the leaf, marking the best Calisayas,t 

 as also by a delicate fringe of hair at the edges of the 

 leaves. But now that the more flourishing plants are some 

 ten inches in height (the rubra retiada, twenty), fm'ther 

 diversities appear. The leaves of the Ledyeriana turn red 

 in fading, which is said by Mr. Ledger to be character- 

 istic of his " rojo " {roxo) at the flowering season, from 

 whence it derives its name " redy 



They are more delicately formed than the others I have 

 named, and more easily damaged by direct sunlight. As 

 night approaches, the top leaves gi-adually change their pos- 

 ition, approaching each other so as in some cases almost to 

 fold together. This is well showni in a fine plant of true 

 Ledyeriana wlrich I have from Darjeeling, and also in the 

 more flom-ishing of my pUut.s from Ceylon. I do not notice 

 the same in the verde from Mr. Christy's Bolivian seed, 

 of which the leaves are more robust, but the above features 

 are not confined to the " rojo." 



These peculiarities would scarcely be seen unless the 

 plants were well developed under glass, but once observed 

 it is impossible to forget or to confuse these rich varieties 

 of Calisayas (which I described and figured as such from 

 well ascertained specimens sent by M. Jloens) with the 

 plant described and figured by Dr. Triraen as "C. Ledyeriana, 

 Moens," and which I should call C. micrantha, var. Cali- 

 sayoides. Dr. Trimen had not the opportmiity of comparing 

 the plates drawn by Fitch, in my 'Quinology,' with those in 

 the Journal of Botany ; but the distinction is most erident, 

 as I have endeavoured to demonstrate to the Linnean So- 

 ciety. My figuresof CCaJisaun.vnT. Ledyerinnn.me fromti'ees 

 yieldingrespectively (Pl.IV.) 906, (PI. V) 9-90, and (PI. VI.) 

 9'97 per cent of quinine and the fruit-bearing branch 1090 

 (same plate). See the account of my herbarium, pp. 58-66. 

 [But see also letters to Observer of IVIr. T. N. Christie and 



* See the Blue Book of Indian Government (June 18, 

 1866 p. 134). in which, after analysis of the first parcels 

 sent home, I observed the great preponderance of cincho- 

 nidine, and notified to the ImUau Government, " This ditfi- 

 culty must be looked steadily in the face, .and I would 

 suggest that it may be obviated, either by a change being 

 wi'ought in the opinion of tha medical world as to the 

 vain'! of cinchonidine as a medicine, or by the plant being 

 encou.a^ed to proilu-ie quinine instead of cinchonidine." 

 This laMer, ^Ir. Mclvor afterwards succeeded in effecting 

 by his renewing process. The Government also acted on 

 ray former augi;estion. 



't See "Weddell's ' Histoire.' 

 12 



Ml-. Agar, shewing that the plant figured by Dr. Trimen 

 was true Ledgeriana. — Ed.] 



The •' rojo " ( roxo), or C. Calisaya, var. Ledyeriana, is the 

 queen of all the cinchonas ; but certainly posses a delicate 

 organization which makes the cultivation difficult. I'lie 

 '• verde," as being a quick-growing tree, flourishiug at lower 

 elevation, is found in Bolivia more profitable to cultivate 

 than the " morada," although the latter is richer in per- 

 centage of quinine. I do not think that the Ledyeriana 

 is cultivated in Bolivia, but another sort of " rojo " is ex- 

 tensively planted in Coroico, in the Yimgas of Bolivia. 

 " This is not so good as the Caupolicon rojo." It is the 

 Oolorada naranjada, or oranye peel red, only known to me 

 by the bark, which has a character peculiarly its own. 

 The bark of the Ledytrianu is most characteristic. It is 

 thick and composed almost entu-ely of cellular tissue ; quite 

 contrasted with that of the " verde," which bears the stamp 

 of more vigorous growth and has a more fibrous stiuctiire 

 and less alkaloid. This last has for many years been familiar 

 to me in importation from South America. 



But I must defer for the present any further remarks. 



From a letter from Mr. Ledger, February 7, 1881 : — " I 

 repeatedly used to joke poor Manuel when he used at first 

 to tell me the trees from which the thick, heavy slabs of 

 bark (in fact the Bojo) came from hard white flowers. The 

 litjjo from Coroico and .South Yungas, though with purple 

 red leaves underside [the morada], are nothing to be com- 

 pared mth the Rojo of Caupohcan and Apolobamba. The 

 Uojo or Leili/eriima is very httle known in Bolivia even. 

 According to Manuel, this tree is never met with m Man- 

 chas (patches) like the other classes of cinchona. It is 

 found by itself here and there. With all cascarilleros from 

 Pelechuco a ' sfah ' of Calhaya rojo means unsnrfHtssahle, 

 and is meant to say, where that is, all the rest is good 

 or Calisaya." [Then follows Dr. Trimen's letter a,s given 

 on piage 864 (Vol. II, of this periodicul.) 



PLANTING ORANGES AND LEMONS. 



Select trees of good, healthy giowth, varieties to suit. 

 The Naval variety and St. Michail are the best known 

 varieties, and should be the only k'nds planted — the Nav."il 

 variety as the favorite, or exclusively. It your trees in nurse- 

 ry are convenient, say not more than three miles away, 

 and your orchard is not to exceed five or si.x hundred trees, 

 two men can dig the holes for fifty to one hundred and get 

 the irrigating ditches ready in the afternoon. In the morn- 

 ing, during a fog. can go and dig th'- trees, taking u}> all the 

 roots, pack them in a wagon with wet straw about the roots 

 and cover up well, and return home with them, planting 

 directly from the wagon, not allow; ig the roots to get <lr\ . 

 As soon as all are planted the water should be tm-ned on and 

 each tree thoroughly irrigated. If tl.ere is no foggy morning 

 it would be better to get ready in the morning and plant 

 in the afternoons as late as possible. Care should be taken 

 to spread the fibrous roots and to pack the fresh dirt firmly 

 aroimd the trees, leaning them slig'itly towards the trade 

 wind. "We know this plan is better than to 'dobe or puddle 

 the roots, and if all the roots are carefully taken up and 

 properly h.andled in planting, keeping them moist all the 

 time, this plan is better than sacking and less exjjensive. 



Pruning should be attended to before removing from the 

 nursery or immeiliately afterwards. 



As soon as the work of planting is completed a second 

 light irrigation of the entire orchard, followed by thorough 

 cultivation as soon as the ground is dry enough is all that 

 is necessary to insiu-e a success. — Rural Californian. 



IS SOUTH CALIFORNIA THE PLACE FOR A 



POOR man;-* 



To illustrate the point by a practicil example, we mention 

 the name of .\, P. Combs, well known to the citizens of River- 

 side, He came to this valley sevcal years ago without 

 means. He was crippled with rheumatism and could get 

 around with great difficulty. The aiute character of hisdis- 

 ease became better, but he was left crippled for life, and well 

 advanced in years. His family corsisted of himself and 

 vnie. He rented a house and workeil when able for others 

 for wages. Three years ago he purchased a two and a half 

 acre town block that had been parti.-xlly set to orange trees. 

 He commenced improving the sam,; when he had time. 



