8o6 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



^^y 



1884. 



by seeing several cases of these fine aloes also packed in 

 saucers and plates of native make, and in tin plates, bowls, 

 and baking'-dishes of the cheapest Birmingham manufacture, 

 which, I was told, was quite au exception, and may have 

 been caused by the present troubles in the district from 

 whence they came. The usual package — viz., the monkey- 

 slrin— when filled with aloes, is sent from the interior of 

 Northern Central Africa down to the coast, and there 

 packed into second-hand Manchester cases of various sizes. 



The monkey-skins vary in size considerably. Amongst a 

 very fine parcel I noticed a skin which could not have con- 

 tained more than 2 lb. of aloes, in fact, its contents were 

 by far less valuable 'than the littlt; animal would have been, 

 had it been sent aUve to this country ; whilst other skins 

 contained some 30 to 40 lb., or even more. It was sug- 

 gested to me by a gentleman I met at the warehouse, 

 and who was showing me these skins, that it was a pity 

 the natives could not find the means of making boxes ; but 

 in a country where the nail is yet uuknown and the art 

 of joinery a thing of the future, they no doubt do their 

 best to supply the deficiency. 



It has since been my pleasure to meet a gentleman who 

 was for some time in Zanzibar, and the reason he gave for 

 the natives using these skins was that monkeys are very 

 plentitul, easily killed, and of such varying sizes as to suit 

 both large and small collectors of the juice of this import- 

 ant plant. After all, the natives only imitate the Spaniards 

 of a no distant date, who stored their wines in pig-skins 

 after exactly the same fashion. 



This description of aloes most resemble the socotrine ; ' 

 the colour, however, is paler, and the flavour, if anytjiiug, 

 finer. This kind is practicably the only sort adulterated, 

 if I may so use the term, as some of the skins are often 

 filled with leaves, stones, dirt, and many other substances 

 quite foreign to the aloe plaat. 



Cape are packed in large heavy cases, generally lined with 

 sheepskins (which, no doubt, are plentiful in the colony), 

 coAtaiaing about 4 cwt. TVhen of fine quality it is a hard 

 bright, black (brownish tinted), glossy substance, with an 

 offensive odour, and is generally known as the horse aloe. 

 Its value (which, of course, varies according to supply) is 

 about one-third that of the East Indian or Zanzibar. The 

 production of this description is equal to the whole of the 

 other sorts combined. 



Cape (IVatai). — The quantity of this kind collected is very 

 limited, being only a few cases per annum. Like Cape, it 

 possesses no flavour, but becomes a pale liver in colour by 

 keeping, and, in consequence of its colour, realises about 

 half as much again as the ordinary Gape. 



fFest Indian {J^arhados). — Tliis is the most important 

 kind, at least, so far as the Eaghsh consumer is concerned. 

 The quantity produced is large, say two-fifths of the whole, 

 consisting both of fine and inferior qualities, the variation 

 in values, I am told, being considerable, the fine bringing 

 prices almost equivak-nt to East Indian, whilst common 

 sometimes sell at less than Cape. Thev are packed in hoxes 

 of 60 to inOlb., aud in gourds of 10 to 15 1b. each, re- 

 sembling Cape in substance, but in colour varying from a 

 blackish l)rown to a pale mahogany, with an odour which 

 is neither offensive nor aromatic, but quite peculiar to it- 

 self. There is also another distinguishing feature more 

 noticeable in this aloe, viz., that it improves by keeping, 

 and I was shown some boxes the contents of which were 

 of a beautiful bright liver, and very valuable, but which, 

 wlu'u imported some eighteen months previously, were quite 

 a dark brown, aiid worth only about half their present 

 value. I gathered that a regular trade is done by buy- 

 ing certain parcels when imported aud storing them, but, 

 as I am not a connoisseur of this commodity, I prefer to 

 leave such selection to others more capable of judging, 

 and wish them every success in their operations. 



n'est Indiiui (Ctirar.oa). — These are identical with Barb- 

 ados in description and quality, but the latter have al- 

 ways the preference when sold. It has been suggested that 

 the true Habmlos is no longer cultivated, most of the 

 plants having been destroyed, and what is now sold as Barb- 

 ados is in reality the ."^ame plant cultivated in the sister 

 isle of CuraQoa. 



According to some authors, aloes are often found adult- 

 erated with various articles, chiefly resin, but from inform- 

 ation I could gather such adulteration is unknown amongst 

 the merchants who bring these goods to this country. 



The natives of Africa (as I have before mentioned) in 

 filling the monkey-skins are like the cunning Chinese, will- 

 ing to get the price of aloes for a large stone or other 

 refuse conveniently placed in the centre of tlie skin, but, 

 except this trick, I could not learn of any adulteration 

 being practised. 



In concluding my remarks I would mention an aloe of 

 the future which I have not yet been able to see, but of 

 which I am promised a specimen at no distant date, viz., 

 that procurable in Madagascar. The plant flourishes in 

 abundance in this island, and the natives collect it in small 

 quantities sufiBcient for their own consumption, as is noted 

 by several European travellers who have written on the 

 products of this island ; but, as yet, it is not collected in 

 suiflcient quantity to form an article of export, although 

 there is no reason to doubt that in a few years we may 

 draw a considerable supply of this valuable medicine from 

 this great semi-civilised island. — W. "NV. — Chemist and Drwf- 



THE QUININE SITUATION. 



The foUowiug article was contributed to the Philadel- 

 phia Fress by Mr. A. H. Jones, of the fii'm of Powers & 

 Weightman : — 



As the recent fall in the price of sulphate of quinine has 

 caused considerable comment in the newspapers, and as some 

 of the statements made have not been quite clear, j'ou may 

 be disposed to give space to a communication bearing up- 

 on the present condition of the qiunine industry in this 

 country. 



Prices for American sulphate of quinine varied very little 

 during the year 1883, manufacturers' quotations ha\ing been 

 |il.80 imtil January 5th, when the price was made S'l.TO at 

 which it remained steady until May 5th. On May 5th it was 

 reduced to Sl.60 On June 9tli it advanced to Sl.80, at which 

 it continued until the close of the year. 



As will be observed, the highest price was SI. 80 and the 

 lowest 51.60, including vials, the bulk price being 5 cents less. 

 The difference between the two extremes for one year was 

 but 20 cents. 



January 1st, 188'1, the quotation was Sl.SO, at which it 

 remained until January 23rd, when it was made §1.60. A 

 further reduction was made February 4th, to S1.4<.), at 

 which figure it remains at the present writing. 



There is nothing at all extraordinary about the.se alter- 

 ations iu prices, whether applied to this particular article 

 or any other — whether in this country or abroad. 



For example, in the month of January, 1884, Messrs. 

 Howards, of London, quinine manufacturers, dropped their 

 quotations in one ilay from 8 shillings to 6 shillings 6 prnce 

 per ounce, in vials, and referring to fluctuations that have 

 occurred in years past, such variations as the following may 

 serve to illustrate and confirm the statement that there is 

 nothing remarkable in the recent changes in price, s.iy, 

 sulphate of qiriniue. 



In 1857 sold as high as S.2 aud as low as S1.40. 



In 1860 sold as high as ;>1.80 and as low as Sl-20 



In 1862 sold as high as S2.90 and as low as $2.25. 



In 1864 sold as high as 4,3.75 and as low as S2.60. 



In 1865 sold as high as J3.40 and as low as s2.20. 



In 1877 .sold as high as S4.50 and as low as >2.70. 



In 1881 sold as high as >3.25 aud as low as §1.90. 



Altered conditions of supply and demand, variations in 

 cost of crude material, etc., must act upon the price of this 

 article, as upon all others, and in Europe aud the United 

 States alike. 



Eeference to quotations named in Europe for the year 

 above cited will show precisely tlie same fluctuations as 

 marked the condition of the market in this country. For 

 example, Ilowanls', of London, iu May, 1877, 16 shillings 

 pence, while in November, 1881, 8 shillings per ounce in 

 vials. 



Present figures are regarded as low by those faniil|ar with 

 the businc^ss and the average value of the article, and they 

 are so, in fact, but the cost of the crude materials, es])ecittlly 

 that of cinchona bark must be known before determining 

 intelligently at .any time whether sulphate of quinine quot- 

 ations are iiigh or low if reference is had to the cost of pro- 

 duction. 



The removal of the duty from foreign sulphate of (piiuiiie, 

 imported into the UiviSed States, cannot acco\mt for lo« 



