March i, 1883.] 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



739 



INDIAN CINCHONA SOILS. 



Mr. John Hughea, r.c.s., of 79 Mark Lane, the agri- 

 cultural analyst, wlio has had some experience in Cey- 

 lon, writes a,» follows to the Field : — 



'■ At the present time, when the suoces-iful growth of 

 cinchona, rich in the valuable alkaloide, is of so much im- 

 portance to a large number of Indian and Ceylon plan- 

 ters, it may be useful to direct attention to the chemical 

 composition of the soil of some of those plantations 

 which so far have given satisfactory results, an<l to 

 endeavour by the aid of cari ful analyses to plac<' on 

 record some practical information for the future 

 guidance of those who may contemplate opening por- 

 tions of their estates with cinchona. .So far us I am 

 aware, we have very little inform. ition availal'Ie res- 

 pecting the chemical compositions of soils represent- 

 ing first rate plantations'. Full details are given of 

 the elevation, aspect, temperature and rainfall, but 

 hardly anything definite .about the coil, e.xoept general 

 remarks as to its colour and physical propertieis, prriiapj 

 a reference to the geological formation prevalent in the 

 district. 



" Again, a great number of most elaborate analyses 

 of the bark of different species or varieties of cin- 

 chona have been made, in order to ascertain which 



FIBRE CULTIVATION IN RKUNION. 



In connection with the articles on aloe and other fibres 

 in Mauritius, that appeared in our columns on September 

 lUth, p. 349, and November 1st, p 433 respectively, the 

 following notes no the fibre industry in Reunion, from the 

 British Consul's report, will be of interest. He refers 

 to the extraction of the fibres as a new industry that 

 has quite lati-ly sprung into existence in the colony, 

 the first impulse to which was given by British firms, 

 or individuals from the neighbouring island of Mauri- 

 tius. Four species are describi'd as growing in Reunion, 

 name y, Agare Amckana, A. anyustij'olia, Fourcroya 

 iji'/aiitea, and F. foslida. The two last kinds have only 

 hitherto been used for the production of fibre, but it 

 is known that a much finer fibre, although of shorter 

 length, and conseiiunntly of less marketable value, can 

 be obtained from the Agar- angvstijolia. 



The species of Fourcroya are believed to have been 

 introduced into R(5union from Brazil about the middle of 

 last century. The production of this fibre promises 

 to have important results in the island, judging from 

 the rapid development of this enterprise in Maurtius. 

 At present the fibre plantations and mills are wholly 

 in the hands of Mauritius British subjects, but the 

 Credit Foncier of Reunion and sever.il Creoles of the 

 colony are beginning to devote th'>ir attention to this 

 profitable undertaking which they have so long neglected 

 to turn to account, and they are even now only stimu- 

 lated to this new source of commerce by the example 

 set them by British enterprise. 



It is certainly remarkable that the inhabitants of 

 Reunion d'l not take advantage of I his industry, which 

 can be carried on with so little outlay. The number 

 of mills actually at work in .July last was only two 

 (but others were in course of construction), capable of 

 producing about a ton and a half of fibre p'r day, 

 worth in London, for fair average quality, about .£3S per 

 ton, or uet, about £30 per ton. Manila hemp is worth 

 about £10 above this value per ton. The cust of the 

 production of the aloe fibi-e in Reunion is understood 

 to be about £20 per ton. Aloe leaves are brought to 

 the mills from neighbouring estates in exchange for 

 the pulp produced after the fibre has been extracted, 

 and which makes e-xoelli^nt m;inure. 



Three thousand acres of land have already been leased 

 to Mauritius firms for the cultivation of this plant, 

 and more lind, which is too poor or unsuitable for 

 sugar plantations, will, no doubt, bo taken up for the 

 same purpose. — Planters' Gazelle. 



particular species gives the largest amount of valu- 

 able alkaloids, and is therefore best adapted to the 

 particular locality. 



"But unless some information be given as to the 

 nature of the soil, aud its richness in the important 

 elements of plant food, the above analyses of the 

 bark are deprived of their special viilue for general 

 reference, and for the guidance of planters who may 

 contemplate opening up land in other districts. Be- 

 sides, to wait some years, in order to ascertain 

 whether your land is or is rot suitable, is a long 

 and very expensive method. 



"It would have been au immense advantage, and 

 would have suved much time, trouble, expense and 

 frequent disappointment, if we could have had a 

 few exhaustive analyses of the mountain soils of 

 South Americ*, where the several kinds of cinchona 

 flourish in the greatest perfection. 



"However, as such analyses are not yet available, 

 I have ventured to think that those of some of the 

 Indian plantations or. the Nilgris, where Peruvian bark 

 has found so congenial a home, would be interesting 

 and afford practical information on this subject. 



" Through the kindness of Mr. W. R. Robertson, 

 of Sydapet, whose name is so well known in conneation 

 with the improvement of Indian agriculture, I have 

 been able to obtain eight samples of soil from the 

 Government cinchona plantations of N 'ddivattam and 

 Dodabetta. The samples were carefully taken last 

 March during dry we;ither, in accordance with the 

 usual printfid instructions, aud about 5 lb. were placed 

 in tin cases, and f..r\varded through the Conservator 

 of Forests at NeJdivattam. 



" Unfortijnately no particulars have been sent re- 

 specting the aspect, elevation, average rainfall, and 

 temperature of these experiment il plots ; but Markham, 

 in his recent excellent work on the introduction of 

 cinchona cultiviition into British India, states that 

 the Dodabetta raviue slopes down from 8,000 to 7,000 

 feet above sea level. The general aspect is north-west 

 and the mean temperature in the shade is 60° F. , and 

 maximum 70°. In most parts the soil consists of a rich 

 surf ice mould two feet deep. The substratum is gneiss 

 with decomposed felspar and hornblende. 



"The same author, referring to the site of Neddivattam 

 plantation, tells us that the temperature is 8° or 10° warm- 

 er than that of Ootacamuud, the mean temperature in 

 the shade being 60°, maximum 80°, and the minimum 54". 

 The average rainfall is 105 inches, but all falluig in 

 125 days, between May and November, though occa- 

 sional moisture is received between October aud De- 

 cember from the north-east monsoon. During the 

 remaining months it is visited by dews in the nights 

 until the south-west monsoon commences in May. This 

 dis riot is therefore liable to suB'er from long drought 

 in certain years. The mountiin slopes upon which the 

 plantation have been formed are at au elevaiion of 

 betweAi 5,000 and 6,000 feet above the level of the 

 sea. 



" The following information respecting the species of 

 cinchona now growing on the land representing the 

 eight samples of soil, together with the previous history 

 of the experimental plots, has been furnished me by the 

 assistant agricultural superintendent at Neddivattam. 



"'No. 1. Sample of soil from plot No. 29 of the 

 Neddivattam Government cinchona plantations; form- 

 erly grasi land, now covered with condamineas, which 

 are growing exceedingly well. 



" "No. 2 Soil from plot No. 23, Neddivattam, &c. : 

 formerly lorest land, now growing succirubras, which 

 are doing well. 



"'No. 3. Soil from plot No. 1, Neddivattam, &c. ; 

 formerly forest laud, now planted with succirubras, 

 which are growing very well. 



" ' No. 4. Soil from plot No. 21, Neddivattam, &c. ; 

 formerly grass land, now planted with auccirubras and 



