8i8 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



[April z, 1883.. 



because C. calisaya lias leaves with the broadest part 

 below the middle, and C. micrantha has leaves with 

 the broadest part above the middle ; C. officinalis, 

 which also originated spontaneously in Muugpn, shows 

 intermediate flowers and fruits with little variability, 

 but C. ledgeriana possesses the flowers of C. micrantha 

 and the fruits of C. calisaya and shows great vari- 

 ability. T>r. Trimcn confirms the great affinity of C. 

 officiiialis and C. ledgeriana by writing that it is in- 

 deed not always easy to distinguish C. officinalis from 

 C. ledgeriana. 



If we consider that (1) C. ledgeriana after its 

 doubtless origin as a high shrub in the calisaya held 

 ofMungpo must be a hybrid, (2)0. ledgeriana is a very 

 rare plant of the American cinchona region, _ (3) C. 

 ledgeriana shows only small fertility with its own 

 pollen, (4) C. ledgeriana shows the best character of 

 hybrids in preferring strange pollen to its own, as its 

 typical degeneration proves, (5) V. ledgeriana shows 

 only the specific qualities of C. calisaya and C. 

 micrantha— we must conclude that C. ledgeriana is 

 neither a variety of C. calisaya nor a, distinct 

 species, but a hybrid of C. calisaya with C. micrantha._ 



I gave two theses on the (quantity of quinine in 

 the bark relating to the hybridity :— 



(l)_Ouly for the regular hybrids : the quantity of 

 quiidne increases by hybridity. For instance, the bark 

 containing quinine averagesU :— 



I. C. Howardiana (Succirubra p. p.), 0-98 per cent. 



li. C.Pahudiana Howard, 15 per cent. 



III. C. Pavoniana (micrantha p. p.), 0-01 percent. 



IV.' C. Weddelliana (Calisaya p. p.), 084 per cent. 



IxII. (C. pubescens Vahl. Cordifolia Mutis, pur- 

 purea R. and. P., Coloptera Miq), 0-72 per cent. 



IxIII. (C. heterophylla Pavon), no analysis existing. 



IxIV.' (C. laucifolia Mutis), 1-20 per cent. 



IIxIII. (C. ovata Wedd.), no analysis existing. 



IIxIV. (C. Humboldtiana Lambert, (J. Hasskarliana 

 miq.), 0-70 per cent. 



IIIxIV. (0. officinalis Hooker), 2 '58 per cent. 



(2)— Only for irregular hybrids (till now only C. 

 ledgeriana): with the greater irregularity, i.e., the 

 more the several marks of the parents are separate in 

 the hybrid) increases the quantity of quinine. That 

 is proved by my choice of the best sorts according 

 to the botanical qnalitics of the many forms of C. 

 ledgeriana in Mungpo, and confirmed by the analysis 

 of their barks. 



On the origin of the irregular hybrid I gave 

 the following hypothesis, which must yet be 

 confirmed by experiment: the pollen of a newly 

 sprung hybrid fertilized the ovary of a species. 

 As the regular cinchona hybrids of older origin seem 

 to act like species, it would be better to prefer 

 new or young hybrids. I recommended the fertdiza- 

 tion with pollen of long-styled hybrid flowers 

 on the stigma of long-styled parent (species) flowers, 

 or with the pollen of short-styled hybrid flowers on the 

 stigma of short-styled parent flowers, because the cross- 

 in" of equal hetero-styled flowers aets like a hybridiza- 

 tion and therefore the effects of hybridization must be 

 increased. This is only a scientific hypothesis, but 

 the experiment causes no extraordinary expenses to 

 cinchona planters and it is easy to execute : as the 

 stamens are inserted in the corolla tube it is only 

 necessary to put away before the corolla is opened (or 

 the pollen ia not yet developed) the deciduous corolla 

 from the flower whose stigma shall be fertilized, further 

 to take the opened corolla with mature pollen of the 

 hybrid and to put it over the isolated style of tlie 

 other plant. The experiment promises great success 

 by increased quantity of quinine, so that it may be 

 recommended to all cinchona cultivators. 



^ rharmazeutische Zeituug (Bunzlau), 1879, No. 93; 

 Beilage No. 21. 



Influence of Lime on the Germination of Seeds. — 

 Some interesting result.s of, experiments by Dr. Liebeuberg 

 as to the influence of lime on the germination of seeds, 

 have recently been published in the Journal of the I 'ieiiiut 

 Academy of Sciences. It appears that the seeds of many 

 plants require the presence of lime in the soil duriny the 

 germinating process, or the seedlings die from want of it. 

 It is likewise shown that many other plants do not fail to 

 germinate freely and well without the presence of lime in 

 the soil. Dr. Liebenberg also points out that plants which 

 fail grow through the absence of lime in the soil do not fail 

 in consequence of the injurious effects of any other matters 

 that may be present, but because lime is essential to their 

 healtliy growth.— ^r</?(s. 



JtuiiiiEK IN India. — We hear favorable accounts of the 

 rubber trees sent to Nelanibur and growing under the 

 care and attention of Mr. Fergussou of the Forest Depart- 

 ment. The 0:Bra is the only variety that has attained any 

 size. The trees are eighteen months old, and are freely 

 flowering at present. There ought consequently to be a 

 supply of seeds for distribution or propagation. The seed 

 is large, and the .shell is so hard as to make self-germ- 

 ination uncertain and protracted. With care, this might 

 be effected in a year, but to expedite this important opera- 

 tion of nature, the bean should be rasped until the kennel 

 is very nearly reached. "When this is done, the seed will 

 germinate in about three weeks. — Sovtii of Jmlia Ohsei-ticr. 



Increase of Fruit Faeminx.. — That fruit-farming is ex- 

 tending in this country is good news for all sorts and con- 

 ditions of men. Particularly cheering i.s^t for the farmer and 

 the fruit consumer. The one has a new source of income 

 placed within his reach, and the other is charmed by the 

 prospect of cheaper fruit. The growing of fruit is ex- 

 tending very rapidly in Kent, the increased acreage under 

 fruit in that county beiug, no doubt, due to the prox- 

 imity of a ccrtam remunerative market in the metropolis. 

 There are now some 18,000 acres of fruit-bearing land in 

 Kent— a truly remarkable icrease upon the 12,000 acres thus 

 cultivated in 1875. The increase in the fruit acreage has 

 been mainly in very recent years. In the five years between 

 187,5 and 1880 the increase was only 2,645 acres ; between 1880 

 and 1881 it was over 2,000 acres ; and between then and 1882 

 it further increased by more than a 1,000 acres. — Land. 



The Number of Stock in Great Britain has of late 

 years decreased to an alarming extent, and values have 

 consequently advauced to an unprecedented figirre. Imports 

 from America mitigated for a tune the scarcity, but the 

 United States, from which supplies were chiefly derived 

 can no longer bear the drain. Her own teeming and 

 rapidly increa.sing population will consume all she can raise 

 for years to come. Thrown, therefore, to a great extent 

 on her own resources, this country must face the question 

 boldly. According to MoorhuU's Balance Sheet of the 

 World, the annual consumption of animal food in Europe 

 is 853,000 tons more than the production. England alone 

 con-sumes 1,800,000 tons yearly, and yet she produces only 

 1,205.000 tons. This deficiency of 595,000 tons must be sup- 

 plied at home. The inference is, more attention must be di- 

 rected to stock-raising, and that too without delay.— Kowiu-s 

 ij- Co.'s Ciirnhii: 



Japan Black Tea. — Mr, Consul Enslie writes from 

 Kanagawa (Japan) as follows concerning black tea :— 

 This has, on the whole, proved a failm-e, although the 

 production continues on a Umited scale. The climate and 

 soil of this country appear unfitted to the growth of 

 plants producing a leaf of the quality necessary to make 

 good black. Teas resembling good leaf congous can be 

 made with good and even houd.some leaf, several samp- 

 les being in apperaance very similar to Indian teas of 

 pekoe class, but lacking strength, and not being nearly 

 equal to good Chinese Fooehow teas in that re.spect. A 

 small amount of these teas has been shipped to Germany 

 on native account, a German financier providing the 

 necessary funds ; but thus far the outcome of these ship- 

 ments has not transpiied. The results generally of 1881 

 have not proved as satisfactory as those of the preceding 

 year ; the whole crop, and more particularly the fii-st 

 picking, shows signs of hasty and careless preparation. 

 The amount of tea exported from Japan was decidedly 

 in excess of the requirements of the United States and 

 Canada, and a considerable portion of the .shipments for 

 the year had to be sacrificed at prices which did not 

 cover laying down cost. — Indian Tea Gazette. 



