924 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [May i, 1883. 



How great a demand for a febrifuge drug exists in the East may be gathered from the 

 subjoined extract from a report on the trade of Kanagawa, Japan, by Consul Enslie : — 



"That the consumptiou of quinine is not so large as might be expected is due to the fact that the 

 bulk of the population iu Japan is too poor to pay for such an expensive drug, and the cheaper cinchona 

 alkaloids are sold in phice of it. English-made quinine does not appear in this market; that principally 

 imported is prepared in Milan. Then comes German, and after that Pelletier's muriate of cinchonine, which 

 is imported in large quantities. 



"The Japanese prefer goods of English preparation, and if manufacturers comply with the require- 

 ments of this market it will doubtless prove to be an important outlet for their goods ; it should, however, be 

 borne in mind that they have powerful competitors in German merchnnts, who, in addition to their well- 

 known scientific attainments iu the manufacture of chemicals, are now turning out articles of quite as good 

 a quality as those coming from England, and in many cases at very much lower prices." 



There is also, of course, a large local consutuption in this Colony, and I cannot but think 

 that a local manufacture of mixed cinchona-alkaloids under efficient management might prove 

 our true policy in regard to the general outlook of the cinchona industry; but the success of the 

 enterprise depends upon a number of cotnmercial considerations of which I am unable to judge 

 the value. 



The practice, invented by Mr. Moens, of shaving off the rich outer portions of the bark down 

 to a plane as near the cambium zone as possible without reaching it has become very general. It 

 is found to be simple and easily learnt, expeditious, cheap, and very convenient for drying, pack- 

 ing, and baling for shipment. As a consequence, it has nearly superseded other modes of harvesting, 

 and it has been remarked that there will soon be little but renewed bark sent from Ceylon. The 

 practice is applied to all the kinds grown, and as a rule the trees do not appear to suffer much, if 

 the operation be carefully performed. New bark is rapidly formed, and the amount of quinine la 

 much increased in the renewed tissues. The scraped surface is usually covered, the common mana 

 grass {Andropogon Martini, Thw. \ readily obtained and durable, being commonly used for the pur- 

 pose ; renewal, however, occurs without any covering, except iu very dry weather. It is regrettable 

 to see such very youug trees (saplings of eighteen months even, scarcely three-quarter inch in 

 diameter) subjected to this process, with the accompanying pruning off of all side branches, and the 

 short intervals allowed between successive shavings. Tliere is a present small gain in such pro- 

 cedure, but it is doubtless wasteful in the long run. I have noticed many young trees succumb to 

 the treatment, and in any case it must greatly check their growth, impair their vigour, and shorten 

 their life. Experiments, however, are greatly needed to determine several points iu connection 

 with this subject, especially as to the ratio of the increase of alkaloids in renewed bark to the age 

 of the tree, the best period to allow to pass between successive shavings, &c. It is much to be de- 

 sired that gentlemen who have the opportunities would carefully conduct such investigations upon 

 their estates, and it would be in such cases that, iu my opinion, the assistance of Government in 

 obtaining the necessary analyses, for the general good, might be fairly asked for. 



The bark taken from a few old trees of C. sunclrubra at Hakgala (see p. 4) was sold in 

 Colombo in December. The trees were in all jtrobability some of those raised from Spruce's 

 original seed received in 1861, the young plants from which were planted out in 1863 in the wild 

 jungle, in accordance with the views then accepted as to their requirements. Though the oldest, 

 these were not the largest in the Island. One stem girthed 37 inches near the ground, and 24 

 inches at 5 feet above it ; its roots were badly cankered. This tree gave 77 lbs. of wet bark (25 

 lbs. when dry), and most of this was fine quill. The handsome trunk bark of theSe trees was locally 

 analysed (by Mr Cochrane, of Colombo) for sale purposes, and yielded 5-62 per cent, total alka- 

 loids, 2-41 per cent, being quinine sulphate. No fuller analysis was made, and this fine bark was 

 apparently sold on its quinine value oidy.* ^^^^^^_^^^ 



* I am able, liy the kindness of Mr. J. K. Howard, who at my request has been so obliging as te analys* K 

 s«mpl« of the bai-k of the large tree above mentioned, to supply its fidl alkaloidal composition. 



Quinine ... 2 06 ( = Quin. Sulphate 2-75) 



Cinchouidine ... 3'47 



Cinchonine ... 0'61 



Quinidine ... Trace 



Amorphous ... 066 



Total alkaloids ... 6^ 



'lliis analysis of Messrs. Howard dilfers, it will be observed, considerably from that given above of » sample of 

 the wIkiIo pm-cel, showing 0'34 per cent, more of quinine sulphate, and no lest than 1'18 per cent, more ef total 

 alkahilds than were found by the local chemist, [Note addecl.l 



