926 THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. [May i, 1883. 



fugal alkaloids exclusively produced by the latter.* The analyses of the better sorts of Cuprea 

 bark average 1-8 to 1*9 of quinine sulphate, rarely reaching 2 per cent. ; but some varieties are 

 almost worthless. Manufacturers, hovfever, prefer it in consequence of its freedom from cinchonine 

 and the readiness with which it pulverizes. There are many varieties, and some grow at a much 

 lower elevation than that above given ; it is thought such may do in low coast districts. 



Tea. — The past year has witnessed a very striking rise in the export of tea, — no less than 

 345,702 lbs. more in the year ending September, 1882, than in the previous one, the whole quan- 

 tity shipped being 623,292 lbs. Tea estates have been opened at all elevations, from near sea level 

 up to the highest available land in the wet districts, and many old coffee estates, not suited for 

 cinchona, are now cropped with tea. This article has thus stepped into the second place, and with 

 cinchona has gone a considerable way towards compensating for the serious diminution in coffee. t 



In connection with tea, I may mention that an excellent wood for boxes is that of Cedrela 

 Too7ia, a large tree with a wide geographical range in Tropical Asia, but not native to Ceylon. The 

 few trees in the gardens give an abundance of seed, and it has the advantage of growing very 

 quickly. Thus seedlings at six mouths measure 10 feet high, and in trees seven years old the cir- 

 cumference of the stem one foot above the ground is 4 feet 10 inches. The wood is light, strong, 

 clean, non-resinous, and not attacked by insects. 



Cacao. — There is every prospect that this article will play an important part in the future 

 of Ceylon cultures. The year ending with September, 1882, saw 1,018 cwts. exported, against 479 

 cwts. in the previous one; and what is more satisfactory is that the prices secured show that our 

 product is of the best quality and esteemed in the market. In the lower hill districts are many 

 old and more or less abandoned coffee estates, and on not a few of these cacoa is being successfully 

 grown, if only due care be taken in first planting, and protection from wind afforded during the 

 first two years . 



Several enquiries have been made of me as to the variety to which this old Ceylon cacao — 

 which has now shown itself of so good a quality — ought to be referred. Its origin in Ceylon is 

 quite obscure ; it was in cultivation in Moon's time (1824), and has probably been continuously 

 grown in the botanic gardens since that date. The cacao of the Dumbara Valley estates (which 

 is that chiefly exported hitherto) appears identical with the old unteuded and semi-wild trees in 

 P^radeniya. This I have been accustomed to refer to the class of cacao called " Forastero" in the 

 West Indies, and probably it may be the variety called " Red Condeamar," which is one of the best 

 sorts. Its fruit is always dark red, and the section of the ovoid scarcely compressed seeds (like 

 large almonds) is yellowish-white, becoming darker on exposure. 



In recent years several other kinds, with paler pink or yellow fruit, have been imported into 

 Ceylon. Of these, some were introduced in 1873 by Mr. Worms, and others by Captain Bayley, the 

 Ceylon Company, &c. Some were obtained direct from Caracas, and consequently the plants have 

 been generally known as " Caracas" in the Colony. Several varieties of this sort are in the 

 Henaratgoda Gardens ; the pods vary in colour, pale glaucous green passing into yellow or orange, 

 pale pink or pale crimson, and the seed is always flattish, and paler or darker purple in section. 

 It is clear that the true " Caracas" — also known as " Criollo" — (creole) cacao is a different variety 

 from these, as it is stated to have the pods almost invariably red and the seeds nearly globular and 

 pale crimso7i on section. I am thus inclined to refer our pale-fruited kinds to the varieties called 

 in Trinidad. "Verdili9o" and "Cayenne," the former with the long-pointed worted dark yellow 

 or orange fruits, and the latter with the pods smoother and blunter. But these determinations 

 are little more than reasonable guesses. 



Comparison will, however, soon enable us to check and correct them, as examples of these last 

 and other sorts were received from Trinidad two years ago. — (See previous reports). Among them 

 are also some true Criollo, the fruiting of which I shall watch with interest : so far as I can judge, 

 with the exception of these, there is no true Caracas cacao in this Colony. 



A further gratis distribution of seed has been made to native cultivators. 



India-rubber.— In continuation of my previous reports on the South American rubber-trees, 

 I have now to record a considerable step in advance. Samples collected from each of the three 

 species have been submitted to the best commercial authority in London, and the reports received 



* This consideration should encourage search among allied plants, even in the Old World j but only analysis 

 can decide as to real value. Mr. Low, of Perak, has recently sent me leaves of a tree thought by some there to be a 

 " wild cinchona"; it appears to be a species of Wendlaiulia, but I have heard nothing of its properties, 



f The fine unpruned trees of "Assam Hybrid" in Periideuiya are now 16 years old (having been obtained 

 from India in 1867) ; they yield a fair quantity of seed, which is, however, now rarely applied for. 



