Janu.'vry I, 1883.] 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



553 



The samples analysed were taken from very youug plants 

 in the oark of which the alkaloids had not attained their 

 full development. But the figures give promise tliat, when 

 mature, the forms uumljcred 1, 2. 3 will be valuable 

 quinine barks. Number 4, on the other hand, is evidently 

 a bark closely allied to succirubra, and, as a source of 

 quinine, is not worth cultivating. Samples of the bark 

 of the remaining two forms have been sent for analysis, 

 but the results have not yet been received. The chemical 

 evidence afforded by the analysis just quoted goes to sup- 

 port the view, which has from the first obtained on the 

 Sikkim plantation, as to these new and unnamed varieties 

 being natural hybrids. They continue, therefore, to appear 

 under this designation in the present report During the 

 past year 91,730 plants of these have been permanently 

 planted out. The number of quinine bark trees on the 

 plantation now amouuts to 858,323 — namely, Calisaya 

 (including LeiUjeriana) 566,695, and hybrids 91,628. I hope 

 during the year now entered on to bring the total number 

 up to one million at least. To the red bark {sncciruhra) 

 plantation no additions were made during the year; on 

 the contrary, 161,250 trees were uprooted for the sake of 

 their bark. The number of red barks on the two plantations 

 of Mungpoo and Sittong now stands at 3,873,285, and 

 these at present appear to be .^sufficient to meet the demand 

 for Cinchona febrifuge. The total number of Cinchona 

 trees of all sorts contained in the plantations is shown 

 in the following table: — 



Total... 3,873,285 566,695 291,628 30,622 

 Grand total of all kinds on both 1 Mungpoo. . . 3,557,372 

 plantations ,•■.-.-- 



) Sittong ... 1^204',S5S 



Total 



4,762,230 



Some years ago the species yielding the Carthagena 

 bark of commerce was introduced from Kew and for some 

 time it seemed to promise well. That promise has liow- 

 ever, been miserably belied, and we have yet only 30 plants 

 of this sort. This Carthagena species suffers dreadfidly 

 from insect blights, and to tliis its bad success hitherto 

 is entirely due. The propagation of this species has not 

 however been discontinued, and I trust Mr. Gammie may 

 before long be able to raise a sufficient stock to enable 

 us to give it a further trial at various elevations in the 

 permanent plantation. 



2. Details of the year's crop. — The total quantity of dry 

 bark of all kinds collected on the plantation during the 

 year is 341,570 pounds. Of this 42,790 pounds were taken 

 from the young plantation of .Sittong, the remainder be- 

 ing yielded by the old plantation. As usual, the Ijulk of 

 the crop is red bark, yellow being represented by only 

 4,935 pounds obtained by thinning the trees at Mungpoo 

 and Labdah. The whole of the crop was made over to 

 the febrifuge factory for disposal. A quantity of yellow 

 bark unfitted for the manufacture of febrifuge was, with 

 the sanction of Government, sent to London for sale in 

 the open market, that being the simplest way of dispos- 

 ing of it. This bark was of rather poor quality. It 

 happened, moreover, to reach London during a depressed 

 state of the bark market. The price realised for it was 

 therefore low, beiug little more than one rupee per pound. 

 The proceeds of a consignment of 4 1,600 pounds of similar 

 bark sent to Loudon during the end of the year 1880-81 

 fall to be accounted for din-ing the year imder review. 

 The amounts thus realised appear, as in previous years, 

 in the Quinologist's report, where the financial aspect of 

 the whole Cinchona enterprise is, as usual, dealt with. 



3. E.rpenditi(re for the i/ear. — The budget estimate anci 

 allotment for the year was R79,0^5, but on this there 

 was a small saving, the expenditure for the year having 

 amounted to only R78,495-l-9. The expenditure divides 

 itself into two parts; one being chargeable to capital, the 

 other to working expenses. The capital charges are those 

 incurred on the young Sittong plantatiou which has not 

 yet come into bearing, and of which the accounts are kept 

 distinct. The working charges include all the money spent 



on the upkeep and extension of the old plantation and 

 the harvesting of the bark crop. They also include the 

 expenditure on the bark sent to England for sale. Ihe 

 actual figures are as follows: — 



E. A. p. K. 

 Total expenditure for the 



year lSSl-82 



Capital expenditure. 

 Expenditure on Sittong 



plantation 7,661 4 6 



Proportion of European, 

 native, and office 



e.stabUshment 2,G16 Oil 



10,277 



V. K. A. p. 



78,495 1 9 



5 5 



Wurkiiiy expenses. 



Upkeep and working of 

 liungbee, Rishap, and 

 Mungpoo 39,528 3 2 



Proportion of Europeau, 

 native and office estab- 

 lishment 13,497 7 9 



Expenses on bark sent , 



to London for sale ... 11,325 



Proportion of European, 

 native, and office 

 estiiblislunent ... 3,867 



53,0-'5 10 11 







1 5 



15,192 1 5 



78,495 1 9 



Against the worki-ig e.^jpenses there has to be set the 

 bark crop, the whole of which was made over to the 

 factory and is accounted for in the Quinologist's report. 

 The bark yielded by the old plantatiou during the past 

 year cost as near as may be aunas 2 pies 10-075 per pound. 

 For convenience of account, the bark yielded by the Sittong 

 plantation (42.790 pounds) was made over to the factory 

 at the same rate; the value of it has. however, been 

 credited in the Sittong accounts. Another year should 

 I think, see the Sittong plantation self-supporting. 



4. Distrihution ofj'laiits and seeds. — A very large demand 

 exists for the seed of Cinchona Ledyeriana, and after 

 supplying the wants of the plantation' itself, the whole of 

 the surplus crop of seed of this species was distributed 

 gratuitously amongst the various applicants whose names 

 were entered in our register. The quantity given to each 

 recipient was uecessaiily very small, the yield of seed last 

 year having been a poor one. The success of the neighbour- 

 ing Cinchona plantation of the Poomong Company has 

 created a considerable demand in the Darjeeling di.strict 

 for young plants of Ciuchona, and the sum of Rl, 746-6-5, 

 realised by the sale of seedlings, was paid into the 

 Darjeeling treasury during the year. 



5. Land rent, — The Rents raised from settlers within 

 the Cinchouji reserve amounted duringthe year to Kl, 685-8. 

 This ium was paid into the Darjeeling trearury as land 

 rent, and does not appear amongst the plantation receipts. 



6. Estimated crop of 188i'-83. — During the current year 

 I propose, as heretofore, to allow the demand for febrifuge 

 to regulate the amount of bark that is to be harvested. 

 Probably from 300,000 to 350,000 pounds will be wantedj 

 and that amount can easily be supplied. 



7. Mr. Moens' method of removing the bark crop by 

 shaving is still under trial. The trees thus operated on 

 appear healthy enough, but the renewed bark is still hardly 

 fit for analysis; I hope, hotvever, it may soon be so. The 

 Dutch method of grafting Lediieriaiui on siiccirubra stocks 

 has not hitherto answered well on the plantation. Mr. 

 Gammie is strongly of opinion that, for Sikkim, propagation 

 by seedlings is more to he relied on; and it certainly is 

 cheaper. As Ledgeriana seed is now obtainable of "fair 

 quality, it seems on the whole advisable to adhere to 

 propagation by seed. 



8. In my .la.st report I inadvertently omitted to refer 

 to the visit paid to the plantatiou during December 1880 

 by Mr. Moens. the distinguished Director of Cinchona Culti- 

 vation to the Dutch Government. BIr. Moens stayed some 

 days at Muugijoo and went over a large part of the culti- 

 vation. It was a great advantage to be able to discuss 

 with Mr. Moens many pdints regarding both the plantation 



