86 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



[August i, 1884. 



Ordered farther that a copy of this Resolution, and of 

 the Eeports, be forwarded to the Medical Department 

 of this Government, and also to the Government of 

 Madias, and to the Surgeon-General, Bengal, for inform- 

 ation. 



By order of the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, 



E. N. Baker, 

 Offg. Secretary to the Government of Bengal. 



THE SOAP BARK TREE. 



This tropical tree would probably be a valuable one 

 to cultivators if it would take kindly to our Ceylon soil. 

 We believe that Mr. Nock is already growiog it at 

 the Hakgala Experimental Botanic Gardens and that a 

 few plants might be obtained from him. The Adelaide 

 Observer refers to it as follows : — 



The Soap Bark Tree (Quillaja Sapouaria Mol.), a 

 native of Chili, belonging to the natural order of 

 Rosacea}. Through the kindness of Sir Joseph Hooker 

 I received some seed of this remarkable tree. The bark 

 consists of numerous layers, containing much carbonate 

 of lime and other mineral matters, which renders it so 

 heavy that it sinks in water. It is in common use in 

 Chili instead of soap, and has been introduced into 

 England and recommended as a substitute for soap, 

 especially for washing printed goods, silks, and delicate 

 coloured fabrics. Being a tropical tree, I doubt if it 

 will thrive with us out of doors. I therefore sent the 

 seed to the Government garden at Palmerston, where, 

 no doubt, the tree will thrive better. 



The following is what is said about it in the Treasury 

 of Botany : — 



Quillaja Saponaria, the Quillaia or Cullay of 

 the Chilians, is a tree from 50 to 60 feet high, with 

 smooth shining short-stalked oval leaves ; and usually 

 terminal white flowers, either solitary or from three to 

 five on a stalk, Its bark, called Quillaja or soap-bark, 

 is rough and dark coloured externally, but internally 

 consists of numerous regular whitish or yellowish 

 layers, and contains a large quantity of lime and other 

 mineral matters. It is rich in saponine, a vegetable soap 

 principle found likewise in plants belonging to the 

 cloveworts, soapworts, and a few other orders ; and on 

 this account it is commonly used as a substitute for 

 washing clothes, two ounces of the bark being sufficient 

 to wash a dress. It is also said to remove all spots or 

 stains, and to impart a remarkable lustre to wool : 

 and it is used to wash the hair, for which purpose it is 

 powdered between stones, then rubbed with the hands 

 in water, making a foam like soap. A preparation of 

 it has lately been brought into use in this country 

 for promoting the growth of the hair. 



THE INDIARUBBER-YIELDING CREEPER. 

 Some time ago a Ceylon planter addressed a letter 

 to M. H. Pierre, under the impression that he 

 was still Director of the Botanical Gardens, Saigon, 

 asking for information regarding the caoutchouc- 

 yielding creeper, Parameria glandulijera. The reply, 

 in French, was sent to us for insertion, and, having 

 had it translated, we place it below. We saw a gum- 

 yielding creeper at Henaratgoda, but we do not know 

 whether it was the plant now referred to or the 

 African species which Dr. Kirk took so much pains 

 o introduce. Dr. Trimen will see that he is specially 

 referred to by M. Pierre, and we have no doubt 

 he will respond with such information as is avail- 

 able. It seems now pretty clear, that, if the enter- 

 prize of growing rubber-yielding trees is to succeed 

 in European hands, a species or variety must be 

 cultivated richer in gum than the Ceara plant has 

 yet proved itself to be. The failure of regular culture 



would be a great misfortune, for it would mean the 

 extirpation of most of the trees which yield c.uu- 

 tchouc. 



Leyden, 25th December 188.'). 

 Sir, — As I was travelling, I was unable ere this to 

 reply to your letter of 29th October 18S3, and cannot 

 do so in your language, not being able to handle it 

 sufficiently correctly, to my great regret. 



I retired from the direction of the Botanic Gardens 

 at Saigon many years ago, and could not help you in 

 obtaining the seeds which you wish of Parameria 

 glandulijera. 



However, this plant was many years ago introduced 

 by me into that garden, and, I am glad to think, con- ■ 

 tinues to grow there. It is reproduced very easily 

 from cuttings, audits growth is rapid. 1: is possible 

 that it exists in the botanic Gardens at Peradeuiya 

 (Ceylon), and Mr. Trimen, the learned director of that 

 garden, would be pleased to communicate with you 

 on the subject, and send you plants if he possess them. 

 The Parameria glanduUJ'era is very abundant on 

 the Nilgiris, in the south of the Ceylon peninsula 

 [Jaffna], in the peninsula oi Malacca, in all Malasia, 

 in the Philippines and in IudoChina. 



It is a creeper, the stem of which, when it is 

 mature, is from 9 to 10 centimetres in diameter. 

 Its milky juice is very abundant, and if it is boiled 

 (with the addition of water) at a temperaiure of 30 

 to 40 degrees [centigrade] it collects into a mass of 

 caoutchouc of very fine quality. It is enough, during the 

 boiling, to stir the milky mats with a stick, and the 

 caoutchouc adheres to it. I made this experiment in 

 the mountains of Cam Cbay in Cambodia in 1874. I ako 

 sent to Kew a fragment of caoutchouc which this 

 operation yielded, with a specimen of the plant dried. 

 This is the sum oi my experiments. When I left 

 Saigon in 1877 the plant intioduced was already more 

 than 19 metres high, encircling the stem of a Tectona 

 qrandis (teak). I cannot tell you what its yield 

 per hectare is, not having been ablo to make the 

 necessary experiments. The plant grows equally 

 well on the plains and on the hills. It is very 

 common at a height of 9U0 metres and at sea-level. 

 It is probable that the coagulation of the milky 

 sap could also be brought about, as in the case 

 of certain caoutchoucs of Borneo, also belonging to the 

 family of the Apocynece, by adding either salt or 

 alum to the milky u s, in certain proportions, not 

 difficult to determine, luis plant ought to be cultiv- 

 ated in foreBts at the foot of tiees. I mention 

 this method, although any other mode of culture 

 may be equally advantageous, as, in a forest, one would 

 necessarily economize in the matter of supports, 

 which is a consideration. 



I regret, sir, not to be able to furnish you with 

 more details and to be in some way useful to 

 you. I s. ould have done so most willingly, as it is 

 a matter of congratulation to see the European race 

 turning us efforts to the culture of tropical lands. — 



Accept, &c, H. Pierre. 



♦ — 



THE MANUFACTURE OF TEA. 



A juvenile assistant on a place that I hive the 

 management of, sends me this,paper and asks for machin- 

 ery. I think he bhould have it. Saving in manu- 

 facture and care and watchfulness, combined with 

 skill in turning out a superior article of commerce, 

 should be the aim of the capitalist who hopes to 

 secure the highest returns on his outlay. Mere yield 

 of so many lb. of leaf is of itself but a poor satis- 

 faction to the planter if he does not make a good tea, 

 and at little cost. Tea ranks as a manufactured article 

 as much as cocoatiua or chocolate or even woollen and 

 linen fabrics. It is not strictly a mere tropical 

 piodtict we are dealing with, like coffee or cinchona, 



