Febeuary 2, 1885.] 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



601 



A FEW PRACTICAL HINTS FOR CEYLON 



CINCHONA GROWERS. 



[Forwarded with the compliments of Messrs. S. Rucker 

 & Oo., Loudon.] 



Since planters had their attention drawn to the requisite 

 preparation of bark for the London market by Mr. T. C. 

 Owen's work, and others, prices have fallen to a point that 

 makes it a matter of considerable importance as to what 

 bark should be harvested at all, and, if harvested, whether 

 it would not be best to accept whatever price is obtainable 

 locally in preference to shipping at a loss; and again, tak- 

 ing into consideration the flood of low-class barks constantly 

 coming forward, it becomes a question whether more 

 money could not be made out of the bark that is shipped, 

 by fallowing certain suggestions contained herein. A fair 

 proportion is shipped in excellent order, especially the re- 

 newed barks, but it is, as a rule, in the commoner parcels 

 that there is scope for a good deal of improvement. If any- 

 thing I may write should be of assistance to planters in 

 enabliug them to secure a better average of prices for their 

 shipments of barks, and help to clear up doubts in their 

 minds as to the most profitable method of placing their 

 bark on the London market, these few pages will not have 

 heen written in vain. Many planters have it in their power 

 to increase the value of their parcels considerably, and 

 many have already discovered that it pays as handsomely 

 to thoroughly prepare all cinchona, intended for the home 

 market, as to thoroughly prepare any other product they 

 may grow. In the very infancy of the enterprize, the pre- 

 paration, through inexperience, was comparatively nil, yet 

 the prices were always satisfactory. Competition was brisk, 

 and the demand for all kinds of Ceylon bark, as soon as 

 its full worth was known, was surprizing. In those days, 

 unfortunately, the supplies were so small that few ouly 

 benefited by the fine prices. Now, however, owing to the 

 enormous increase of supplies, matters are different, and 

 other countries growing cinchona — such as Java, Bolivia, 

 &c, — may shortly run Oeylon into closer competition, 

 necessitating, therefore, care and vigilance. The progress 

 made has certainly astonished everyone; for not only has 

 Ceylon become the chief cultivated bark producing country 

 in the world, as regards quantity, but she is sending into 

 the Loudon markets parcel alter parcel of renewed growths, 

 with analyses scarcely conceived in the days ot the best South 

 American calisayas. Just at present the price has fallen a 

 good deal below what we may expect in the future, owing 

 to various causes as unexpected as they are disheartening; 

 but the position of the article is good, and men will do 

 well to learn all they can to make the utmost of 

 the fortunate prize which has fallen into their bands, 

 and which is steadily tiding many on to renewed pros- 

 perity, especially if, as it seems probable,' the yearly average 

 export of the future is not to be maintained. Men must be 

 prepared to face a little more expense on the estate in 

 curing, in order to send home their bark in first-rate 

 condition throughout. The curing in Colombo cau ouly 

 effect certain objects, but the assortment, the cleanliness, 

 the most profitable method of taking the crop, See., must all 

 be decided and seen to on the estate itself. Again and again 

 planters have suffered disappointment, not ouly from a fall- 

 ing market, but from the poorness of the analysis, and 

 the prices consequent thereon. Many an otherwise valu- 

 able parcel of bark has been spoilt by mixtures of twigs, of 

 stones, of coir, and of lumps of wood, &c, all of which must 

 naturally lower the analysis. Cleaning and sorting should 

 nearly all be done on the estate at the time of harvesting. 

 Frequently have I been asked, why such-and-such a lot sold 

 so badly, and judging from the appearance, and in most 

 cases it is possible to value approximately from the appear- 

 ance, my only answer could be, it sold for what it seemed to 

 be worth. Common grades of bark there must be ; but 

 even those I am convinced, from practical experience, if it 

 pays to ship, it pays to make the most of by carefully 

 eliminating all extraneous matter and twigs, which, if worth 

 harvesting at all, should be sold locally, for they cannot pay 

 their cost in freight and charges at present value, and, if 

 mixed in with fair bark, do far more harm than good. 

 Where the locality is suitable, and the mortality not unus- 

 ually severe, and where proper regard is paid to harvesting 

 and curing throughout, it is possible the cultivation of Cin- 

 76 



chona, combined with other products, is, and will be, mor 

 lucrative than any other in Oeylon ; and for this reason men 

 would do well to plant a certain number of trees every year. 



Quills. — There still seems to he much uncertainty regard- 

 ing the kind of quills require I in the trade, and many have 

 suffered both disappointment and loss by sending home 

 renewed quills, young papery quills, quills from varieties 

 undesirable for the purpose, such as calisaya, pubescens and 

 hybrid, which would only lie bought on analysis. All these 

 should have heen shipped in bales as stem chips. Sly im- 

 pression is that it only pays to harvest as quills, original 

 succirubra, from four-aud-a-half to five years old at the 

 earliest, and then only from trees of stout growth. The 

 quills should be 2 ft. in length, well assorted, and quite even. 

 They should be packed in cases, and care should be taken 

 that no small pieces are inserted to fill up crevices. Good 

 officinalis quills have brought high prices, but I think other 

 ways of harvesting officinalis are more profitable. The tops 

 of the trees, where the bark is naturally weak, scarcely pays 

 to harvest as quills, and should, therefore, be broken up into 

 stem chips. Stout, clean, even, well-assorted 2 ft. natural 

 succirubra quills always command a good price, but they 

 mu't be packed carefully to avoid getting broken. The more 

 silvery the better, and the lichen should in no case be re- 

 moved, as it apparently gives them a traditional value in 

 the eyes of druggists On no account should renewed barks 

 be shipped as quills. 



Calisaya. — With one or two exceptions (notably Stellen- 

 burg and Peumynydd) this bark is by far the most un- 

 profitable kind grown in Ceylon, and could with advantage 

 be replaced by something else. When harvested, it certainly 

 should not be quilled. 



Original Shavings, if not taken from too young trees, 

 seem to realize paying rates. Care should be taken to keep 

 them clean and free from twigs, and parcels should contain 

 not less than 500 lb. 



Renewed Shavings. — I have noticed parcels with this 

 designation that have contained as much natural as renewed 

 bark in them, in addition to twigs and extraneous matter ; 

 the analysis naturally corresponding with the sample. On 

 the whole, however, this class of hark is (better prepared 

 than any other that comes on the market, with the ex- 

 ception of renewed chips. 



Original Chips. — In these parcels I would suggest more 

 assortment, and the winnowing out of inferior stuff , which 

 lowers the analysis and does not really pay to ship. A 

 large shipment of chips would frequently stand a good 

 deal of picking over before leaving the estate. 



Renewed Chips. — In most cases the preparation of these, 

 both of officinalis and succirubra, has heen very good. They 

 have evidently heen more generally adopted than shav- 

 ings in the past year, owing to coppicing I conclude, and 

 prices on the whole, for this class of bark, have been satis- 

 factory. 



Root. — The price for root continually varies. When sup- 

 plies are heavy, root is the first to fall ; if supplies are 

 light, root immediately rises in value. Fine bright succi- 

 rubra root sells readily, and prices for this description are 

 well maintained. The process of cleaning suggested in 

 Mr. T. C Owen's work is not always carried out. viz., 

 " to wash the root in a running stream befnre taking the 

 bark off," or we should not hear of manufacturers giving 

 up buying root on account of the dirt. It must pay to 

 thoroughly clean root bark, and that is a point worthy of 

 attention in view of the falling off in supplies from Ceylon. 



Branch Bark and Mixings.— Both officinals and succi- 

 rubra mixings, if of fair quality and in good order, 

 are most profitable shipments, yet it is in these parcels 

 especially that the valueless twigs and extraneous matter 

 are sooften found. What I describe as " mixings " generally 

 contain some shavings, both renewed and original, some 

 chips, original mostly, and good stout branch, &c. ; elimin- 

 ate from these the twigs and the rubbish, and you have 

 a very useful parcel. The extra expense and attention to 

 these lots would give a nett result considerably higher than 

 that obtained for most of these shipments at present, and 

 would, I think, well repay both 



Twigs. — At present rates it does not pay to ship succi- 

 rubra twi^s. and growers should ouly harvest them for 

 the local market. Officinalis and Iedgeriana twigs could be 

 shipped if it is known they contain a good analysis, but it 

 must be borne in mind that a 1 per cent analysis of twigs 

 is not equal to much more than a \ per cent analysis for 



