JULV I, 1885.] 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



59 



This shows how, iu various parts of Java and iu differ- 

 ent plantations, the percentagi' ti~ the Ledgeriana barlt is 

 very higli. We might hence J.cdiKe that this generation 

 of C. Ledgeriana, reared from seed gained in Java, has 

 not deteriorated, that the percentage may be at least 

 equal, and sometimes superior, to the average percentage 

 of the original C. Ledgeriana of the same age, reared 

 from S. American seed. The first harvest of these, in 

 1S72, when the trees were six years old, had a proportion 

 of 0-2 p. ct. of sulphate of quinine, just as much as the 

 average of the above stated contents, which for the most 

 part relate to hark of four or live years old. As the 

 quantity of Ledgeriana seed, that could be placed at the 

 disposal of private persons, was not abundant, aud the 

 trees of inferior quality flourished first, the consequence 

 was that at first seeds were given from trees of inferior 

 percentage. As the richest barks from S. America con- 

 tained only 3 p. ct. sulphate as ma.vimum, it was thought 

 at the onset very fair if seeds were distributed to the 

 planters from trees with 3-5 and 1 p. ct. of quinine sulph- 

 ate. So from the older gardens of the oldest private 

 cinchona plantations, we often find supplies of Ledgeriana 

 bark not exceeding in contents 3-5 a 38 p. ct. sulphate,— 

 while the richest barks come from the plantations. Those of 

 Soekanegara, rringombo. Karang Jlego, I'agilaran, mostly 

 derive from the year IS"!), when there was .an abundance 

 of .superior Ledgeriana seed from the harvest of 187S, 



The stock of Cinchona bark was, at the end of 188-4. 

 considerably less than at the commencement of that year. 



On the last of December of the years 18"S— 84 there 

 were iu stock, bales: — 



187S 1879 1S80 18.S1 18S2 188.3 1884 



Iu Lon.lou a,090 14,205 28,170 39,200 72,300 100,470 79,31)0 



„ France 1,370 8,400 8,040 15,780 18,230 11.200 



„ North America 17.400 29,000 11,800 12,500 15,000 10,400 6,700 



Total ... 20,490 44,57.1 48,370 ,^9,740 104,080 129,l.i0 90,2liO 

 >So there was diu-ing 1884 a considerable redoction in 

 the stock, with as much as 32,890 bales ; but still it re- 

 mains very considerable. However the stock on bund is 

 not all good bark. It can be taken for granted that 

 among the remaining 96,000 bales, a great part, probably 

 a» much as one-third or one-half, does not average more 

 than 1 p. ct. and often less than that, of sulphate, so 

 that these barks are mostly of very little value, aud 

 even quite worthless for tbe manufacturers. So, for 

 instance, it is stated of North America that among 

 the 5,700 bales in stock as many as 3,100 arfe as good as 

 unfit for use. 



In Amslerdam the stock amounted on the last of Dec- 

 ember, to 2,000 bales, for the greater part Government 

 barks. 



It is a pity that for all countries the returns of sup- 

 plies and stock are not given in weight, as the exjjression 

 bales or chests is so vague as to the quantity. Tbe 

 South American bales are estimated on an average at 

 00 kilos, but the Ceylon bales are nuich heavier ; in lSti3 

 these contained on an average 100 kilograms, and iu 

 18.^4, 112 kilograms each. 

 In London the stock at the end of 1884, consisted of : 

 04,500 bales of Cuprea, Pitayo, Columbia and North 

 Granada barks ; 

 3,346 „ „ Calisaya ; 

 1,010 „ „ Carthagena ; 

 1,175 „ „ Officinalis and Micrantha; 



G5 „ ,, South American Succirubra; 

 5,835 „ „ East Indian bark. 

 The prospects for 1885 seemed rather better at the end 

 of 1884. The barks from S. Amciica will be no longer 

 imported in any quantity, as at the heavy reduction in 

 value, they can no longer make good the costs of har- 

 vesting and transport. 



It is moreover thought, and this opinion is confirmed 

 on many sides, — that during 1S84, by various circumstanc- 

 es, and especially owing to financial position, more was 

 harvested than was necessary or good for the plantations, 

 and that in many places the harvest was a forced one, 

 because the cinchona trees began to die off. 



The opinion has been expressed that the soil of Oeylon, 

 which is not very rich in the mountain districts, and 

 which, in many jilaees, has growu much worse by the 

 manner of cultivation, w-ill not ui the long run be able 

 to produce anually such great cinchona harvests. Dr. 



' Tnmen, the Director of the Botanical Gardens at Pera- 

 demya, says in his report of 1883. that, according to the 

 planters, the young plants aud seedlings die away much 

 more than they did formerly, and he himself ex. 

 perienced this in the Botanical fiardeu at Hakgalla. Vet 

 128 millions of Cinchona trees must have been planted 

 in Ceylon, of which about 22 millions were still alive in 

 1884. How many cf these will lu'uceforth remain alive, 

 cannot be said with any certainty, but it seems only 

 prudent not to found the supposition on these reports 

 that Ceylon will soon be an insignificant factor as a 

 bark-producing country. 



In Bengal aud JIadras the cinchona cultivation seems 

 not to attain much larger proportions. In the western 

 parts of Madras,— Wynaad and Travancore,— a great deal 

 of Cinchona has been planted for .some years too, which 

 can be harvested two or three years hence. 



In 1884 Java brought about 453,700 kilos of bark to 

 the market. Of these about 207,000 kilos were from 

 the Government gardens. The production now increases 

 year by year, but will not for the first years equal 

 that of Oeylon in 1884. 



The London brokers are doing all they can to attract 

 the Java Cinchona bark, which, in general, surpasses all 

 other cinchona barks in quality, to their market, aud 

 boast of the high prices which are obtained at London 

 more than any where else. 



On looking more closely into the matter, it will bo 

 seen that in general quite as good prices are obtaineil 

 at Amsterdam as in London. For the continental factories 

 Amsterdam is better situated than London, and for barks 

 of high quality the English fabricants also come to make 

 their purchases at Amsterdam. 



It is a difHcult thing to make out for certain whether 

 the prices are as high at Amstenlam as in London : only 

 the manufacturers, who examine all the barks, and can 

 thus constantly compare the analy.sis with tbe prices 

 would be able to do this. At first sight, however, it 

 may be thought impossible tliat in the long r\ui any 

 important tlitference can remain in favour of either 

 market; for if really the prices at either place %vere con- 

 stantly lower, this would very certainly attract the 

 buyers, thus causing that great competition by which, 

 acccording to the Loudon brokers, their market deserves 

 the preference. 



It is a fact, that often German manufacturers come to the 

 Cinchona bark sales at Amsterdam with the intention of 

 buying large quantities but who quit the auctiou as owners 

 of only a dozen bales, because they found prices run too high 

 and as they could obtain their supplies cheaper in 

 London. Though orders are often given by English 

 manufacturers for the auctions at Amsterdam yet they 

 are seldom effected, because the limits are mostly too 

 low; whence it may be concluded that in London such 

 purchases can be effected at that lower price. 



As far as is known, the following Java barks were 

 sold iu London during 1884: — 



Sulphate 



Febr. 26th. Ledgeriana A 



B 



O 



D 



Officinalis 



March 25tli. Ledgeriana 



April 9th. 



May 6th. Only bark for 

 pharmaceut. use 

 July 30th. Leilgeriana 

 Oct. 6th. 



Nov. 4th. „ 



Dec. 2nd. Succirubra^ 

 Officinalis renewed 



19 



10 



10 



IS 



5 



1 



5 



21) 

 23 

 17 

 9 

 2 

 3 

 6 



36 

 U 

 11 



PRICE UNIT 



OP p. i kilo in 



QUININE, in cents, cents. 

 6- pOt. 206 .34 = 

 192» 



5 3 



4-9 



3-1 



.■i-8 



31) 



2-5 



6-2 



4-5 



2-5 



5-0 



4-6 



5-84 



2-98 



2-1 

 3-2 

 21 



1595 



110 



137" 



no 



264 



171 



88 

 198 

 149 

 193 



122 



60, 



99 



C'J 



36" 



32"' 



.350 



35 = 



35^ 



44 



42° 



38 



.35' 



39'-' 



,32* 



33 



41 



28 " 



31 



31 



173 



