4 THE ALUMNI JOURNAL. 



CINCHONA CULTURE. 



Referring to his report on cinchona culture in India, published in 

 Daily Consular and Trade Reports on October lo, Consul General W. 

 H. Michael now sends additional information from the American con- 

 sular agent at Madras : 



The director of the government cinchona plantation in the Madras 

 Presidency informed him "that he has no doubt that cinchona trees 

 might be cultivated on the sides of mountains in the Southern States 

 of America where there is no frost, but as a commercial undertaking 

 the first requisite is cheap labor." Cinchona grown on the Nilgiri 

 range of hills, in the Madras Presidency, is subject to a mean tem- 

 perature of about 60 degrees F. ; but from December to February 

 frosts are prevalent, and the temperature at night falls to about 25 

 degrees F. The day temperature seldom exceeds 75 degrees F. or 

 falls below 55 degrees. 



The director refers interested persons to the following books on the 

 cultivation of cinchona: (i) The Cinchona Planter's Manual, by J. 

 Cowen, Colombo Observer Press (Ceylon) ; (2) The Cinchona Barks, 

 by F. McKiger, J- A. Churchill, London; (3) Handbook of Cinchona 

 Culture, by Van Gorkom-Trabner & Co. ; (4) De Kina Cultuur in 

 Azie, by J- B- Moens de Bussy, Amsterdam; (5) Peruvian Bark, by 

 Clements Markham, John Murray. London. The director suggests 

 that any one desiring to study the chemistry of the cinchona alkaloids 

 mav find the work entitled "Les Alcaloids des Quinquinas," by E. 

 Leger, published in Paris, of much interest and value. 



ANTI-OPIUM REGULATIONS. 



A dispatch from Pekin to the New York Times states that on No- 

 vember 21 eleven stringent Chinese regulations were issued for carry- 

 ing into effect the anti-opium edict. The poppy-culture acreage must 

 decrease one-tenth annually and cease altogether in a decade. All 

 opium smokers must register, and those under 60 must decrease its 

 use 20 per cent, annually. All government officials under 60 must 

 abandon opium within six months or give up office, but may retain 

 their rank. Those who continue its use secretly will be deprived of 

 both rank and office. Shops selling opium are to be closed gradually, 

 and the opium dens closed within six months. Medicines counteract- 

 ing the opium taste are to be furnished the people free, or at cost price. 

 The Foreign Office is commanded to negotiate with the British, 



