218 CINCHONA CULTIVATION IN JAMAICA. 



tive result of this close plantino; is the securing of rapid returns ; a few 

 years sufficing to cover the intervening spaces. Each alternate tree is 

 then cut down and the bark sent to market. The operation of cutting 

 down makes room for the spread of the surviving trees, which in a few 

 more years again approach and impede each other, and in like manner 

 have to be thinned as before. This extremely thick planting of trees is 

 objectionable, inasmuch as the trees possess a spreading habit. For ex- 

 ample, those planted at 5 feet or at ? feet apart occupy the interspaces 

 in three or four years. At this state of growth the plant would hardly, I 

 conceive, be worth stripping, as tlie yield per plant, probably, could not 

 exceed one pound of dried bark (value, say 2s.). Whereas trees six or 

 seven years old, under favourable circumstances, must each yield five 

 or six pounds of dry bark. On the other hand, however, this system 

 of thick planting has its advantages. The close planting costs but 

 little additional, and the plants are readily propagated. When found 

 too close, they are easily cut down to allow for the expansion of the 

 remaining trees. When thus planted close they keep down the weeds, 

 and hence their culture expenses are lessened. 



The entire area of ground planted with chinchonas is nearly ninety 

 acres. The severe rainy weather of the ])ast year prevented the enlarge- 

 ment of this area by at least 20 acres, for which plants were in readiness. 

 Including these 20 acres, about 80 acres of the forest Avere felled and 

 partly cleared for the extension of the plantations. This land will be 

 completely ]n'epared for the reception of the plants in a few months. 



In May I hope to have 40 acres planted — about 1000 plants per acre, 

 with C. succiriibra ; and near the end of the year the other 40 acres, 

 together with 50 additional acres proposed to be cleared, planted with 

 C. Calisaya, the two most precious species. The number of plants per- 

 manently planted out is 60,000 ; the numi)er of seedlings in pots 40,000, 

 and of seedlings in nursery beds 10,000 — total, 110,000. I had intended 

 that the plants required for the extension of the plantations, to the extent 

 of 130 acres, above alluded to as under preparation for being planted out 

 in the year 1871, would be propagated chiefly from cuttings. But most 

 fortunately two fine trees, at Cold Spring, of C. snccirubrn, one of which 

 is a magnificent tree nine years old and 30 feet high, yielded seeds for 

 the first time in Jamaica, from which, through the generosity of Mr. John 

 M'Lean, I procured, in the beginning of September, nearly 50,000 ex- 

 cellent seeds; the result being now 40,000 healthy seedlings. Better 

 plants are produced by seeds than from cuttings. Several young trees in 

 the Government ])lantations have a good crop of seeds ripening, and 

 others are coming into flower. The number of seeds likely to be obtained 

 from these young trees in a few months can hardly be under 100,000. 

 Thus the 50,000 seedlings in course of treatment, and those now ripening 

 on the trees, will suffice to plant all the land proposed to be prepared to 

 the end of 1871, making a total of 320 acres containing about 200,000 

 plants. 



I expect shortly to submit samples of chinchona bark, of the different 

 kinds, to the island chemist for analysis, in order to ascertain the per- 

 centage of alkaloid, more accurately performed when the bark is in a fresh 

 state. It has been discovered that the sun's rays, falling on the bark 

 while in a green state, is prejudicial to alkaloids. 



