CASSIA. 205 
larger boats which carry produce down the river. About six 
miles south-west of the small town of To Shing, which is situated 
on the southern bank of the river, about 25 miles above the con- 
fluence of the Loting and West rivers, there are some plantations, 
from which, however, no bark has been obtaimed for two years, 
and no new plantations made for ten, because the low prices 
which can now be obtained for the bark do not leave any profit 
to the producers. ‘This was the only instance which came to my 
knowledge of the decrease of the trade in the Cassia-production, 
although it is said that the Java Cassia trade, in consequence of 
the lower prices at which the Cassia can be produced, is cutting 
out and crippling the China trade.” 
From each of the districts of Taiwu, Lukpo, and Loting 
Mr. Ford obtained and sent to Kew copious and excellent speci- 
mens, which were examined by Professor Oliver and all found to 
belong to the same species, which was undoubtedly the Cinna- 
momum Cassia, Blume. Mr. Thiselton Dyer adds that Mr. Ford 
in his Report further states that “ this is the only tree from which 
Cassia-bark, ‘ buds,’ or leaves of commerce in China (so far as 
he could ascertain from personal inspection and reports) are 
obtained. All the trees seen in the districts of Taiwu, Loting, 
and Lukpo, and intermediate localities where Cassia was grown in 
smaller quantities, were of this species, nor were there, apparently, 
distinct varieties of the species in cultivation. The cultivators 
and other natives were much interrogated as to whether they 
knew or had heard of any other tree which yielded the products 
under notice, and the invariable reply was that there was no other 
kind. There is therefore I think no doubt but writers who have 
named other kinds as Cassia-yielding trees of China have been 
mistaken or misinformed. .... Cinnamomum Burmanni, Blume, 
which it has been supposed may probably yield in part the Cassia- 
bark of the Canton market, does not, I feel sure, supply Cassia- 
bark to any extent. I did not see it anywhere cultivated ; nor 
was it seen growing wild in any but very small quantities, and 
these wild trees bore no signs of having been cut, as had the 
Cassia trees; many natives were asked if it was ever used, but, 
with one exception, all denied that it afforded any Cassia-bark. 
‘The one exception said that its bark was sometimes, but rarely, 
used to adulterate the true Cassia-bark.” “Mr. Ford on his 
return journey paid a visit to the well-known Chinese botanist, 
