4 
CHINCHONA, CULTIVATION: IN INDIA. 41 
';moment's. serious. consideration, asi it.enables.us at once to place 
souri plantsout under the most favourable conditions to promote their 
«growth... The soil is not impoverished by the roots of neighbouring 
trees, the plants cannot, suffer from drip, nor from the effects of evapo- 
ation. or radiation, as the dead shade affords them in this respect a far 
¿more efficient. and certain protection than could possibly. be given by 
any living shade, while, instead of impoverishing, it enriches the ground. 
-It-also, possesses the incomparable advantage of being entirely under 
our own control; it can thus be adjusted exactly to suit the seasons. In 
ithe wet weather, when shade would be decidedly injurious by promoting 
the growth of fungi and causing rot, it can be removed; while, in the 
dry season, it can be increased to any extent necessary. It also enables 
us at once to place the plants under the most favourable conditions for 
the development of the alkaloids ; and under this system of cultivation, 
I have no doubt that many of the species will give a supply of bark in 
from six to seven years after planting, and that in eight to ten years 
they will give a large yearly supply. This artificial shading will of 
course be required until the plants attain sufficient size to cover the 
ground, which will probably be in two years or less. 
* In a state of nature all products are reaped in the most improvident 
‘and reckless manner possible ; but the moment the plants are brought 
into cultivation this must cease, and the harvesting of the: produce of 
one year must be effected in such a manner as not to injure that of suc- 
ceeding years. Although in the forests of the Andes the trees are eut 
-down and stripped of their bark, such a system can never be profitably 
_ put into operation in cultivation, and another more suited must there- 
"fore be devised. T would suggest that our trees be planted in such a 
: manner as to secure a constant and uniform yearly supply of bark by 
simply lopping and pruning the trees ; if this operation be condueted 
With skill, the plants will be benefited rather than injured by the yearly 
‘Temoval; before the middle of the dry season, of a certain portion of 
‘their branches. This will not retard the growth of the plants, nor in- 
deed can any damage arise from an attempt to carry out this system. 
“Tn the first years, probably from the sixth to the eighth after plant- 
ng; the produce will be comparatively small, and be entirely of the de- 
scription known in the market as quill bark; but after the twelfth year 
‘ofthe growth of the plants, a large proportion of the loppings and 
"prunings will produce what is known in the market as flat or trunk 
