CHINCHONA CULTIVATION .IN INDIA. 53 
gress, under the able superintendence of Mr. Thwaites. The following 
- is an extract from that ecntleman's Report, dated August, 1862 :— 
vif The experiment. in. the. cultivation of some of the Quinine-pro- 
ducing Chinchonas is proceeding most favourably, and the progress 
made- may:-be. considered. extremely. satisfactory, taking into. con- 
sideration the. limited supply of seeds we received to commence with. 
Mr. .M‘Nicoll has been. very. successful in the management of the 
plants under his care at Hakgalle.. Several of the larger ones hare 
been planted. in the forest, and are flourishing vigorously, and prepara- 
tions are now being made for many more being put out. Open spaces 
of a moderate area are being cleared in the forest, in order that the 
plants may have plenty of light, and yet be sufficiently protected by the 
surrounding trees from too much wind, which the Chinchona plants are 
not able to bear without injury, owing to the large size and. not very 
firm texture of their leaves. Much care is required in these arrange- 
ments ; for the Chinchona plants become drawn up and weak when in 
dense shade; whilst, if exposed to plenty of light, with direct sunlight 
upon them for a few hours during the day, they assume a most healthy 
and robust appearance, with stems of a deep red colour, and leaves of 
a:much firmer texture. -A certain number of the plants, placed in very 
favourable situations for shelter from the wind, are being allowed to 
grow up to their full height, with the view of their producing flowers 
and seed; but as it will probably be only after the expiration of some 
few years that this will occur, and as it is desirable, in order to be pre- 
pared. for an early distribution, to inerease the number of our, plants as 
rapidly as possible, Mr. M‘Nicoll is effecting’ the latter object by 
striking cuttings from a considerable number of plants which he has 
reserved for the purpose. Large cuttings of C. succirubra would appear 
to.strike readily in the open ground; but of large cuttings we can of 
course get only. a few at present, owing to our plants being all young. 
Smaller cuttings are struck in.a hotbed, and roots are produced upon 
them in a fortnight or three weeks. After as many cuttings have been 
taken from the reserved plants as these will at one time yield, some in- 
terval must necessarily elapse before other shoots are produced of suit- 
able size for removal for the next lot of cuttings. | Mr. M‘Nicoll will 
have, before many days, nearly 600 plants of C.succirubra struck from 
cuttings, and he anticipates that this number will be very considerably 
led to in a few weeks. Many of these plants will probably be suf- 
