DRUGS. 67 



kinds. The barks of all, however, were very carefully 

 analysed by Mr. Howard, the well-known quinologist. 

 With regard to the soft Columbian known as ' Calisaya of 

 Santa Fe,' Mr. Howard reported that the bark analysed, and 

 which was taken from the rejected cane-like shoots brought 

 home by Mr. Cross, ' was of the very best description, and 

 such as indicates the probability of a much larger production 

 of alkaloid in the bark of more mature and developed trees.' 

 This bark yielded 6-24 per cent, of alkaloids, of which 3'25 

 per cent, was quinine, and 1'90 was cinchonidine. Mi\ 

 How ard considers that ' if the young plants can be safely 

 conveyed to India, and established there, it may not im- 

 probably prove second to none.' 



" Of the ' Hard Carthagena ' bai-k plants, the only one 

 which Mr. Howard considered worthy of attention was the 

 kind from Coralis Inza, in the Magdalena valley. This 

 yielded 4'75 per cent, of alkaloids, of which 1'88 was 

 quinine and 1*18 was cinchonidine. 'If a free grower, as 

 I think would be the case, it might be well worth 

 naturalising in India. The bark has met with a ready 

 sale in commerce.' 



" The plants were placed under Mr. Cross's charge at 

 Kew, where every facility was afforded him for establishing 

 and propagating them. On the 1 6th October of last year 

 he reported as follows to the Under-Secretary of State : 



" ' On arrival in this country in March, the plants of 

 the " Calisaya of Santa Fe," carried all the way from the 

 banks of the Caqueta River, were thought to be in a weak 

 state. I am glad to state that, although the collection is 

 now somewhat reduced, there are in all forty plants more 

 or less growing and rooting, and which I am convinced will 

 soon become good established plants. 



" ' The majority are from cuttings, but there are some 

 also from original imported root-pieces growing also, 

 although these in general seemed unwilling to take root 

 p 2 



