Chap. XXIII. THE XEDDIWUTTUM SITE. 387 



upper limit of the " red-bark " region at 5000 feet ; but Mr. 

 Cross saw that species growing at an elevation of 8000 feet ; 

 and the great importance of cultivating this species at the 

 highest possible elevation is demonstrated by Sir. Spruce's 

 observation that the bark of trees growing low down and 

 near the plains is by no means so thick as that of trees 

 which flourish in a loftier and more temperate climate.^ The 

 Neddiwuttum site is vdthin the limit of the region which 

 receives both monsoons. Though protected to some extent 

 from the south-v, est, it receives a full share of the rains during 

 the summer, and is also supplied -snth moisture by the north- 

 east monsoon, coming across Mysore between October and 

 December. During the remaining months it is visited by 

 mists and heavy dews in the nights until the south-west 

 monsoon again commences in May. It will probably be 

 found that these species of chinchonae wiU bear a much drier 

 climate than we at present suppose ; and I have no misgivings 

 that the amount of humidity at Neddiwuttum will not be amj)ly 

 sufficient for their successful cultivation. The only person 

 who has visited this site since its selection, who is capable, 

 through personal knowledge of the South American chinchona 

 forests, of forming an opinion, is Mr. Cross. It is exceedingly 

 satisfactory to find that he not only approves of it for the 

 cultivation of plants of the " red-bark " species, but that, 

 from the superior depth and richness of the soil, he considers 

 that they are likely to tlirive even better than in their native 

 forests near Limon, on the eastern slopes of Chimborazo. 



In the Neddiwuttum forest, among other plants, I found the 

 Hymenodictyan excelsum,^ wild yams, coffee-plants, cinnamon, 

 pepper-vines, Andromedas, Osbeckias, wild ginger, a Balanophra 

 with a scarlet flower, and abundance of orchids and ferns. 

 On the edge of the forest there was a little hut, merely a 



= sir. Spmce's Report, p. 27. 

 ^ Called Cinchona excelsa by Dr. 

 Koxbiu-gh, but excluded from the List 



of Chinchona} by Dr. WaUich, who 

 gave the plant its present name. 



2 c 2 



