CiiAP. XXIV. SUITABLE FOR CHINCHON.E. 405 



beckia, Jasminum, Iledyotis, Lasianthus, Canthium, and 

 Hymenodictyon, Tree-ferns abonnd near the streams, and 

 in some of the jungles there were trees of enormous size. 

 Early one morning I went with Chonatumby to see the 

 " pillar-rocks," three miles to the westward of Kodakarnal. 

 They consist of grand perpendicular cliffs descending from 

 the grassy heights, with their bases clothed with forest. 

 Two of them are separated by fissures from the main cliff, 

 and have the appearance of gigantic columns. It was alto- 

 gether a most magnificent sight, with volumes of fleecy 

 clouds rolling up from the low country, and occasional peeps 

 of the far-away plains and glittering tanks through their 

 folds. 



The natives have long been in the habit of recklessly fell- 

 ing the most valuable timber, and acres of fine shola used to 

 be annually destroyed to make clearings for plantain and 

 cardamom groves. For the latter, however, only the small 

 trees and underwood are burnt on the Pulneys, the larger trees 

 being left standing. But this wasteful destruction of timber 

 has recently been checked by the authorities, and in ISGO 

 Mr. Spershneider was appointed as overseer of the Pulney 

 forests, with a small staff, to prevent the reckless cutting of 

 timber, and to mark, from year to year, the trees Avhich 

 arrive at sufficient maturity, and are fit to be felled. 



I came to the conclusion that in several of the wooded 

 sholas the chinchona-plant might be cultivated with advantage, 

 the C. Condaminea, and other species which thrive at great 

 elevations, on the upper plateau, and the C. sueeiruhra in Kuu- 

 uundaven. Mr. Levinge, the Collector of Madura, takes an 

 interest in the experiment, and Mr. Spershneider would be 

 willing to superintend the chinchona plantations ; so that, when 

 the undertaking is in a sufficiently advanced stage on the 

 Neilgherry hills to enable Mr. Mclvor to distribute plants for 

 cultivation in other parts of India, a number might advan- 



