Chap, XXVIII. AND IN CLEARED GROUND. 497 



but a small fraction of the outlay, about twice in a century ; 

 and the idea of chinchona cultivation ever being undertaken 

 by private enterprise, on this system, is quite out of the 

 question; for what planter in liis senses would commence 

 the cultivation of a product which would yield liim no return 

 for forty or fifty years ? 



When planted in the open chinchonae grow luxuriantly, 

 yield abundant supplies of seed, and form fine thick bark, 

 which, owing to the free exposure of the leaves to the 

 influence of light and fresh air, contains a large per-centage 

 of alkaloids ; while, in the shade of forest-trees, they run up 

 into tall, weak, straggling plants, with little chance of either 

 bearing fruit, or elaborating much quinine in their bark, 

 until, after nearly half a century, some of them at length 

 overtop the other trees, and reach that essential sunshine of 

 which they had been so long deprived. 



I not only tliink, with Mr. Spruce, Dr. Weddell, Mr. 

 Howard, Mr. Mclvor, and Mr. Cross, that the chinchona- 

 plants must be planted in the open, and freely exjDosed to the 

 influence of fresh aii- and sunshine ; but I am most strongly 

 of opinion that, if the opposite system was unfortunately 

 adopted, it would have been far better if the expense and 

 trouble of introducing these precious trees into India had 

 never been incurred. 



It is true that, when planted in the forest, the chinchonse 

 Avill look well to the casual observer, and that their cultiva- 

 tion can be conducted without skill or care, as all will be left 

 to natm-e ; while, in open ground, it will require great skill 

 and constant attention to get the young trees over the first 

 year or two. The cleared ground will be exposed to the full 

 effects of evaporation and radiation, and much judicious 

 management wiU be necessary in applying artificial shade, 

 and in adopting other precautions. The open spaces should 

 not, I think, be of very great extent, without being broken 



2 K 



