80 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



as mats, and they are seeding copiously already several years after 

 planting. The contents of alkaloids in the bark can be much 

 increased by artificial treatment, if the bark is only removed to 

 about one-third on one side of the stem and the denuded part 

 covered with moss or straw matting (kept moist), under which in 

 one year as much bark is formed as otherwise requires three years' 

 growth, such forced bark moreover containing the astounding 

 quantity of as much as 25 per cent, alkaloids, because no loss of 

 these precious substances takes place by gradual disintegration 

 through age. The root bark of some cinchonas has proved 

 to contain as much as 8 per cent, of alkaloids (see Gardeners' 

 Chronicle, 1877, p. 212). The income from Java plantations 

 is considerably over double the cost of the expenses of culture 

 and transit. Mr. Howard's opinion that cinchonas in low 

 land plantations produce a far less quantity of alkaloids needs 

 further confirmation, particularly regarding the valuable 

 quinin and cinchonidin. The cinchona plants are set out at 

 distances of about 6 feet. The harvest of bark begins in the 

 fourth or fifth year. The price varies in Europe from 2s. to 

 9s. per K)., according to quality. The limits assigned to this 

 literary compilation do not admit of entering further into details 

 on this occasion; but I may add that in the Darjeeling district over 

 three millions of cinchona plants were in cultivation already in 

 1869, raised in Government plantations. Cultivation of cinchona 

 for commercial purposes was first initiated in Java through Dr. 

 Hasskarl in 1851. The British harvest in the Madras Presidency 

 alone amounted to 150,000 Ibs. in 1875 Dr. G. King reports in 

 1880 that four million trees of Cinchona succirubra are now 

 under his control in the Sikkim plantations. This has proved the 

 hardiest species ; it grows nnder a wide range of conditions, and it 

 seeds freely ; thus it is the most valuable cinchona in the elevations 

 of Sikkim. In the Neilgherries more than 600,000 cinchona plants 

 were distributed from the Government plantations in 1879, and 

 1,322 fibs, of seeds (Barlow), from 80,000 to 250,000 seedlings 

 arising from one pound of seeds, as almost every grain will grow. 

 All its varieties produce bark of great value. The total amount 

 of alkaloids is at an average 4 per cent. If the trees were cut 

 every seven or eight years, and simultaneous replanting should take 

 place, Dr. King could keep up an annual supply of 366,000 Ibs. of 

 bark. The total number of deaths of the Indian population from 

 fever is considered to approach a million and a half annually. 



Cinna arundinacea, Linne. 



North America. There recorded as good fodder-grass ; perennial, 

 somewhat sweet-scented. Particularly adapted for forest-meadows. 

 Blyttia suaveolens (Fries) is, according to Dr. Asa Gray, a variety 

 with pendant flowers. 



