ST. HELENA 87 



namely the period between the end of September and the beginning 

 of April ; though in the neighbourhood of the Peak the term dry 

 cannot be applied in any season. The only real difference between 

 dry and wet seasons is simply that the one is characterized by lighter 

 rains and higher temperature, the other by heavy rains and a some- 

 what low temperature. A whole fortnight of really dry weather is 

 quite an unusual occurrence at any season. From the beginning of 

 April to the end of September is the period most favourable to 

 transplanting. 



The planting out of our young cinchona-trees was commenced on 

 May 1869, and continued to the end of September. Total number 

 set out was 540 plants. The failures in this lot have not exceeded 

 S or 6 per cent, and the greater portion of them are in a very pro- 

 mising condition at the present time. The tallest plant (a C. 

 succirubra) measured twenty inches, the average being fifteen inches. 

 Since September their growth has been rapid and is every day 

 increasing. The following shows the total number and condition 

 of the cinchona plants at Newfoundland on 9 th December : — 

 C. succirubra planted out ..... 5°6 

 Do. in nursery beds . . .1,109 



Do. in boxes under glass . 2,035 



Officinalis planted out . . . . 25 



Do. in nursery beds .... 575 



Do. in boxes under glass . . 1,700 



C. cali say a planted out . . . . . 10 



Do. in nursery beds . . . . 12 



C. pahudiana planted out . . . . . 10 



Do. in nursery beds .... 44 



Seedlings of officinalis and succumbra in boxes under 

 glass ........ 4,000 



Total 10,026 



In consequence of having so little labour at my disposal, I have 

 not increased the stock of plants beyond that which we can manure, 

 but should it be found advisable to do so there will be no difficulty 

 in raising plants. The different seeds of cinchona supplied so gener- 

 ously by Dr. Hooker generally germinate freely ; so while these are 

 to be had there does not appear the necessity for propagating by 

 cuttings. The latter mode of propagation might, however, be 

 resorted to if circumstances recommended it, and it may be noted 

 as an interesting fact that several cuttings of a C. officinalis taken 

 off the parent plant and stuck into the earth in the open air without 

 any protection whatever have emitted roots and are growing freely. 

 Since erecting the first propagating house at Plantation I have 

 erected another something like a cucumber-frame. Should it 

 answer, we shall be able to carry on the whole work of culture at 

 the Peak, and the house at Plantation will be devoted to the rearing 

 of new and useful plants for the colony. 



Having so far summed up the course of our proceedings, it remains 

 to be seen what prospects of success there are in the undertaking. 



