THE TECHNOLOGIST. [Feb. 1, 1865. 



ON THE CINCHONA BARK OF BRITISH INDIA. 



BY DR. J. E. DE VRY. 



After almost six years spent in Java, in the near vicinity of the 

 cinchona plantations in that island, I have obtained leave of absence 

 for two years in order to recruit my health by a visit to Europe. 

 During my stay in Java I had heard much about the cultivation of 

 the cinchona in the Neilgherries and other parts of the English 

 dominions in India, which information rendered me desirous of in- 

 specting some of these plantations on my way home ; and although 

 want of time prevented my reaching the plantations in the Khasee 

 hills, I had the pleasure of examining those of Hakgalle, in Ceylon, 

 as well as those upon the slopes of the Neilgherries in the Madras 

 Presidency. 



Before I proceed further, I cannot do other than acknowledge my 

 deep gratitude to their Excellencies Sir Charles MacCarthy and Sir 

 William Denison, the Governors respectively of Ceylon and Madras, 

 for their liberality and kind assistance in my inquiries ; nor must I 

 omit to mention my esteemed friends Mr. Thvvaites and Mr. M'lvor, 

 who not only promoted my investigations by supplying me with the 

 necessary materials and valuable information, but also by their kind 

 hospitality made my visits to Peradenia and Ootacamund sources of 

 the most agreeable reminiscence. 



The system of cultivation without shade which Mr. M'lvor, after 

 careful study of the cinchona plant in the propagating-house, has 

 put in practice, is very different to that adopted in Java by Mr. 

 Junghuhn, who grows the plants in the dense shade of the virgin 

 forests. Some facts which I observed during frequent visits to the 

 cinchona plantations in Java induced me to judge less unfavourably 

 of Mr. M'lvor's system than had Mr. Junghuhn, and I went therefore to 

 the Euglish plantations in order — 



lstly. To convince myself, by personal inspection, of the healthy 

 appearance and growth of the trees in the open sunshine. 



2udly. To collect bark and leaves of different species of cinchona, 

 and to investigate them chemically after my return to Europe. 



I began my inquiries by visiting Ceylon, where I saw in the botani- 

 cal garden of Peradenia a few specimens of Cinchona succirubra, which, 

 as this locality is comparatively but little elevated, being only 1,600 

 feet above the level of the sea, had been planted in the shade. Although 

 the plants looked very healthy, the oldest being from eight to nine 

 feet high, Mr. Thwaites informed me that they grow much better in 

 more lofty situations, such as Hakgalle. Among the leaves of C. 

 succirubra which I coUected at Peradenia was one which measured 

 eighteen inches in length and twelve inches in breadth. The leaves 

 collected at this low elevation above the sea have interested me much, 



