782 PROFESSOR BALFOUR ON THE IPECACUAN PLANT. 



success was obtained. In May 1871, a Wardian case was sent from the Edin- 

 burgh Botanic Garden containing twelve plants, and in October seventy-four 

 plants were despatched. The greater number of these reached their destination 

 in a good state." In a report received since the reading of this paper, it is 

 stated, with reference to the late consignment, "These plants were forwarded 

 to Sikkim as soon as practicable after their arrival. The Calcutta climate 

 having proved totally unsuitable to this plant, all attempts to propagate it 

 there have been abandoned. The plants are at present under the immediate 

 care of the European gardeners of the Cinchona plantation, and propagation is 

 being carried on chiefly in one of the hot deep valleys of the Rungbee reserve. 



" From what we have been able to learn from observation, Ipecacuanha will 

 apparently thrive best under deep shade, and in a hot, steamy, equable climate. 

 These conditions are supplied most fully in the valleys on the outer slopes 

 of the Sikkim Himalaya, which open toward the Terai. A fine small valley 

 near Sookna, at the point of entrance into the hills of the cart-road from Silli- 

 goree to Darjeeling, has accordingly been taken up as an Ipecacuanha 

 reserve. Hitherto the plant has not perfected seed in India, although 

 flowers have frequently been produced ; we must therefore look to increase 

 by cuttings and other artificial methods." — [Gardener's Chronicle, Oct. 5, 1872, 

 p. 1322.) 



As regards the specimens in the Botanic Garden, their propagation was 

 accomplished in the first instance by taking cuttings from the roots of a plant 

 sent by Sir William Hooker from the Glasgow Botanic Garden. The original 

 specimen had been forwarded to him by Mr Makoy of Liege, and it flowered 

 at Glasgow in 1843. (See "Botanical Magazine," tab. 4063.) Propagation 

 from this single stock, however, was not sufficient to meet the requirements 

 of India. I therefore applied for an additional supply of plants to my friend 

 Dr Gunning, a medical graduate of the University of Edinburgh, who now 

 resides at Palmeiras, near Rio Janeiro. Sir Robert Christison also aided 

 me in this request, and has continued to take a deep interest in the matter. 

 By Dr Gunning's kind services, we were able to secure a considerable supply 

 of plants from Brazil — the roots of which, by division, have yielded abundance 

 of young shoots. 



The original plant in the Botanic Garden had produced flowers on several 

 occasions, but no fruit or seeds. The cuttings taken from its roots grew rapidly, 

 and at the end of a year's growth many of them flowered, producing shrubby 

 stems. Some of the plants assumed a branching habit, and attained a large 

 size. The dimensions of the largest specimen in the garden are as follows : — 



* Since this paper was read a large additional number of plants have been sent from the Botanic 

 Garden. In July 1872, 112 plants; in November 1872, 68— making in all during 1871-72, 300 



plants. 



